Mask of Innocence

Disclaimers: Hunter X Hunter and all mentioned characters are owned by the greatest mangaka of all time, Mr. Yoshihiro Togashi. The story of this fanfic, besides originating from the real manga's background, is obviously twisted in ways enough to get me arrested (*sweatdrops* heaven forbid). What I'm trying to say is that this fanfic is a different story in itself, so please do not base it too much on the anime/manga, okay?
Notes: *starts bopping her head relentlessly on her table* I'm confused over the whole height thing. Who's taller, Hisoka or Illumi?

Chapter 14 - Departure

Loud, uneven footsteps marched through the stone floors of the hallway that lead to the main office. There were two sets of footsteps, one from an unusually agitated young assassin and one from a calm, almost amused magician.

"Will you kindly explain everything to me again?" asked Illumi. He turned his head to face the other who was trailing behind him, his steps never faltering in their haste.

Hisoka shrugged. "I told you, I had a little talk with your dad and then, poof! I'm staying!" he replied cheerfully, his hands flying around in accordance to his words. He was grinning widely, like the over-confident man that he was.

The other frowned. "I still don't understand how you were able to convince them," said the still doubtful Illumi, whose steps became all the more quick now that the door to his father's office was now in full view ahead of them.

"Hey, isn't that why we're going to see them now?" asked Hisoka.

Frowning, Illumi just proceeded on knocking on the dark, heavy doors. Sillva's thick voice sounded soon. "Come in," he bade them, and at this, Illumi stepped inside, followed by the magician. The young assassin looked around, and caught sight of his two grandfathers playing chess on one corner. Sillva caught sight of them, and placed his pen down. "Ah, Illumi, what is it?" he asked.

Illumi nodded, and took his cue. "A few days ago, you spoke to me and Killua regarding the companions that we had brought here," he started, his eyes resting calmly on the form of his father in front of him.

"Yes," Sillva nodded. "And I know that you two understood what I had said."

"We have. You said that you merely allowed us to bring them here as a momentary past time. But then you expect them gone in a couple of days, and we are to remain here to do our duties."

"Yes, yes, I remember," Sillva nodded again.

"But Hisoka told me a different story."

There was a slight pause between the two, and tension started to build up. The thickness of the silence that surrounded the room started to choke Illumi, not knowing what kind of words he should anticipate. But Sillva sighed after a few seconds of waiting, and he lifted his folded hands up to his chin in a contemplative manner. "I see, I understand why you came," he muttered.

He stood up, and Illumi watched him come up around his table to stand in front of him, his muscular arms folded in his chest. Narrow eyes gazed at him critically, the strands of his silver locks rested on his shoulders, framing his firm expression. "Hisoka...came to me a few days ago and told me some pretty interesting things," he said, casting a wary eye at the magician, who merely cocked his head to one side with a confident smirk.

Illumi followed his father's gaze. He kept quiet though, hinting his own father to go on speaking. Despite his calm expression, his hands have somehow started to grow cold by just watching his father move.

"He said a lot of things that I found hard to believe," the older man said next. "I'm glad you came though. I would like to ask you personally just in case." And at this, Sillva stood more straightly now, and he began to walk towards Illumi, his eyes firmly set beneath light, bushy eyebrows.

It took all of his Illumi's self-control to keep a straight face under that critical eye. It was as if he already knew what the other would say, and yet he dreaded to believe the consequences that he's about to face just as the words passed through his father's mouth. Sillva's calm expression didn't falter though, and the sounds that the two other man in the corner made with their game suddenly became his only source of comfort.

He couldn't even look at Hisoka to see what expression he held. All he could see was his father approaching him, stopping in mid-step to stand a few paces away from him, his arms coming up to fold themselves again. He felt like he was back to the small boy he once was, waiting for his father to give him an order, or give him a review of his past performance.

The words that escaped Sillva didn't come out surprising, but still, he felt the cold electricity spark behind his back when he heard the other ask:

"Is he your lover?"

