The sound of the wind blowing past was deafening. Illumi now held on to Hisoka every bit as Hisoka held on to him, face to face, as they fell through the air away from the airship. Illumi could see Hisoka mouthing something at him, but he couldn't hear anything over the sound of the soaring wind.

Behind them, the airship they were just on spewed debris from inside of the now depressurized lounge. Illumi could see one of the pieces rupture a different part of the airship's hull. Another piece seemed to fly into an engine. It exploded, and the force pushed them further away as they plummeted further down towards the earth. Illumi shut his eyes for a moment, trying to protect himself from the shards of dust and metal from the ship. When he opened his eyes, Hisoka was smiling a wild, sinister smile at him. The now exploded airship began to fall right out of the same sky they were in. Other people seemed to be falling around them, some passed out, and some apparently screaming, but the air was so loud nothing could be heard above it.

Illumi wanted to scream at Hisoka, but as he looked at the madman in front of him, he decided to save his breath. Hisoka's teeth gleamed, and his hair flew in around in every direction as they held their embrace.

Hisoka had apparently decided to kill them both, and this is where it would all end. It wasn't so bad, Illumi thought. In the grand scheme of things, this wasn't the death Illumi expected. He always assumed he'd be assassinated, and in most of the scenarios he pictured himself getting killed by his own brother, Killua, or maybe even Kalluto. This was not at all the demise he'd pictured.

Just as he thought this, Hisoka reached his hand to touch his shoulder. A piece of what looked like skin colored cloth flew away from Hisoka's body to reveal a backpack with a red string on the strap.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Illumi spoke to himself, knowing that Hisoka couldn't hear him.

Illumi held on to Hisoka as the red-haired magician pulled on the string, releasing the parachute strapped to his back. The wind caught in it, pulling them upwards for a moment before slowing them down as they approached the ground.

The landed in a grassy field, and ungracefully they rolled into it, getting grass and dirt all over both of them.

Illumi unwrapped himself from Hisoka, and took several steps away before throwing up, hunched over. Hisoka quickly unbuckled his parachute from himself and walked over to hold Illumi's hair.

…..

Illumi wiped his mouth and stood. Hisoka was in front of him with his hands on his hips. Illumi sighed, and then threw a punch at Hisoka.

Hisoka caught his fist, and Illumi threw another punch. Hisoka caught the second one, too.

Hisoka began laughing hysterically. "You love me! You really, actually love me!" Hisoka laughed again, and Illumi watched, confused.

"What the fuck, Hisoka?!" Illumi's voice was deep with anger.

Hisoka caught his breath and jumped towards Illumi, kissing him. Illumi pushed him off.

"Explain yourself!"

Hisoka breathed triumphantly. "You, Illumi Zoldyck, Assassin of Assassins, the emotionless killer, you. You!"

"What about me?!" Illumi's frustration was at an all-time high.

"You had every intention of killing me."

Illumi blinked. "Yes of course I had every intention of killing you! You said you want to break up!"

Hisoka laughed again, holding his hand to his chest and jumping up and down in place. "You were going to kill me if I tried to break up with you!"

Illumi's face felt hot with anger. "What's your fucking point, Hisoka?!"

Hisoka bit his lip, and his eyes seemed to roll back into his skull in delight. He huffed, looking at Illumi, "Listen, Illumi, I know you've said you loved me, but I've never seen you be so- so- possessive."

As Hisoka laughed, he was met with Illumi's fist, and fell to the ground. He laid there for not even a second before laughing again. "Okay, that was fair."

"All this time I've been telling you that I love you but you didn't believe me?"

Hisoka lay on the grass, laughing in something similar to what Illumi expected joy to look like. Hisoka sighed. "I believed you, but there was nothing like actually trying to dodge your death blow to really sink the feeling."

Illumi looked down at Hisoka as he stood up. "You know, Hisoka I may have issues but you're just as bad."

Hisoka smiled a cheesy grin. "I know."

Illumi took a deep breath, calming himself. "So, then we're not breaking up?"

"What? No, we're not breaking up!"

Illumi couldn't help but breathe out heavily, relieved.

Hisoka chuckled again and said, "So, how does it feel to be dead?"

"What do you mean? I'm very much alive."

"That airship. Everyone on it is going to die, if they're not already. They'll report you, and your butler Hiro, deceased."

Illumi looked around. They were far enough away from where the airship crashed that all they could see was a plume of smoke lifting into the air. They were close enough to smell the stench of oil and burning flesh drifting their way.

Illumi looked back to Hisoka. "You planned this?"

"You wanted freedom. Now you have it. Your family will think you're dead, and you can do whatever you want."

"That would explain the texture surprise hidden parachute..." Illumi mumbled to himself. He placed his hand on his chin as he thought for a moment. "My remains won't be among the wreckage; my family will come looking for me."

"Bodies go missing all the time. Besides, if you really want to, we can kill someone nearby and toast them up nice and proper."

"And what about Chrollo? He's still-"

"Prytania's going to take excellent care of Chrollo. Don't worry."

Illumi squinted at Hisoka. "So, what are we going to do now?"

"Well, since I, Hisoka Morrow, wasn't actually on that airship, we're going to Heaven's Arena. I have a floor to get back to, and you can stay there."

"Hisoka, you beautiful, fucking idiot."

"What?"

"What am I supposed to do without my family? If they think I'm dead I won't get jobs from them to assassinate people, what the fuck am I supposed to do?"

