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

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. Too much of problems. Anyway, uploaded the next chapter

at last. Do enjoy, and remember the golden rule – read and review!

The both of them stood in the dark alley, hidden by the shadows that the tall buildings around the area provided. The rain had neither stopped nor ceased, but had, in fact, increased. The sound it made as it fell; the tap-tap sound was soothing to the both of them.

Ilumi carelessly leaned against the wall behind him, which was rather filthy, giving no heed to his wet overcoat, and closed his eyes. His thoughts were somewhere else; where, though, no one could tell, but Ilumi himself. His dripping black hair fell forward, obscuring his face a little.

Killua heard the scrape of the wall and his aniki's clothing, and looked up, blinking for a while with awe, then chuckled.

Ilumi's eyes snapped open and moved to his brother.

'What?'

'Nothing,' Killua answered, chuckling a little more, his body shaking and his overcoat flapping in the wind. As he chuckled, he shook his silver-lavender head, causing little droplets of water to fly everywhere; some on Ilumi.

Ilumi twisted his mask into a frown, ignoring a mouse that ran over his shoe.

'Don't you dare think of anything stupid with me as the main character,' he warned, although he knew that Killua would ignore it. Killua chuckled even harder, clutching his stomach. Ilumi frowned even more, although his eyes remained only as black, emotionless orbs. Killua was used to thinking of stupid things sometimes – something that had started as a habit since young.

Still, he was pleased. At least Killua is not keeping to himself as he had the days before; the silent talk that they had before coming out of the room had helped a little. This meant that Killua is slowly starting to accept the situation that he is in. Ilumi really could not get used to a silent Killua although Killua is supposed to act that way, being the assassin that he was trained to be. But then again, Killua had always been cheeky and active since a child, albeit all the trainings that he had to undergo, and at an age that was younger than any of his siblings, younger or elder; yet, father and grandfather had no objections.

'Killua, don't you dare,' warned Ilumi again.

'Ne, I was thinking, if a photographer happen to pass by and notice you, I'll bet on my pride that you'll be on the front cover of some dastardly…umm…how do I put it…sexy magazines. Then what happens, I wonder? Father would be calm, I think, but I guess you can order a room in the asylum for mother,' Killua blurted out, then continued giggling even harder, with his pale fingers over his mouth, body shaking uncontrollably all over.

Ilumi raised an eyebrow questioningly, but amused. The next moment, however, his form suddenly tensed.

'Killua.'

It was just a monosyllabic call, but it had such a big influence over Killua.

His childish chuckling stopped abruptly, and he straightened his body. His arms dropped by his side, and mischievous deep blue eyes darkened to black empty orbs, exactly like Ilumi's. The assassin mode.

'Aah, I'll be going first,' Killua said woodenly.

A small smile lit Ilumi's lips. Killua can be so ridiculous at times.

'Have a nice day, Killua,' he answered nevertheless, playing along, as he watched Killua walk past him and out of the alley, into the road. Killua stopped in the middle of it. Ilumi watched for another few moments, then leaned against the wall again, his eyes closed.

He was happy – Killua could still easily slip back into his assassin mode. That is good…in fact, very good.

- -

'What is Killua doing?" Gon asked stupidly as his eyes widened in shock, all traces of happiness that had appeared when he saw Killua emerging from the alley wiped out.

'Waiting,' Hisoka answered simply.

'Waiting…? For what?'

But before the question had even escaped his mouth Gon already knew the answer.

'For…his victim,' Leorio answered monotonously, with his voice hushed, but eyes just as wide. Hisoka chuckled inwardly as he watched the reactions of the other three.

'This is really getting interesting, isn't it?'

Gon snapped out of his trance. No, he is not going to let Killua what he (Gon) thinks he (Killua) is going to do. No…definitely no way.

'I'm going to him! Killua is not a killing puppet!' he unconsciously yelled as he whirled around to make his way to the door.

'Coming,' Kurapika, eyes blazing, followed Gon. Leorio did too, noiselessly.

'Oh no, you're not.'

A poker card, printed hearts six, whizzed by, cutting Gon across his cheek, causing a line of red cut appear. It perched horizontally from the wall where it got lodged after impact with the wall.

Gon swiveled around, eyes full of anger and determination.

'He is my friend!'

Hisoka, who had been leaning casually against the wall beside the glass door, straightened up. His eyes narrowed and flicked towards Gon and his companions, and for the first time that evening, Hisoka was not the eccentric magician that he was.

