Disclaimer: Hunter X Hunter is merely a favourite of mine, not owned by me.

Author's Note: Waa...I'm threatened...(crying). Honto ni gomen, Pyro Falkon, school had just reopened for me here, so I did not really have time to update.Waa...honto ni gomen...please don't kill me! Hee...! Ah, Ruby Heart! Yeah, I did not really thought of putting Hisoka in this fic...but quite suddenly, he just popped in my head, so I thought, maybe it would be good, because he really could make things a lot more interesting.What do you think? Ah, and another thing, thank you very much for taking your time to review! I really appreciate it! Makes me more motivated! Heh...

'It's raining out there, ototo. Put on this overcoat.'

Killua, who was struggling to tie up the laces of his boots, gazed up and turned around at the sound of Ilumi's voice. Ilumi was holding up a long, black overcoat towards his direction. Killua blinked twice.

'Hold on, aniki.'

He returned silently to his work. Ilumi did not answer, arm extended, still holding out the overcoat. He knew that Killua was still a little reluctant to talk to him. Not that he minded. He's not one to talk much, but to have Killua, of all people, give him the cold shoulder was a little painful, since the boy had been closer to him than any other of his siblings. Cutting his aura with zetsu, he silently got up and approached his unsuspecting brother. He lightly wrapped the coat around Killua, causing him to jerk up.

As if he did not notice his younger brother's reaction, Ilumi crouched in front of Killua and pulled his foot towards him, then started undoing all the knots that had mysteriously appeared when Killua tried to tie his laces with his inexperienced fingers. He was, after all, a newcomer to boots, since he had all along preferred sneakers when he went out on a mission. It's just that Ilumi had wanted him to put on boots for this kill.

'Thank you, aniki,' Killua said softly as he lowered his head and pulled his foot in when Ilumi finished.

Ilumi was silent as he took his place beside Killua. Killua remained static, all the time gazing steadily at his boots, arms wrapped around his knees. It felt a little awkward this way, with Ilumi sitting so close beside him. Maybe because it had been a long time since he had been this close to Ilumi. Ilumi, as if he sensed his brother's unease, threw a sideway glance at his younger charge.

'It's okay. It'll be difficult again, at first, but you'll be fine at the end.'

Killua did not respond. Memories of Gon, Kurapika, Leorio and him, and all the adventures they went through together seemed to play in his mind, as if someone had made them into a picture. It was then followed by memories of his first assignment. He did not find his first assignment difficult or frightening at all. In fact, he had found it…enjoyable…especially when he saw the victim's blood decorating the pale white walls.

For a few moments, the both of them sat that way, side by side.

Then, Killua shuffled nearer to his eldest brother and laid his head on Ilumi's shoulder, seeking comfort; the kind of comfort that he had left behind when he had embarked on the journey with the other three.

'Really?'

'Yes.'

Silence.

'Thank you.'

And Killua snuggled into his eldest brother's cold embrace, as he had done, thousands of time, when he was younger.

- - -

'What exactly are we doing here? You promised to lead us to Killua!' Gon exclaimed impatiently as he turned his head to look at Hisoka, feeling a little stupid for believing and trusting Hisoka to keep his words, as he stood in the middle of the room. Beside him, Kurapika and Leorio were quiet but tense, ready to fight any "surprises" that Hisoka has in mind, if any.

'This room is not exactly my cup of tea either, but it is a must,' Hisoka answered casually as he moved about, inspecting and scrutinizing each of the furniture in the room with the air of a patient old man.

'Just as I had suspected. The furniture at the higher floors are much more hygienic. Even the taste of the air is different.'

'Stop groaning,' Kurapika snapped.

The room was a lot like the one that Gon and the rest had stayed in before this, but then again, this room is on the second floor.

Hisoka had led them into a hotel room at the second floor, which is rather curious. This fact would not have been a surprise if the person mentioned here is not Hisoka. He has been known to his acquaintances never to like to live in a room that is not high up above nearly all other buildings which gives him a clear view of the whole city.

'What do you mean – it is a must?' Kurapika then asked shrewdly, silently praying that they had not fallen into a trap.

'Don't be impatient, Kurapika. You're supposed to be the calm one here. By the way, have a seat. I believe it wouldn't be long before they arrive.'

'They? Who's the they?' Leorio asked, letting his guards down a little.

'Wait and see, and I do remember inviting you to sit, didn't I? Or is it that you're afraid that I might have done something to the chairs? No, no, I can assure you I did not. Do sit…or unless you're scared?' Hisoka smirked secretly as he pressed a little on the word "scared", knowing that one among this group – two, if Killua was here – would immediately throw all caution to the wind and accept his challenge at the sound of the word.

Sure enough, Gon walked to a chair and promptly dropped on it before Kurapika or Leorio could manage to utter a word.

Hisoka chuckled. Gon is always so easy to comprehend, and his next action is always so straightforward, so predictable, that it becomes, in a way, unpredictable.

'See, I told you that the chairs are alright.'

'So you mean other furnishings are not?'

'Well…you can try if you want to,' Hisoka laughed. So very much like Gon to ask such questions.

None of them answered, and Kurapika and Leorio settled in the chairs beside Gon.

Hisoka smiled, then leaned against the wall adjacent to the glass door of the room and quietly watched the rain fall against the dark background. For a few silent moments, they remained that way.

Then, the smile on Hisoka's pale lips grew.

'Are you ready? The show is about to begin.'

There was a flurry, and the chair that had been occupied previously by Gon and the rest were empty.

Hee...so...? (waiting expectantly) ; )