"Illumi, you can stay with me at Heaven's arena. Besides, eventually you were going to be on your own anyway, right?"

"Mother was going to arrange for me to still take jobs even after Killua took power! I would have been set for life!"

Hisoka pulled Illumi by his collar and pulled him close. "You wanted a way out. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life under your mother's thumb? And what about Prytania? Till death do you part, right? Well congratulations, Illumi. Death has parted you." Hisoka let go of Illumi forcefully and stepped back. "Illumi, I've given you this opportunity. You can come with me to Heaven's arena and fight under any disguise you'd like. Re-invent yourself. Make your own business as an assassin, if you really feel like it. Let your family mourn you, and never look back. Or, you can go back to them and continue living miserably."

Illumi's face was blank as he processed Hisoka's words.

"Do what you want." Hisoka began walking east, towards the city.

Illumi glanced west, at the wreckage of the airship. Another explosion sent fire and smoke into the air.

Illumi sighed. "It's not even noon." He walked east, towards Hisoka. The magician looked back at Illumi following him and smiled.

Illumi smiled back, and chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Hisoka asked as Illumi caught up to him.

"You're still naked."

Hisoka chuckled. "Of course, what better way to get rid of that itchy butler's uniform?"

…...

Prytania walked through the gardens, escorted by Amane. It was still early in the afternoon, but she was tired of being escorted around the estate all day. She had only one moment to herself earlier, and she used it to call Hisoka, of all people.

She sighed, looking over the rose bushes. "Where are you?" She whispered to herself.

"Have you called your company?" Amane spoke from where she stood about three feet behind Prytania.

Prytania breathed in the fresh air, sniffing it, as if looking for something. She crinkled her nose.

"Hello?" Amane tapped her foot.

"Ah, so you're working with Chrollo, I see." Prytania turned to stare at the young butler. "You should really be wary of him, you know. He's bad news."

Amane turned her eyes away from Prytania's gaze, choosing to look at the floor instead. "I..." Finding her words, Amane looked up to meet Prytania's eyes. "I asked you a question."

Prytania crossed her arms. "I made the call that I needed to make."

Amane nodded. "Good."

Prytania turned back to look at the flowers. They were all so beautiful, but they smelled awful, like rotting flesh. Prytania frowned before walking further through the garden, and stopping in front of a yellow rose bush. Amane moved slowly along with her.

"You know, Amane. He'll betray you."

"No, he won't. You're the one who threw me under the bus when it came down to it, not him."

Prytania scoffed. "I didn't really have a choice."

Amane stomped her foot. "You did have a choice! It was telling the truth or let me die!"

Prytania shot Amane a glare. "You really are a child. It was my life on the line, Amane and you know it! The Zoldycks would have killed me if I admitted to knowing anything more than I let on, so I made a choice! It was going to be your life or mine and I chose accordingly. Call me selfish but you would have done the same. Also, if I remember correctly, you didn't die, did you!"

"My, my..." Chrollo's voice startled Prytania. He leaned against a tree in the shade several feet away. "So we've resorted to yelling at children, have we Prytania?"

"You're one to talk. You're the one using her."

"Like the young lady said, at least I didn't sell her out."

Prytania's knuckles grew white as she stared at the man in the garden.

Chrollo looked over to Amane. "Dear, I'll keep an eye on her. You may go."

"Wait!" Prytania held her hand out, gesturing Amane to stop before she left. "Before she goes, why don't you tell her, Mr. Gardener, who you have buried under the flowerbed?"

Chrollo's brows furrowed at the question.

Amane's brows furrowed. "What?"

Chrollo tilted his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Prytania looked over to Amane. "Amane, don't these rose bushes smell off?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't smell that? The smell of rot and decay?"

Chrollo stood straight and took a few steps towards the two. Prytania raised her other hand, telling him to stop where he was. Chrollo halted and squinted at Prytania, then looked to Amane.

"Amane, whatever she's telling you, don't listen to her, okay?"

Amane looked between the two of them, not sure what to believe.

"Amane..." Prytania started, "I know you don't trust me, and I have no right to ask you to trust me, but you have to trust me this once. Just- just look under the rose bushes."

Amane took a step back towards the rose bushes but kept an eye on Chrollo.

Chrollo moved forward towards the girl, and Amane stopped in her tracks. Before he could get any closer, two pins struck Chrollo in the chest. They weren't very deep, not enough to kill him at least, but they were deep enough to make him wince. He looked around for a black-haired assassin, but instead his eyes met with the outstretched arm of a small blonde woman.

"Illumi taught you...?"

"The rose bushes, Amane!"

Amane ran over quickly to the rose bushes. Chrollo rushed forward but Prytania was ready to attack again, this time using her fists. Chrollo easily caught her arm, twisting it down and bringing Prytania to her knees as she cried out in pain. Amane dug quickly into the black dirt. It smelled like death and her hands caught on the thorns, making her bleed. She could hear behind her the snapping of what she assumed was Prytania's arm, followed by her screaming. She knew Chrollo was walking towards her, she could feel his heavy steps against the cobblestone. Just a little further.

Amane's hands touched something cold, and hard. She moved her hand away, and saw a nose sticking up at her from the dirt. She could feel Chrollo's shadow looming over her, but she needed to know who it was. She had to. Just one more scoop of dirt.

Just as she braced for whatever death was sure to come for her, a voice startled her. Kikyo's voice.

"What's going on here?!" She shouted.