'So what? Ilumi wouldn't let you take Killua away again. For all you know, he'll trash you up like you were nothing. True, the three of you may have grown stronger, but remember, Ilumi is not your average nen user.'

'Killua will not abandon us.'

'You think that Ilumi will let Killua know?'

That shut Gon up. Killua will protect them, Gon is sure, but the problem is indeed whether will he know that they are in danger. Hisoka was right. Kurapika narrowed his eyes and bit his lips.

'I don't care!' Gon yelled indignantly.

'Are you using brain or brawn here, little Gon? Like Ilumi, I'm not quite normal when it comes to using nen, either,' Hisoka asked in a dangerous sing-song manner, his eyes glinting maliciously as he stared down at Gon. Gon rivaled the stare with his determined one.

'Brawn,' Gon answered, fists clenched. Killua is his friend, and he will not allow Ilumi to turn him back into a killing puppet. He wanted the strong and reliable Killua that he had knew all along – the one that was cool and collected, cheeky, always playful and yet able to think rationally and influence those around him to do the same before they act. That is the real Killua – the Killua that had never been given a chance to emerge until the time when they met each other!

'No, Gon. Brain. We will not go yet,' Kurapika's low voice filled the tense atmosphere. Gon snapped up, eyes wide, sight flicking towards Kurapika. Not wanting to believe what he had heard, he slowly took in the figure of Kurapika with his head bowed down, not looking at Gon.

Hisoka stopped short, his malicious look now gone. His infamous sly smile slowly crept back into his face. A drama…an argument between the best of friends…such good luck!

'Now now, what will you all do? I'm waiting…Killua's waiting.'

'What…did you say?'

Disappointment was clear in Gon's tone. Kurapika squeezed his eyes tightly as he heard Gon's voice. He knew that Gon would be hurt at what he had said, but Gon needs to understand that at times, determination means nothing, and now is one of those times.

'You're…giving up on Killua…aren't you? Aren't you! Leorio, Kurapika's giving up on Killua!' Gon's voice was shrill and uncontrollable as he turned to Leorio, seeking for support.

'No! He's not!'

The support that Gon sought from Leorio never came; instead, he was given a harsh yell. Gon's eyes widened.

'You too…Leorio?'

'No!'

Leorio stood his full height and slowly advanced towards Gon. Gon did not move as he stared silently at his adult friend. From the side, Kurapika slowly held his head up, eyes filled with regret. When Leorio reached Gon, he slowly squatted, and placed his hands on both of Gon's shoulder. Gon then tried to hide his sight, but Leorio forced him to look straight at him.

'Gon, you have to understand. This time, determination will not work. In fact, it might even hurt Killua. Think about it. If we go against Ilumi now, we'll definitely get hurt, and Killua will also go against Ilumi. Then what will Ilumi do? Kill us, probably, but what about Killua? He will have to bear with the guilt of getting us killed, even though it was not his fault in the first place. Does it make sense to you now? Kurapika would have taken everything into consideration before making his decision – Kurapika did not give up on Killua; none of us ever did. We will never ever do that. What about you? Where was the trust that you had placed in us? Is it lost, too? Have you given up on us?'

For a moment, Gon stared unblinkingly at Leorio.

'I'm sorry,' Gon breathed out, finally. He lowered his head so that whatever expression on his face was shadowed.

'Happy now, Hisoka?' Leorio spat angrily, shifting his gaze from Gon to Hisoka, who was standing by the side, smiling gleefully at the scene unfolding in front of him.

'Oh yes! Very. Thank you for the entertaining and…umm…oh, yes – heart wrenching scene.'

Kurapika glared at him, but did nothing. Exactly then, Gon held up his head. Hisoka smiled questioningly when he saw Gon.

His eyes were burning with fire again – with blazing determination. His jaws were set, and his next few words made Hisoka beam with delight.

'We'll be with Killua again. Watch us.'

'My my, such determination. We'll see, we'll see. Hmm…Killua Zoaldyeck, I did not know that you played such an important role in Gon's life, ne? I don't think that you yourself knew. What would you have done if you knew, I wonder? I bet life is going to be even more interesting for me then!'

Silently, the magician chuckled.

Yep, so here goes the enforcement of the golden rule! Please obey! (Heheh… evil laugh )