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✦.✦
Click. Crack.
The room turned towards the door. Mainly due to the pressure the two that walked in had brought. Yullia was wearing a black cloth over her while following behind the disguised Illumi. They both walked down and stopped at Hisoka's row.
"Yo. Didn't know you already had the Hunter License. Koneko-chan."
-Yullia - Illumi - Hisoka- - - -
Seeing that they were acquaintances they crowd turned forward. Afterall, birds of a feather flock together.
Crack. Crack.
Illumi turned his head slightly. Eying Hisoka. He did not like the nickname that came out of his mouth. Hisoka getting the message only grinned. He didn't typically like the disguises he was in. But he was here. The Zodiacs and the higher bounty hunters were here. Being from the Zolydck family wasn't actually going to protect them in this case. It was two against everyone in the room. They had to mask themselves.
"Gon's down. He's dying. Killua's looking for Alluka."
Hisoka had met Killua and Gon after what happened with the Chimera Ants. The two in front of him knew that Gon and Killua tagged along to Chimera Ants. Killua keeps Yullia updated and Yullia updates that to Illumi. But this was the first time Yullia heard about Gon's state. Killua had mentioned Gon was in the hospital but that was it.
Was that why Killua came home?
Yullia's eyes widened. There was no way Illumi was going to allow Killua to bring Alluka out of the family. With the wrong use of Alluka's powers. There's a slight chance the whole Zoldyck family would be erased. But Yullia knew Alluka wasn't as dangerous as everyone thought. Only Killua and her knew about that. But they never said Alluka's nen logic. They didn't want the family to abuse Alluka. As far as she was concerned the family would never see Alluka as one of them.
Illumi didn't reply to Hisoka. He stopped to think. Killua did not come home to only get Yullia. He used Yullia as a front for him to see the situation with Alluka.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
Crack. Crack.
Illumi pulled out his phone. It was a job request.
Crack. Crack.
He got up and left.
Without Illumi's signal, Yullia stayed. She was free to do whatever she wants currently. Knowing about Killua and Alluka she knew she had to do something before Illumi acted upon it. Killua's judgement was right. If Gon was really dying, Alluka's nen would be the only thing that can help him. She needed to get Alluka to Gon.
.
.
.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
Hisoka's phone vibrated. Looking at the message he just got, he stood up. He signalled Yullia to follow him. And walked out the room. The room stopped. They were all extremely aware of Hisoka. With his movement, they all were looking towards him. They watch him signal the fragile figure. They were all waiting for the figure's action. The outline of a fragile female girl was deceiving them. Her nen was completely concealed, the pressure of Hisoka and Illumi was no longer there. She seemed completely harmless towards the crowd.
Sensing the attention on her. Yullia stood up. She was ready to leave. Turning away from the crowd, she was walking towards the door. But she was stopped. A hand grabbed her.
A hunter from the crowd stopped her. He wanted to help the female in front of them. She did not seem to fit in with Hisoka and Gittarackur. He thought she was being forced. He didn't want the fragile female to just walk into her own death.
Yullia stopped. She turned away towards the hunter. But she didn't look up. She didn't want her identity to be revealed right now. Rumors may spread that the Zolydck family was getting involved with the Hunter Association. Illumi had warned her. She waited for the man to talk. To explain why she was stopped by him.
"You don't have to go, We can protect you."
He started off. He was voicing the opinion of the crowd. The Zodiacs were quiet in the front. They weren't heartless, they also didn't want the fragile figure to walk into her own death.
Clap.
Yullia slid out of the hunter's grip and slapped his hand away. Turning away she quickly went towards the door.
You can't protect me.
.
.
.
Bam.
With the sound of the door closing. The room resumed. All sighed at the one that walked out. The one that walked towards her own death. No one noticed who she was.
Ging in the crowd stared at the door. He lightly saw the long white hair while she turned. Eying his fellow comrade he looked for their reaction. It seemed that none of them noticed. None of them noticed that the figure was Zolydck's princess. Someone they did not need to worry about.
✦.✦
"Okaa-san."
…
"Yes."
…
"I see…"
…
"Okay."
Yullia took off the cloth she was wearing after putting her phone away. She looked towards the building in front of her. She was somewhere nearby where she had just walked out. The hunter delayed her time for too long. She lost Hisoka. She was currently standing on a nearby roof. Tall enough to be unnoticed by the crowd under her. She closed her eyes.
Right now she needed to find Hisoka. She focused her nen and scanned around her for Hisoka's nen. She couldn't find him close. Continuing to extend her radius of search she almost missed the nen that suddenly appeared behind her.
Turning around she enhanced her hand and went straight for the new aura's heart. The figure moved his hand under Yullia's and changed her course away from him.
Yullia stopped. She lowered her hand and looked at the figure's face. Ging was standing there.
"I thought I was going to die."
Ging joked towards the female in front of him. He knew Yullia. He was a proctor during her Hunter Exam. Although she concealed herself through the whole test, Ging knew who she was.