Amane could still hear Prytania's cries from where she left her to Chrollo. She dared not look at the woman, but instead looked at the lady of the house, the one she and so many other butlers so despised, and shouted, "There's a body here!"

There was a small silence between Kikyo registering what the butler said and her reaction.

"Who is it?" Kikyo moved forward without caution, and Chrollo stepped to the side. Amane brushed the remaining dirt from the face of whoever unfortunate soul was buried there. Pale skin decorated in specs of dirt and blood lay there in front of her in an eternal sleep. It wasn't the first time Amane had seen a body, but it was the first time she had seen one so close. She stood away from it, holding her dirtied hands away from her as if they, too, were somehow infected with death.

"Sasha... from the kitchen staff." Kikyo spoke softly. "He always chops the vegetables so finely, the way I like them."

Amane looked at the lady of the house, who stared at the unearthed flowerbed grave. Kikyo's expressions were always difficult to read, what with her visor always covering her eyes, but in this instance, Amane knew this was more than just mild annoyance. It was anger.

Kikyo turned to look at Chrollo, as if to ask what had happened, but he was gone.

"Amane." Kikyo's voice was commanding, and firm. The young butler responded silently with a firm and quick nod.

"Find Silva and Zeno. Tell them Chrollo has killed a butler. If you find Gotoh, you tell him too."

Amane nodded.

"Go now! Hurry!"

The young butler sprinted away with determination in her eyes and her objective burning inside her.

Kikyo rushed over to Prytania, who was now passed out on the ground. She carefully lifted the petite woman and made her way quickly to the infirmary.

…...

Gotoh gently placed the receiver down on its placeholder. His expression was grim as he stood alone by the phone.

The creak of the office door as it opened behind him wasn't enough to draw him out of his thoughts.

"Gotoh! Sasha is dead. Chrollo killed him!"

Gotoh turned to see little Amane standing at the door, breathing hard as if she had run there. She swallowed a heavy breath as she tried to wet her mouth again to speak.

"The garden. He's buried- Chrollo buried him in the garden." Amane panted out her words out, waiting for Gotoh to say something or to look shocked. After a moment of silence, Amane caught her breath and continued. "He's been recruiting the other butlers, but I think Sasha didn't want to join him, so he murdered him and buried him under the roses."

Gotoh quivered. "So, this was Chrollo's plan..." Gotoh mumbled to himself quietly. "Amane?" Gotoh's voice was firmer this time.

"Yes?"

"Have you told the Master of the House of Chrollo's deed?"

"I'm about to, once I find him."

"Very well. I'm assuming Chrollo has others that he's attempted to convince to follow him. I can't send a message through the intercom or I'd alert any butlers loyal to Chrollo. You must find Silva yourself and tell him of what's happening."

"Yes, of course." Amane breathed out and moved to turn away and leave. Gotoh stopped her.

"Also tell him that Illumi is dead."

Amane's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I just received news that his airship exploded. There were no survivors."

Amane's legs shook, and she wasn't sure if it was because of the running she just did or because of the news she just heard.

"This... this has to be a dream." Amane said quietly. "Illumi is dead… after everything he's done. I never thought I'd live to see this day."

"Amane!" Gotoh yelled at the girl, and she snapped out of her thoughts.

"Illumi is dead. I will ignore what you just said because we are in a time of crisis, but if you say even one more ill word of any member of the family I will kill you."

Amane nodded. "I understand."

"Go find Silva. I must inform Lady Kikyo."

Amane nodded and scurried away. She ran through the hallways, nearly knocking a few of her butlers down. She didn't have time to apologize properly, but instead just yelled a quick 'sorry' as she kept running.

…...

Kikyo reached the family infirmary with Prytania in her arms.

Dr. Ito saw the two come in and scrambled to get up from where she sat at her microscope.

"My god, this woman again? Did she get poisoned?"

"Broken arm. She got into a little fight."

"Ah. Nothing I haven't done before. We'll need to take X-rays. Bring her over here."

Prytania started coming to as she felt cold metal underneath her skin. She looked up to see a bright light looking down at her. She squinted as she looked around.

"Oh no, she's awake." Prytania could recognize the doctor's voice. She had met her when she was poisoned, and she had meant to thank her for treating her but meeting her like this again would have to do for now.

"Doctor..."

"Prytania. We're going to have to stretch your arm."

"Wait. No, don't-" Before Prytania could finish her protest, her arm was already moving. The pain made her vision go white, and it shot up through her body, making her head pound. She didn't even realize she was screaming until she felt some kind of strap go into her mouth. She gladly bit into it, silencing her screams. It tasted like leather. She could feel warm tears dripping down the sides of her face.

"That should help. We're going to move your arm again."

Prytania bit down as her arm was moved again, and she breathed hard, taking the pain as it came. She looked to her side to see Dr. Ito quickly step behind a wall. There was a beep, and the doctor stepped back in.

"See? You're done. I'll take a look at your X-rays."

Prytania nodded, and the woman stepped away. Prytania spit out the leather strap and sobbed.

"Shh, child." Kikyo's voice was soft, almost nurturing.

Prytania breathed, trying to calm herself.

"Prytania, you did so well."

At those words, Prytania focused on her mother-in-law, who stood over her.

"You were protecting Amane, weren't you?"

Prytania was puzzled. All this time she assumed Kikyo had never bothered to learn any of her butler's names, but she had spoken two butler's names in front of her in the same day, and now instead of being wary of her, she felt comforted.