* * * * *

Kikyou looked up from the book she was reading and started to look around. "Karuto dear," she said, her eyes settling on the small frame of her daughter who was seated beside her. "What do you think is your father up to now?" she asked.

Karuto looked up from the smaller book she held in her hands. She remembered her walk with her mother on their way to the library. They had met up with her brother, Illumi, and that strange magician he was always with. Illumi had given her a short look but said nothing. Hisoka, on the other hand, grinned at her that didn't seem to catch her mother's gaze, but she didn't feel any hint of malice from him. It was strange.

Her father had told them both that he's expecting visitors, and he suggested that the two of them go down for a while. Could it be that he was going to speak with Illumi about Hisoka? If so, why was Hisoka with him?

Karuto's eyes stared blankly at her pale hands. She has decided. Whatever it was, she can only hope that it's for the best for Illumi. She didn't mind keeping his secret anymore.

She remembered that night she went to him. She had intended to stay longer, but then she had caught a glimpse of a familiar figure behind the door. At first, she was angered by the strange man's actions, but later on decided that perhaps he needed to see her brother as badly as she had. She didn't know why she felt that way, but she did.

She trusted Illumi, that was why she left him that night. She wasn't sure if the magician knew she saw him, but she didn't care. As long as her brother keeps his promise, as long as he wouldn't leave, she's all right with anything.

The faded letters that graced the almost yellowed paper of her book were left unread. Karuto merely stared down at them without understanding. She then looked at her mother, who was still contemplating on her own statement. Instead of saying her previous thoughts, the young girl kept her silence. She replied, "I don't know, mother."

* * * * *

"Well?"

He couldn't look at his father. What was he to say?

He could still feel Hisoka's presence behind him, and he didn't understand the sudden surge of thoughts that came to him soon after. Had he said that? How could he?

"How long are you intending to make me wait, Illumi?" asked Sillva, his voice still as leveled as it had been before. His tone didn't rise, nor did it fall. "Answer me."

The urgency reflected in his voice made him unable to speak. He didn't know what else to say. He didn't know how to act. He even doubted if he could move at all. But a few moments later, he surprised himself. A nod served as his answer. He supposed that there was no use lying now, especially when there was Hisoka around. He was the one who had told Sillva the truth after all.

From the corner of his eye, Illumi saw Sillva nod. "I see," the older man muttered. "I'm glad you told me this, Illumi."

Unable to restrain himself any longer, and probably to release a bit of the tension built up inside of him, Illumi spoke. "I'm sorry," he blurted out, being that it was the only thing that he could think of saying.

"What are you talking about?" asked Sillva, who still was the complete opposite of Illumi's state. He still retained his cool, as if what they were talking about was only the weather. None of Illumi's current wave of thoughts and worries graced the older man's face. "I'm fine with it," he said. The surprise etched on his son's face was inevitable, and a small smile betrayed Sillva's serious expression. "So are your grandfathers. I don't know about your mother though, she doesn't know yet. Of course we were surprised, who wouldn't be?" he said, his gaze still on Illumi.

Illumi noticed that the sounds coming from the chessboard have stopped. When he looked up, his grandfather, Zeno, was beside Sillva. Mahha, his great grandfather, was still seated on his chair, fixing up the pieces.

"We talked about it. We figured that, even if you did keep this from us, your performance regarding your job as an assassin didn't change, unlike what had happened to Killua," Zeno said. "Of course, we still think that the idea of our young ones having such relationships is not very advisable. But to make sure you'll be safe from any outside influences, we decided to just keep one who wouldn't make a difference."

"Employ him, if you may," added Sillva, who gestured towards Hisoka, to which the other merely nodded with a smirk. "We don't need two sons escaping the premises searching for their companions. Your case isn't like Killua's. The other boy, Gon, is a bit difficult, since he does oppose to how we lead our lives and the kind of jobs we take."

"So, you're...taking Hisoka in?" Illumi asked hesitantly, still drowned in disbelief.