"Ging."
Yullia looked up at the man in front of her. She knew him too. She knew Ging noticed her at the Hunter Exam but he never reacted. Ging did not want to interfere with the Zolydck's business. They had shared a few words before. Gon had mentioned about Ging to her but she never told Gon where Ging was. She did not want to interfere with their family business. She knew Ging wouldn't want her to tell his son. But this time, she had to say something.
"Gon's dying."
.
.
.
She waited for his reaction. Ging did not flinch to this. He knew about it. She watched a calm man in front of her. Ging already knows about this yet he's not interfering. He wanted his son to get out of this situation alone. He believes in him. Nothing she says will change his mind. She was just there to inform him, that's all. If he already knew, there was no reason for her to continue wasting her time with Ging. She had to find Hisoka. Turning around she jumped down.
"Thank you."
Ging's mumbled tone was carried through the wind towards her ears. He appreciated that Yullia shared this information.
✦.✦
"Hisoka."
Yullia sat down beside Hisoka at the bar. Hisoka was already sipping on his drink. She later found him at the airship station boarding an airship. Without questing she followed him.
"Hot coffee. Black"
Hisoka raised an eyebrow at Yullia. She was ordering coffee at a bar. The waiter stopped. He eyed Hisoka a bit wondering if the female he was with was serious.
"Bourbons. On the rocks."
The waiter getting his order bowed to him. Yullia raised her eyebrow towards Hisoka wondering what kind of staunt he's trying to pull. They both started at each other for a while before the waiter came with the drink.
"Drinking coffee at a bar? Is alcohol too much for you?"
Hisoka taunted Yullia. He had never seen Yullia drink before. This was quite interesting.
Yullia looked towards the alcohol in her cup. It's not that she didn't drink. She never liked the taste. She couldn't get used to the bitter taste. She wasn't that much of a big drinker. The Zolydck family never forced themself to have complete torrance towards alcohol. It was something they wanted to keep in their life for entertainment. Yullia clearly could drink the cup in front of her without a problem but she didn't want her mouth tasting bitter. The bitterness that was different from coffee.
"No. We have tolerance towards it too."
Hearing that from Yullia. Hisoka eyed her telling her to drink. Yullia brought the cup towards her mouth and finished it. She was pretty thirsty to begin with. That amount should be fine.
Seeing Yullia quickly chuck down the bourbon, he was interested. The drink was eighty percent alcohol. Signalling the waiter for another one. He watched as another one was placed in front of Yullia.
Yullia looked towards Hisoka. The man was challenging her. She picked up the drink and glady drinked it all. She wasn't going to back down.
1
2
By the time the next bourbon on the rocks got placed in front of Yullia. She had already had 4 cups of pure alcohol. Yullia never had to drink this much on her job. It was just for show. She was slowly getting tipsy.
3
She chugged the next one. Since she had never drank this much she didn't notice. She didn't notice the alcohol trap. She was already drinking more than she could handle, but her body did not register that yet.
4
The next one was placed in front of Yullia again. Hisoka was actually enjoying this. As much as he knew that she was never going to be his. He still has fun teasing her. She was exactly his taste.
The glass cup was suddenly moved away from Yullia. Hisoka looked at the figure that just sat next to Yullia.
"How much did you make her drink."
Illumi looked at Hisoka. He had finished his job in time to board the airship but he still had a lot of calls to make so he stayed in their room. Illumi informed Hisoka and Yullia to wait for him at the bar but he didn't expect to come into Yullia already drinking. Drinking pure alcohol at that. He knew she never liked any alcohol. She avoided them as much as possible, only drinked when necessary for jobs.
"Nii-san, I'm fine."
Yullia took the drink back from Illumi. She clearly didn't want to look like a baby in front of Illumi. Her brother was overreacting. Taking a few sips on the drink that she just took back. She placed the glass on the table. She was starting to feel the alcohol. It was traveling to her head. She had drunk too much. She brought the drink towards her mouth again. This was not the time to act weak.
"Yulli."
Illumi took the drink off Yullia before she could drink anymore. Feeling the glass leave her hand she turns towards Illumi again. Reaching towards his hand, she wanted her drink back. Illumi sensing her brought the glass to his lips and finished the drink. Seeing how Illumi just finished her drink, she was upset.
Yullia's attention turned towards Hisoka. Her eyes looked straight at Hisoka as if she was asking for another drink. Hisoka could only stare at the two in front of him. He was amused. He didn't expect Yullia to actually get tipsy. He had always drank with Illumi but Illumi has never gotten tipsy. His tolerance to alcohol was already built up. Hisoka was getting Illumi's glare from behind Yullia. Illumi was telling him to not do anything. Not wanting to mess with the couple in front of him. So he simply didn't react to Yullia.
Seeing that Hisoka wasn't going to make a move. She waved towards the waiter. All she needs to do right now is order herself a drink. The two guys next to her weren't going to tell her what to do.