Kikyo seemed to read her mind. "Prytania, I know I come off as someone who doesn't care about the people my husband employs to protect us, and that's mostly true."

Prytania's brows furrowed at the admission. Kikyo continued, "But the butlers are part of the estate. They are my property, and no one, absolutely no one, fucks with my property."

The blonde didn't know how to process what Kikyo had just said. In a way, it was somehow worse than what she assumed. To Kikyo the butlers were a piece of property, she owned them. They were her toys to throw away, not anyone else's. In the same breath, that meant Kikyo would always protect them from outside threat.

"Is that why they're so loyal to you?" Prytania's voice was small and hoarse.

"Of course." Kikyo reached her hand out to wipe Prytania's tears. Prytania shivered as Kikyo's hands touched hers. Her fingers were cold against her face.

Kikyo took her hand back once the tears had been dried. She smiled at Prytania. "I knew you'd be a good match for our family."

"Wh- Why?"

"You found exposed Chrollo's agenda and protected my butlers."

Prytania nodded.

The doctor came back into the room with the black X-ray sheets and placed them on a light box on the wall. She turned the box on.

"That's a messy break if I've ever seen one. That's a comminuted fracture." Dr. Ito pointed at the glowing white image against the black sheet of the X-ray. "You see that? That kind of fracture usually happens with incredible force. Most commonly seen in vehicle accidents. Some of the injuries I normally see are about this bad, but it's not something that just happens in a regular fight. Who did you tango with, my dear?"

Prytania grunted. "Chrollo. He was going to attack Amane."

Dr. Ito turned to look at Prytania. "Chrollo? You're sure he killed Sasha?"

"It's true." Kikyo interjected. "The man killed Sasha and buried him under the roses."

Dr. Ito turned to look back at the X-rays. "Why... why would he kill Sasha?"

Prytania eyed the doctor, then looked to Kikyo as the lady of the house spoke again. "We believe he's been recruiting butlers to join him for some kind of mission. Sasha must not have wanted to join."

Prytania whispered to Kikyo. "Kikyo, if Chrollo was recruiting butlers, who do you think he would recruit first?"

Kikyo looked down at Prytania, suddenly understanding her meaning. She reached into her hair and pulled out a metal chopstick. She turned just as Dr. Ito was grabbing a scalpel from her pocket. Dr. Ito turned to throw it at Kikyo, but Kikyo's chopstick was already in the air.

It plunged into the doctor's forehead, killing her instantly.

Kikyo's black hair fell from its up-do, and Dr. Ito's body fell into a heap on the floor.

"I guess Sasha isn't the only butler we lose tonight." Kikyo sighed.

"Who's going to fix my arm now?" Prytania whined.

"Me." Kikyo walked away from the bed.

"Wait-" Prytania tried sitting up, but with only one arm to hold her up there was no way she could sit up smoothly without moving her other arm. She lay back down.

"I'm trained medically." Prytania could hear Kikyo rummaging through a cabinet. Kikyo spoke loudly so that Prytania could hear her. "My boys have always been getting into all kinds of squabbles. I've seen my fair share of fractures long before we ever hired the recently deceased Dr. Ito."

Prytani glanced to the side. She could see Dr. Ito's body lying on the floor, blood pooling around her short hair.

"She was right, you've got a pretty bad fracture. It wasn't a clean break at all." Kikyo returned to the room, setting various bottles down on a table nearby. She came back into Prytania's range of vision holding a syringe. "You'll need internal fixation surgery to remove the bone fragments that broke off. We can't have that floating in there to tear up your muscles. I'll take it out for you."

"Are you a doctor...?"

Before Prytania could ask any more questions, Kikyo stuck her in the arm with the needle, and then placed a breathing mask over her face. Prytania suddenly felt so relaxed. She rested against the table and breathed in the air was rushing into her lungs, letting her thoughts escape her as she fell asleep.

…...

Amane had looked in Silva's room only to find it empty. She headed to the family's gymnasium. She hadn't checked the time before leaving Gotoh's office, and had she checked the time before she would have gone to look for him at the gymnasium first instead of going to his room. It was all so hectic. She turned the corner, ready to burst through the doors of the gymnasium and tell Silva everything.

Three butlers stood in front of the doors. They wore frowns on their faces and they kept their arms crossed. It didn't take Amane long to piece together that Chrollo had recruited them.

"You know better than to interrupt Silva while he's training."

This was bad. Amane looked at the three butlers in front of her. Leah, Farzan, and Miller. Leah was from the Kitchen staff. Amane looked at her, wondering if she knew about her colleague in the rose bushes.

"Chrollo killed Sasha." Amane held her fists to her side.

Miller scoffed. "Chrollo already told us you'd say anything to get through the doors. It's not going to work"

"This isn't a lie. Leah. Think about it. When was the last time you saw Sasha."

Farzan looked to Leah. "Don't listen to her, she's lying."

Leah concentrated for a moment. "I saw him... I saw him..."

"You can't remember seeing him yesterday or this morning, can you?"

"Leah," Farzan spoke softly, "don't let her get into your head."

Amane exhaled. "You all said yes to join Chrollo's mission because of how badly we get treated, right?"

The three of them nodded. Amane continued, "What if you had said no?"

Leah looked at the butlers standing next to her. Amane spoke again. "Everybody knows Sasha would never betray the Zoldycks. He probably told Chrollo no, and Chrollo murdered him so he wouldn't talk!"

