"Gittarackur." The name is startling now he is no longer in disguise. But it is still fresh enough that Illumi feels compelled to respond.
Looking over his shoulder, he spies the small boy who had broken his arm less than an hour ago. They boy Kil was so fond of, and Adella as well.
Gon approaches him, looking like an angry, broken puppy, his left arm in a sling from when Hanzo had broken it. "I want you to tell me where Killua is."
If Illumi felt emotions, they were few and far between, with some minor exceptions. But it had been a while since he'd felt amused, and the order from this child had certainly lightened his spirits.
"You're really going after him?" He could hardly believe it. Then again, Gon didn't seem to know when to quit. "I think that's a bad idea."
"Who cares what you think!" Gon scowls, still looking like a puppy despite trying to seem vicious. "Killua is my friend. I'll get him back, I swear."
Illumi could barely believe it. After all, there was no way Gon could make it through the testing gate with one arm, and that was if he made it home.
A movement from behind Gon catches his eye, and he looks towards it. Gon's two other friends stand watching the exchange, ready to defend him if Illumi tried anything.
"And do they feel the same way?"
Gon turns, seeming shocked to find Kurapika and Leorio behind him. "You bet we do." Leorio confirms, and Kurapika smiles at Gon, silently offering his assistance as well.
Illumi's eyes narrow, annoyed. This was not going the way he wanted it to.
"He probably went home to Kukuroo Mountain. It's in the Republic of Padokea." Adella places her hands on Gon's shoulders, seeming to materialize out of thin air. Illumi knew she was mad about Killua killing Bodoro and thereby failing the exam, but that wasn't Illumi's fault. Well, not completely.
She had successfully avoided him until now because of it.
That was another problem. Adella was getting far too good at Zetsu, and combined with her Hatsu, if Illumi was distracted, he wouldn't notice her listening in like she had been.
Gon looks back at her, smiling. "Got it. Thanks a lot!"
Adella smiles, clearly attached to the boy, though she had also grown attached to Kil throughout the exam. She was still far too soft for Illumi's liking.
Leorio huffs, pointing at her. "And how do you know that?"
Adella just shrugs, gaze meeting Illumi's once more. He hates that he likes the defiance he sees there. "My day job is working with poisons for the Hunter Association. I make antidotes and even more lethal poisons specifically for Hunter use. One of the deadliest poisons I work with can only be found on Kukuroo Mountain, so guess who I have the pleasure of working with."
Illumi blinks, not appreciating the malice dripping from her words, and turns, signaling the end of the conversation, or at least his involvement in it.
He can hear Adella continue to offer other information on how to find his brother, not that it will be of much help. He had never taken her to Kukuroo Mountain, so all she knew was the location.
"Trouble in paradise, Illu?"
For once, Hisoka has the honor of seeing Illumi break, his face transforming into a scowl. "I know what you are going to say, and I do not want to hear it."
Hisoka's eyes narrow. "I do hope you realize what a mess you've made. She will not be easily won back. Did you feel her bloodlust back there?"
Illumi rolls his eyes. Of course he had, how the others hadn't was beyond him. No, Ryn probably had something to do with it. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't lecture me about Adella."
"Oh, this isn't a lecture, it's a warning." Hisoka throws a card his way, letting Illumi catch it. It was from a deck Ryn had already pilfered anyway; he couldn't use it. "If this were a chess game, you'd be about to lose."
Illumi looks down at the card as Hisoka walks away, leaving him with the cryptic message. The queen of hearts stares back up at him.
We're almost there. Next week, Illumi finally manages to corner Adella. I don't think she will like that.