"In a manner of speaking," Sillva shrugged. "He has agreed to the terms. If he makes a wrong move, we'll kill him." He then looked at Hisoka, who, again, nodded his consent. Sillva placed his eyes back on Illumi. "And as for you..."

All right, so maybe the whole nightmare hasn't ended yet. Illumi waited.

"The missions that are assigned to you will be doubled more than usual as punishment for your act. We can't give you the same treatment as we do Killua, I don't think Miruki can actually lay a finger on you without cowering in his own self-made fear of you. How you scare your siblings so is beyond us all," mused Sillva. But he disregarded this soon and just waved a hand, turning to his son again. "Is that all you'd like to ask?"

It took Illumi a few moments before nodding. "Y-Yes, that is all," he replied, nodding his head in a slight bow before turning back, with nothing more but a small gesture for Hisoka to follow him. The door closed behind them soon after, and Sillva listlessly went back to his paper work, while Zeno went back to his seat for another round with his father.

Outside the door, Hisoka turned his head to face Illumi, who had his back to him. The younger man still looked pretty shaken, so he wasn't sure if there was relief or something else in him. In an attempt to undo the rising tension, he spoke. "There! That didn't go as badly as you thought it would, did it?" he asked, clapping a hand to the other in a gesture of mocking joy.

But Illumi was still silent. Hisoka heaved a gruff sigh and shook his head. He was about to throw another tease, but was abruptly cut off by firm hands making a grab for his shirt, pushing him to the wall. Fierce black eyes glared at him through the darkness.

"Did you know that you almost had me killed?" hissed a still agitated Illumi.

Hisoka grinned. He was used to this attitude. "Stop worrying, Illumi-kun! I've thought about it you know, and I'm very good with negotiating things with other people. May I remind you that I was the very same one who negotiated with that boy Kurapika and became his spy against my former group? Oh, and don't forget the Hunter Exam. That was my best one yet!" he declared happily, not even the least bit bothered by Illumi's threats.

"But this is different. In fact, both of us would be dead by now if my elders weren't so lenient," countered the other, who still had the magician trapped in his hold.

"Oh, don't mind that. Just be glad that it's over and I still get to be your little plaything without having to worry. Oh, and vice versa, of course!" A series of insane laughter soon followed, making the assassin's irritation grow even worse.

"Hisoka..." growled Illumi. But instead of doing anything else, he just pulled the other closer to himself, their lips barely touching. "This is the last time you'll be doing something this drastic, do you understand?"

Hisoka smirked. He loved it whenever Illumi gets angry. The other doesn't seem to know how to contain himself. "Of course, Illumi-kun," he assured, still keeping his happy, yet irritating, smile. "After all, I don't think I'll be doing any more of this now that our secret's all out."

Illumi could all but gape at how easy the other was taking things. Knowing that he had no chance of convincing the magician on how serious the matter was, Illumi just shook his head. "You idiot," was all he could mutter. But he wasn't bothered when the other confidently smirked again, nor did he pull away when he felt warm lips catch his in a kiss.

Well, the idiot needed something to shut him up anyway.

* * * * *

Light brown eyes passed through the dark mahogany table by the bedside, his face void of the usually bright expression he would always have. His hands rested on the rough surface of the bag he had brought with him. He stared down at its bulkiness soon after. All his clothes are in; all his things, all his belongings. No matter how slowly he had tried to pack his things just to stall time, he knew it has to end pretty soon.

But...he wasn't as sad as he expected to be. In fact, he wasn't even half as sad as he thought he'd be. This experience had left him a strange feeling, as if he had to be happy about something. He remembered the way Killua had told him how he had wanted to stay, how he had wanted to make his father happy somehow, even if killing still wasn't his most favorite thing. It was for his father, he had said.

Gon still thought that killing was bad, and he would've done what he could do to stop Killua from going through this kind of life. But Killua had promised that if it would be possible, he would remember him every time he needs to take one life away. Maybe through that, he may think about it, and maybe find a better life all in all without hurting others and his family. The assassin had admitted that he doubted that it was possible, but he said he would try. And to Gon, that was enough.