Miller punched the wall to his left. "Then Sasha was a fool!"

"No!" Leah yelled at Miller. "If Chrollo truly killed Sasha, then he's no better than the Zoldycks!"

The three of them began to argue, and Amane could tell if she wasn't going to get anywhere fast with them, she at least had to find Zeno.

"I need to get Zeno." Amane turned away from them, ready to sprint in the other direction, but she stopped when she saw Zeno standing in front of her.

"Sir! Chrollo is-"

"A good for nothing son of a bitch, yes." Zeno interrupted her. "You three." Zeno's voice silenced the butlers, and they moved almost instinctively to the side.

Zeno stepped forward, ready to enter the gym, but he stopped short of the doors to give the butlers a sideways glance. "Your foolishness has brought tragedy into your life. Your friend is still half-buried in the garden like an unwanted outcast. Go get him. Give him the dignity of a proper burial."

At his words the three of them hurried off. Amane stood there in the hallway with Zeno.

"Sir, before you go in-"

"Gotoh told me about Illumi."

There was a small moment of silence. They air was dry and fragile, and Amane felt shame in her stomach grow. She dropped to the floor in a deep bow. "Forgive me sir!"

"What must I forgive you for?"

"It's my fault! Chrollo must have had something to do with this and now- now Illumi is-"

"Is that what you're worried about, child?"

Amane dared not look up from the ground.

Zeno sighed. "If this is indeed Chrollo's doing, it is entirely on his head. And if that is the case, his head I will have. But first, I have to break my son's heart."

"Sir, you don't have to-"

"It should be me that tells him about Illumi."

Amane nodded.

Zeno stepped into the gym without another word.

…...

Chrollo ran through the Zoldyck manor, ready to make his escape. He knew that even if he did find Alluka, he wouldn't be able to approach. He still had no idea how powerful she was or what the payoff was like. It might not be a gamble he wanted to make if he had to wage his own life. He ran into Dr. Ito's office.

Chrollo figured she probably hadn't heard any news regarding Sasha yet, and hoped she could help her. He opened the door only to see her body on the floor with a chopstick imbedded deep within her skull.

"Dammit." Chrollo cursed. "Who the hell keeps killing all the butlers?" Chrollo heard a quiet breathing nearby. He turned the corner to see a sleeping Prytania, laying on a table in the infirmary hooked up to an IV drip and a heartrate monitor. Chrollo considered taking a minute to kill her. It would be easy and quick, all he needed to do was put a pillow over her head and be done.

Just as he thought this, he could hear someone else in the room moving about. He caught a glimpse of Kikyo through one of the metal instrument trays in the office. He quietly backed out of the room without making a sound and headed out of the mansion. He needed to get off the mountain and quick, he knew the butlers he had gathered to pledge loyalty to him wouldn't be so loyal once they all thought he had killed Sasha. His only option was to leave as quickly as possible.

…...

Gotoh had looked and looked and still hadn't found Kikyo. He'd been looking for what seemed like hours. It was already sundown, and the estate glowed a beautiful orange. Gotoh had walked outside the mansion, deciding to take a break. He spotted Kikyo sitting down on a small bench near a fountain, underneath a large tree smoking a cigarette. As he approached, Kikyo turned and smiled at him. Her hair was down and blew in the gentle breeze.

Gotoh wanted nothing more than to soak in how she looked like, right then and there. The last moment she'd ever have with her hopes and dreams for her firstborn son.

"Gotoh? Why the long face?" Her voice was cheerful. Everything about her in this moment was so beautiful.

But it had to end.

"Kikyo..." Gotoh's voice seemed tired and worn. Kikyo's expression turned to concern.

"What's wrong? Has Chrollo been caught? I was just about to go help look for him but I did a surgery on Prytania to remove a bone shard, and let me tell you I do not miss doing that one bit."

Gotoh sighed. "I have something to tell you."

Kikyo frowned. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Gotoh closed the distance between them, and sat down with Kikyo, placing his hand on hers and holding it. He looked over the estate. He could see the garden from where they sat, and the mountainside forest they overlooked. The mansion was behind them, and the butler's quarters were to their right. Gotoh sighed a heavy breath.

"Kikyo..." Gotoh squeezed her hand, partly for her, partly for him. "We got a call from the airship line that Illumi was flying."

Kikyo stared in silence at her head butler. Wind rolled through the trees, moving the leaves to touch each other just enough to make a soft rustling sound around them.

"The airship went down. Illumi is dead." The breeze slowed and went silent, and the trees themselves seemed to hold their breath.

Kikyo pulled her hand away from Gotoh. "You're lying to me."

"Would I ever lie to you?" Gotoh looked at Kikyo sincerely, and the beam in her visor seemed to move side to side, looking for any fault in Gotoh's integrity.

"No," Kikyo said, voice breaking. "That's- that's not possible."

"Kikyo," Gotoh reached his arm to place it around Kikyo, but she shoved it away.

"No! That's not true!" Kikyo felt like her heart had somehow dropped into her stomach as her throat threatened to choke her out.

Gotoh forcefully grabbed Kikyo and held her to his chest. "I'm so sorry, Kikyo."

"No!" Kikyo punched Gotoh a few times, but slowly the strength in her arms dissipated. She couldn't tell if she was screaming or crying, or both. She held on to Gotoh tightly and curled herself into a ball against him.

...