"Excuse me. Can I get another one?"
"Sur-."
The waiter in front of her never got to finish his sentence. He was unable to move or talk. Yullia eyed the waiter's neck. A needle was stuck to it. Illumi threw a needle at the waiter for him to shut up.
…
"Yulli."
Feeling a headache. She moved her hand towards her head to apply pressure against it. Illumi was warning her. The words sinked in with the alcohol. She was getting a little dizzy. She just wanted to drink more. To drink her thoughts away. Looking back at Illumi. She had no idea what expression she had on but she just wanted to continue to drink.
"I can't?"
.
.
.
Illumi stared at Yullia. His eyes had widened and the feeling of shock displayed on his face for a split second. Yullia was giving him soft puppy eyes. The eyes that he had always looked at during their childhood days. The eyes she makes for more sweets. But, right now she was begging for more alcohol.
Silence surrounded them. Hisoka was looking towards the two. He couldn't see Yullia since she was facing Illumi. But he was still shocked. Shocked by the look on Illumi's face. The sudden emotion that flashed across his face. The one that disappeared as soon as it happened.
Illumi couldn't bring himself to reject it. He pulled Yullia closer and knocked her out before she could react. She was not in the right stay of mind. Her senses were weakened by the alcohol. She needed to rest.
Illumi picked up Yullia and brought her into a comfortable position to carry. He turned around from Hisoka that was looking at him.
"I'll be back."
.
.
.
Walking into the small private room that Illumi rented. He placed Yullia down on the sofa. Looking Yullia's face, he gently moved the hair that was blocking her face away. Her cheeks were blushing from the alcohol. Giving her one last look, he walked back to Hisoka.
✦.✦
"I want more! Icecream now!"
"No. Yulli, you ate so much already."
The young Illumi and the young Yullia sat at the long dinner table. They were the only ones there along with the servants. The empty plates in front of Yullia indicated how much she already ate.
"But I want more!"
"Yulli."
"I can't?"
Yullia's eyes were begging Illumi. She was using her puppy eyes. Illumi sweatdropped. He couldn't refuse her.
"Fine…"
"Yahh!"
Yullia gave Illumi a big smile as the servants around them went to get more.
"Hot cocoa too please!"
Illumi could only sigh at the sign in front of him.
"Hot coffee. Black."
He sipped on his coffee while watching Yullia happily eating. She was eating too fast. She suddenly choked. Quickly grabbing the hot cocoa on the desk. She drank it down. She water the cake down that got stuck in her throat. Letting out a sigh she turned towards Illumi smiling.
"Ne… Illu…"
.
.
.
✦.✦
"That was interesting."
Hisoka watched the Illumi sit down next to him. The same seat that Yullia was just sitting on.
"Bourbon on the rocks."
Illumi needed something to drink now. He needed to apply some poison to his body to remind him. To remind himself why he got stronger. Why he can't crack. Why he is doing this.
"She never really built up her tolerance."
"Hmm… I thought guys would be buying her drinks left and right. Seeing how you know. The way she looks."
"She's not like that."
"What about your other one?"
…
Hisoka waited for Illumi's reply. He had informed Illumi about the girls around him but he never knew if Illumi actually got it.
"Who? Ahh.. She's gone. I killed her."
"Still haven't replaced it?"
"I don't need them anymore."
She can't be replaced.
.
.
.
Hisoka did not expect the words that came out of Illumi's mouth. As long as he had known Illumi, he always had one around. He knew. He knew Illumi figured it out. He found out about the resemblance.
"Let's go back to the real reason why I call you here."
"Alluka right? How dangerous is it?"
"Tens of thousands of people may die if Killua's wish to restore Gon goes awry. You, the Phantom Troupe, and even our family won't be saved from it. I don't want Killua to make the wish in a dangerous way. I don't want him to have someone else make a wish and pay the price himself. I need you to help me kill Alluka if Killua refuses to make his wish in a safe way. He has no combat ability. Think of him as an ordinary child."
"Isn't Alluka your brother?"
"Yes."
"Then does that mean Yullia will get in the way."
…
Illumi thought about it. Yullia had treasured the whole family. She along with Killua were the only ones that thought of Alluka as family. Right now was the perfect time to let Alluka out. The perfect time for Yullia to get her wish.
"I won't let her."
"Then can I fight her if she does?"
"No."
"Why not. I won't kill her."
"You'll die before you even move."
.
.
.
"Her nen right? She can control time."
"Yes."
Illumi simply answered Hisoka's question. He was warning Hisoka. As easy as it was for Yullia to kill him, Illumi did not want him to die yet. He still needs to keep him around. They have a fair give and take relationship. Illumi knew Hisoka only needed confirmation. He had never once mentioned Yullia's nen powers to him. Yet, the first time he asked for it. He was already on point. It wasn't as if Illumi was hiding her powers. There was no reason to tell.
"Deal?"
Illumi extended his hand out for the thinking Hisoka to shake.
"Deal."
✦.✦