All that talk about Killua and his family made him think about his own family. He missed his Aunt Mito, and his grandmother. He'll be going home to them now. And maybe, home back to his father as well.

He sighed, closing the zipper in his bag. A light knock on his door disturbed his thoughts.

"Gon?" came Kurapika's gentle voice. "We're going. Are you done yet?"

"Un," Gon murmured, picking up his bag. "I'm coming out now," he said, and turned his back to follow the older boy out the door.

* * * * *

Killua looked around, scanning the surroundings. His sides, behind Leorio, behind himself, everywhere, but the familiar form of a certain dark-haired boy was still nowhere in sight.

"Take care of yourself, kiddo," bade Leorio, who was patting his head now. "Be good, all right? Though, I think that won't be obeyed much since you will start your training as an assassin after all. But don't forget to use your head, okay? Don't kill just for the sake of it, be sure money's involved," ranted the other. "And don't let it get to you lest you start killing for fun." Killua doubted if Leorio even understood what he was saying. As if the large teardrops that pooled on the corners of the doctor's eyes weren't bad enough.

"I'll be fine, Leorio. You guys take care of yourself too." Any minute now...

The older man sniffed. Killua watched him struggle for more words, until finally--as the young assassin had expected--Leorio bent down and trapped him in a tight hug, wailing various words he found quite hard to understand. His words were muffled by Killua's shirt, and all the younger boy could do was stay still as the other bawled them out. "I can't believe we're actually going to leave you here! Don't forget the times we've been through, okay? Visit us some time, wherever we are. And be good. Again, that's a debatable issue, but you get the idea, right?"

"Yeah yeah, I get the idea! Now stop using my clothes as a tissue paper and go cry some place else!" exclaimed Killua, who was now trying to get away from Leorio's hold.

Instead of taking that as an insult, the older man merely laughed. "I'm gonna miss you too, kid. Even if you have been quite a pest," he said, winking at Killua once to show what he meant.

Killua frowned. Honestly, he would've told Leorio that he'd miss him too, if not for that last remark. No, really! It just so happens that the guy ruined his chances of actually hearing the less than sentimental Killua say such a thing out loud.

He was about to open his mouth to protest and tell the other that he was not a pest when he heard another voice come from behind him.

"Killua?" It was Kurapika. Killua turned his back to look up at the taller young man, who had one chain-clad hand extended to him for a handshake, which the assassin took without a second thought. "Thank you for letting us stay here. Take care of yourself," he said with a small smile.

Killua just nodded. "You too," he said, taking note that he had not let Kurapika's hand go yet. Well, he didn't want to. Compared to that agonizing goodbye with Leorio, Kurapika's was more comforting. Also, he used this to pull the other closer. "Psst. Take care of that idiot over there too," he said, pointing at Leorio. "If he keeps up like that, I bet he wouldn't even leave at all."

At this, Kurapika laughed. "Don't mind him. He'll be fine," he said. He pulled back and ruffled the other's white mane. "Well, that's it. Gon will be down soon, he's right behind me. Thanks again, Killua. It's been great," and with this, he walked towards the other man and hit him on the shoulder. Killua watched with amusement as the two exchanged words, with Kurapika sighing in exasperation as Leorio heaved another agonized sniffle. It didn't take a few moments later before Leorio shifted his wails to Kurapika, as he grabbed the other in a tight hug, muttering stupid words best left ignored. The whole thing ended with Kurapika wearing an uneasy look while he patted Leorio's back to comfort him, with the other still...well, bursting his emotions out. Those two were strange. Lately, they seem to be too close for comfort. Could it be that...?

Killua shook his head. If ever they were something, he'll find out eventually. But there goes his two other brothers. He really was going to miss them.

"Killua!"

Finally, the one he had been waiting for. Judging from the tone of that voice, he'd bet Gon wasn't even halfway down the stairway yet. He was always like that, too excited for everything. Killua turned his back to give the other a big wave. "Gon!"