Hisoka watched as Illumi changed his appearance using his needles. His shoulders shrank, his face became softer, and his hair curled beautifully. He kept his hair black, but he now looked more unassuming, and most importantly, not like himself.

"I never get tired of seeing you change. It must be painful."

"I have a high pain tolerance."

"I know you do." Hisoka wiggled his eyebrows. The sun had already set and it was dark out.

Illumi sighed. "By now the search parties would have declared everything a total loss."

Hisoka nodded. "Yeah. That airship turned into a barbecue."

"My mother will think I am dead." Illumi looked at his hands. They were slender now, not too unlike his own, but different nonetheless.

"It's better this way. You won't have to worry about them finding you now."

Illumi nodded. With his guise, he walked into a men's clothing store and purchased a crop top and a pair of leggings for Hisoka. He had to estimate Hisoka's size, simply because he was wider than Illumi was, and had a more curvaceous rear. Hisoka waited in a nearby tree, covering himself with parts of the parachute.

Illumi returned with Hisoka's change of clothes, and Hisoka sprung out of the tree and hung upside down, using bungee gum to hold him.

"Did you get the stuff?" Hisoka smiled.

Illumi handed Hisoka a plastic bag with his new clothes in it. Hisoka took it in his hand and snapped back in the tree's branches with a quick transmutation of his bungee gum. Leaves fell around Illumi as Hisoka changed.

"Wow these are a perfect fit, Illumi. You got it so great!"

"Really?"

Hisoka jumped down from the tree. "Yes. But there's one problem."

Illumi looked at Hisoka. The crop top and leggings were a deep emerald color, and Illumi thought Hisoka looked great. "What is it?"

"Green is so not my color."

"What? Why?"

"My red hair plus green makes me look like an elf. Can you get me something else? I can't go to Heaven's Arena looking like this."

Illumi scoffed. "At least you're covered now. You can get your own damn clothes."

Hisoka smiled. "I have an idea! Come shop with me. We can shop together for matching clothes."

"Wait. How did you hold on to your hunter's badge and your credit card all this time?"

"Same way I held you to me."

"Bungee gum?"

"It does have the properties of both rubber and gum."

Illumi rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. Hisoka placed his arm around Illumi's waist as they walked together towards a shopping center.

…...

Chrollo ran down the path leading off Kukuroo Mountain, replaying the events of the day in his head.

Prytania had Amane find Sasha's body in the rose bushes, claiming he had to be the one to kill him.

But he didn't. He didn't kill Sasha, and he never approached that boy to recruit him.

Then Dr. Ito was dead in her office, where Prytania was asleep having received some kind of medical treatment for her arm. Kikyo was also there.

"Prytania. That woman." Chrollo mumbled to himself. "She framed me, but how?" Chrollo thought back to the previous morning, when he saw Hisoka staring at Sasha in the kitchen as he chopped lettuce.

"Hisoka." Chrollo spat the name out like a bad word. It made sense. Hisoka probably killed Sasha before they left as insurance in case Chrollo tried anything. All Prytania had to do was 'discover' the body near a butler with faulty loyalty to Chrollo.

"That man is forever a thorn in my side." Chrollo said with a snarl, and then a laugh.

"Stop right there."

Chrollo snapped out of his thoughts after hearing a voice in front of him. He stopped and looked ahead to see the small butler he had met when he came to the mountain, Canary. She stood fiercely, ready to stop him with her cane in her hands.

"I knew you weren't a priest from the beginning."

"And yet you still let me in." Chrollo teased.

"A mistake I won't make again, and now I won't let you leave." Canary tightened her grip on her cane.

Chrollo smirked. "I don't have time for this, so I'll be killing you quickly."

Canary smirked back. "You won't be killing anyone else today."

As soon as she had spoken, Canary sensed a blow coming her way. She could see a flash of metal in her view. A knife.

She barely had time to move before Chrollo sent another attack her way. He was fast, almost too fast to see. His abilities were probably on par with the Zoldycks, and Canary knew then that there was no way she'd win.

But at the very least, she could buy time. The longer she fought with him, the longer he was stuck on the mountain and the greater chance the Zoldycks had to catch him.

"Give it up, Canary. You're not going to win." Chrollo kept his attacks coming one right after another, and Canary tried to keep distance between them, but he was too fast. The knife grazed her arm, then her face. She backed away with each move, and Chrollo approached until she found herself backed into a tree. Chrollo smirked, thinking he had Canary pinned. She ducked and turned away just as Chrollo landed a blow on the tree, stabbing it deep into the hard flesh of the tree violently. Canary almost thought to be impressed, but her mind was focused more on getting away from Chrollo and surviving. There was no way she'd be able to counter attack without getting wiped out, so she had to stick to dodging.

But Chrollo had figured her out already. Leaving the knife in the tree, he bolted away from her down the mountain. She moved reflexively to chase after him, throwing her cane at him like a spear, but moved to the other side of the path, avoiding getting impaled.

She continued after him, but with a sudden flash, he was gone. Canary felt a punch on her side, followed by a blow to her head. As she blacked out, she saw Chrollo standing over her, watching as she fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

…...

Prytania opened her eyes. She was alone in the room, and everything felt heavy. She sighed, looking around and seeing Dr. Ito's body still on the floor. It was paler now, and her skin seemed dry and stiff. The blood on the floor was dark, and she could see where it had shrunk from drying. It had been several hours already and no one, mainly Kikyo, hadn't thought to move her. Prytania noticed a clock in the room.

"Seven thirty..." She lay there, wondering how the events she set into motion played out.

She remembered the conversation with Hisoka over the phone that morning.

"You killed a butler?"

"He's buried in the garden underneath the yellow rose bushes. Do what you will with that information."

"Why the hell do you people always resort to murder?"

"Hey, now. You're not exactly innocent either."

"I'm not crazy like you Hisoka!"

"If that helps you sleep at night, whatever. Oh, one more thing. Have fun with Chrollo for me."

"What?"

"Heh. Never mind."

"Bye, Hisoka."

"Oh wait, before you go."

"What?"

"Sometime today, maybe tomorrow depending on how quickly news travels... you'll get a little gift from us."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll know what it is when you get it. Just consider it a thank you for all that you've done for me and Illumi."

"A thank you? Should I be worried?"

"No. You'll be fine."

"See you when you get back."

"…Bye."

Prytania wondered what Hisoka meant by a thank you gift. She put it out of her mind and rested for a moment. She looked at her arm, which was wrapped up in a cast and held in a swing.

She could see silver hair approach her bedside, and she almost gasped, having not heard Silva come in. She studied his face, and saw that his eyes were puffy and his face sunken in.

"Prytania." Silva's voice was dry.

"Sir."

"Your contract has been terminated."

Prytania blinked, not sure if she heard him right. "What? Why?"

Silva looked down at Prytania. "Illumi is dead."

Prytania searched Silva's face again like he had just told her something ridiculous.

Silva spoke again, "His airship exploded this morning. There were no survivors."

Prytania swallowed, processing the words. "He's... Illumi's dead?"

"I'm sorry but that means you are no longer of any use to us, and with all that's happened today, my family doesn't need any outsiders living in our manor. You will be paid justly, and we do hope you come to his funeral once we have the details sorted, but we need you to leave.

Prytania nodded. "I understand. Thank you."

"I'll have one of the butlers gather your things, since your arm is broken. Please contact someone to pick you up at the base of the mountain by morning."

Prytania nodded, and Silva accepted her acknowledgement. He turned to leave but stopped when he saw the body of Dr. Ito.

"How did this one die?"

"She tried to attack Kikyo."

"Got it. I'll have someone come by and clean that up."

Prytania watched as Silva left, and she lay on the bed and smiled.

"That son of a bitch." She placed her left hand on her forehead in disbelief. "I get to leave. I actually get to leave." A tear fell from her eyes as she laughed.

…...

Tsubone had three graves to dig. One for Sasha, one for Dr. Ito, the traitor, and one for Illumi.

They hadn't received Illumi's body, but Tsubone figured they needed to be ready for when he came home.

Sasha's grave was the first she had dug, in the butler cemetery they had on the estate. Some of the other butlers had worked on making a casket for him. It was humble, made from wood they had stored in the Butler's quarters, but it was a proper casket nonetheless.

A casket was also made for Dr. Ito, but Tsubone dug her grave outside of the cemetery, in the forest away from where anyone would happen upon it. A traitor's grave – to never be visited. When everything was done, and the bodies laid in their respective graves, the butlers gathered at the cemetery. The bustle of the day had worn down once Canary was found unconscious on the path that led to the gates. Everyone accepted that Chrollo had escaped, and they decided there were more pressing matters than going after him.

Gotoh and Tsubone led a brief service for Sasha, as well as addressed Illumi's death to the butlers.

After everything that had happened, no one knew exactly how many butlers had pledged loyalty to Chrollo, but as the Zoldyck family mourned the loss of Illumi, Gotoh issued a pardon for the butlers. None of them, save Dr. Ito, had actually attacked the family with their own hands. The butlers let their traitorous thoughts lay with the doctor, in the hidden grave, and repledged their undying loyalty to the Zoldyck family.

…...

Chrollo left the gates of the Zoldyck mansion and headed through the town at the base of the mountain. There were hotels and tourist centers everywhere, the night life springing forth to bring a gentle orange glow throughout the city. Chrollo wandered through the streets until he found a working payphone. Luckily, he had managed to grab a handful of coins from Canary before making his escape. Not exactly the same world-class loot he was used to, but at least he could make a phone call.

….

"You've reached the rejection hotline! The person who gave you this number-"

"Shalnark, it's me. Chrollo."

"Oh, hi mom!"

Chrollo paused. "…Kalluto is in the room, isn't he?"

"Yeah, things haven't been that great. How are you, mom?"

"Shal, if he's there you need to leave the room and talk to me."

"No need to be upset, mom. I know I need to call you more often..."

Chrollo rolled his eyes as he listened to the sound of Shalnark getting up and stepping outside a room.

Shalnark sighed into his cell. "So, I heard you killed someone."

"I need to skip town."

"Ah, so you did kill Illumi."

"What? Illumi? I didn't even know he was dead."

"Tell that to Kalluto. He thinks you had something to do with it."

"Wait are you sure Illumi is dead?"

"As sure as I am gay."

"Wait, you're gay?"

"...Maybe, maybe not."

"…Whatever. Where are you all headed right now?"

"Meteor city. It might take us a few days, maybe a week. There's not exactly any non-stop airships to a place not a lot of people believe exists."

"Right. I'm in Padokea so it might take me longer to reach you. Wait for me in Meteor City, but don't tell Kalluto that I'm coming."

"Got it. See you then."

"Bye."