And sure enough, Gon came running down the stairs, his bulky bag swinging with him. He reached the other soon after, and the two exchanged high-fives. "I guess this is it," Gon said, a sad smile on his face.

Killua sighed, then shrugged. "Yeah, well, you said it wouldn't be the last time," he said, trying to reassure himself more than the other. But since it was Gon himself who had started with these kinds of hopes, he might as well join in. It was less depressing that way after all.

"Of course not!" exclaimed the other. He now wore a genuine smile. "I'm going to be stronger, and I'll come for you again. Then I'm going to make you join the Hunter Exam, and you're going to pass this time. Then we're going to do other things. I don't know what yet, but we'll do them!" he declared happily.

"You don't even know what we'll do and you're already that happy?"

"Of course! It doesn't matter, I can hardly care if I'm going to fall off a cliff next time I see you. As long as it's with Killua, I'm sure it's going to be great!"

A small blush graced the assassin's pale cheeks upon hearing that. Gon...he really did have a knack for making people feel really special. Especially in this case. Killua had never felt more appreciated than how his best friend made him feel.

"Master Killua? May I escort your friends to the gates now?" one of the tuxedo-clad men by the entrance door to their house asked, interrupting Killua's thoughts. Killua merely stared at him, not knowing whether he should make them go now or make them stay a while longer.

"A few more seconds, if you don't mind," it was Kurapika who said this. He then turned to the two younger boys, and he tilted his head to one side in a gentle manner. "Are you two done yet?" he asked with a knowing smile.

"Not yet!" Gon said. And without even a space for other thoughts, he jumped up and gave Killua a great, big hug.

Killua was still. The other's actions were, as usual, unpredictable. "Uh, Gon?"

"There! All done!" Gon declared as he pulled away. A bright smile graced his childish face, with a look of pure happiness. There were no sadness. No regrets. No doubts.

Cat-like eyes purple could but only stare at the three retreating forms of his best friends as they made their way out the door. Killua had made it a point to stay inside the house unless he would risk going with them. Not that that was a bad idea either, but he had his mind set. He will stay. There were other things he had to do, and his own burdens must never bother anybody else again. Gon was his friend, and before he renews his friendship with him, he must be sure that he will be safe despite his being his best friend. This was the only solution he can think of.

But, that's all right. This was a new adventure in itself. This was his mission; to concur the position he has in this family, and live through what he was asked for, where all the people who were important to him all have their contentment. And after that, it will be his turn to be happy. For now, he'd be everyone's own sacrifice. And he didn't mind.

Because now, he has Gon to look forward to.

End of chapter 14

A/N:
To the reviewer who complimented this and the fanfic "Assassin for a Lover" (that was it, right?), thank you, but I would like to shift your regards to Nikki-san. She's the one who wrote that beautiful fanfic ^^ It's really good, wasn't it? *points at Nikki-sama* There's the author though, not me, I'm just afraid that there would be a bit of misunderstanding ^^;

*horror-stricken* FF.net removed my Hunter Chatroom series! *bawls over* They said that I wasn't following rules and regulations. Wha-at!? It clearly wasn't a list of any sort, geez, it was a chatroom series! The characters are still themselves for cryin' out loud! The only rule I think I didn't follow was the capitalization. But come on, you don't capitalize your words when you're in a chatroom, I was just being realistic! . *sighs* But I better not anger the staff, I might get kicked out all in all *sheepish grin* So for those who are still interested in the Chatroom series, just check either of these sites (the very reasons why the past chapters of this fanfic are delayed):

Scarlet Eyes (http://www.geocities.com/kurapikasama)
Dreams (http://www.geocities.com/leorio_hxh_dreams)

Part 6 will be up on both fanfic sections in a couple of days. Uhm, that's it. Better get back to writing now. Thank you for your support, minna! ^0^

- Cherrie (kurapikasama@yahoo.com)