Chrollo hung up the phone and walked by a small food vendor, where people gathered around a news outlet. Chrollo saw what looked like reports of an airship explosion.

He crept in closer, listening into the newscast.

"Over two hundred people died this morning in what is now being called as the deadliest airship crash ever. Airship Z143 was headed to Heaven's Arena Metropolis from Padokea when it exploded above the Mimbo Republic. Emergency services are still working on figuring out what caused the crash. We'll have more on the story as it continues."

Chrollo snorted and whispered to himself. "If you're really dead, Hisoka, I won't forgive you."

…...

The next morning, Prytania stood in the Zoldyck's Office as Silva signed a check. She studied the man's face as he gathered several documents. His eyes had deep purple bags underneath as if he hadn't slept. She was surprise to see him at all this morning. Mike, Silva's giant hound, laid behind Silva contently with his head nuzzled against him as if trying to comfort him.

Prytania's heart ached for the man who believed he had just lost his son, but even more than her heart ached, she desperately longed to be free of that mansion.

Silva placed the check and other documents in a large envelope and handed it to her, and she took it awkwardly with her left hand, which she was still getting used to using.

"Not to be rude, but I'm glad you're leaving," said Silva with a sigh.

"No worries. I understand this is a difficult time for everyone."

"Forgive my wife for not wanting to see you off. She's very upset."

"I would imagine so."

"Amane will escort you out." Prytania nodded and left the room quietly. As the door closed behind her, she peered inside to get one last look at the head of the Zoldyck family. He had placed his head on his Mike's fur. Prytania wasn't sure whether to cry or to sleep. Either way, she pitied him.

"All set?" Amane, who had been waiting outside the door for Prytania, seemed to force a smile. She had bags under her eyes, too. It seemed to be a common feature among everyone this morning.

Prytania nodded, and Amane led the way.

Prytania walked through the halls of the Zoldyck estate. Before, when she walked through the manor, it was her prison. Now, it was just a building. She thought for a moment that maybe she'd miss the tea room overlooking the gardens but she decided there were too many secrets here for her to ever miss this place.

She was getting to leave.

This must be the present Hisoka meant. As everyone mourned around her, she had a feeling that Illumi and Hisoka were still very much alive, but she didn't dare say anything.

…...

As she and Amane walked down the mountain, they greeted Canary. She had a broken rib and a swollen eye, but she was still at her post nonetheless.

"Canary, I hope you get better soon." Prytania spoke kindly.

"I heard you got your bone crushed trying to protect Amane." Canary looked to the other Amane, who nodded quickly. Canary looked back to Prytania. "I hope to see you again. You're alright."

"That's very kind of you. Silva invited me back for Illumi's funeral. Maybe I'll see you then."

Canary nodded with a half-smile before letting them through. There was something depressed about the fact that the next time she would see everyone would be at Illumi's funeral. She didn't even know for sure if he and Hisoka were still alive, but she knew at some level she was still lying to everyone there.

They continued down the hill together, quietly.

"You should probably have a real doctor look at your arm."

"Yeah, although I trust Kikyo's ability, I'll need to go see a doctor to make sure I'm healing properly."

Amane nodded and kept walking. Prytania took a deep breath.

"You know, Amane, Kikyo does know your name, and the names of all the other butlers..."

"Yeah. I heard her say everyone's names yesterday. But that just means all this time she didn't use our names on purpose. I'm not sure if that's worse."

Prytania sighed.

Amane looked at her. "Don't worry. I won't try to join a mutinous line of thinking any time soon. Kikyo cares about the Zoldyck estate, and we butlers are part of the Zoldyck estate. That's not the best arrangement, but who knows, maybe she'll change."

Prytania looked at the girl in front of her. "She probably won't change."

"Whatever the case, they've forgiven anyone else who might have pledged to Chrollo as long as they pledge loyalty to them. I figure it's because there's no way to tell how many of us he recruited for sure. Anyone except myself, Dr. Ito, and a handful of others can simply claim they were never a part of it."

"What's going to happen to you, Amane?"

"For now, nothing. We'll see how things play out in the future."

Prytania sniffed. They had reached the bottom of the mountain, and the gates of testing stood before them.

Amane approached the gates and strained to get them open. Prytania was almost surprised at Amane's strength. "I wish you the best."

"You, too." Prytania walked out the gate and waved.

Amane could see a car with tinted windows waiting for Prytania. Amane let the gates close as the blonde woman walked towards the car, ready to leave the Zoldycks behind. The young butler saw a glimpse of her smiling back at Amane before the gate closed completely.

The young girl placed her hands in front of her in a prayer and shut her eyes. "May she have a good life!"

She opened her eyes and sighed, ready to face the mountain and the estate again. Just as she turned to heading back up the mountain, she heard a loud noise, something like a bang.

"A... gunshot?" Amane's eyes grew wide. The gunshot came from outside the gate. Amane quickly moved to push the gate open once more. She was strong, but she had never had to open the gate twice in a row. She could hear the sound of a trunk slam, then a door, then the car start.

She opened the gates just in time to see the car drive away.

"Prytania!" Amane screamed, but the car was driving away too quickly. "No!" Amane yelled, unable to hold the gates open for herself any longer, she let them close. She was inside the gates, tears of frustration flowing freely.

"No! No! No!" Amane punched the gates that kept her inside and cried.

…...

Chapter 20, Fin.

…...

Note:

This chapter ended up being kind of long but I don't care I love it.

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