Chapter Twenty-Six

For Now, A Family

Spider-thread clouds spin their tendrils through the upper atmosphere, but on earth, in his room of clouds, Illumi cannot sleep.

He's here. On a strange continent, with creatures that could kill Killua and all of them. Creatures he knows that he has not exactly treated well before.

"Thinking of something?" Hisoka slips his hands under Illumi's pants.

Illumi squirms. As pleasant as Hisoka's ministrations are, he must talk to his family. Now.

"I have to talk to her. With Killua as negotiator. Kalluto too. I have to – I must know the answer, even if I die." Illumi sits up. "I am a terrible assassin and brother. But I have to try."

"You don't even know where she's sleeping. If Ai sleep." Though given the beds, Hisoka assumes they do. Still, he's careful to remove his hands from Illumi. He does not want to force Illumi.

"A search is never a hindrance." Illumi slides out of bed.

He's really doing it. Spoiling their one chance to sleep well. Or do other activities in a private room, at least. God, why is Hisoka's husband like this?

"I'll accompany you, but I do hope to fuck you later," Hisoka murmurs.

Illumi doesn't much like the word fuck, but he does like the action. "I'd like that."

Hisoka wraps his arms around Illumi from behind, rejoicing over his husband's simply sincerity. "You are too precious."

Illumi turns his head to kiss Hisoka. "We need to make up for lost time. Don't think I've forgotten."

"You try so hard to joke and come up short." Hisoka wiggles his eyebrows as his heart skips. "Let's get going, then."


"Kil. Killlllllllllua," calls a voice, cutting through Killua's dreams.

Killua stumbles to the foggy door, elucidating Illumi's form beyond the walls, distorted by the mist and his own exhaustion.

"This had better be good." He rubs his eyes.

"I thought you always said rest was important after injury," Kalluto calls from his bed. He too is already awake, already alert according to Zoldyck teaching. "Oh, just kidding, that was Machi."

Illumi crosses his arms. He's still not thrilled about these fake adoptive parents. Okay, mostly he's just hurt. Why can't he and Hisoka be the adoptive parents?

He swallows, shocked at his disloyalty to Mother and Father. The thought is buried back in his brain immediately, but it haunts him all the same.

"I'm glad you're okay, Kalluto," Illumi says to start. He's not even bringing up his mission to find Alluka. He's talking to the brother before him first. Isn't that…how normal people do it? How Killua wants him to do it?

"What's Hisoka doing here?" Gon waves from the bed.

Hisoka waves back. Gon always seems to perk up around him. Not the other way around. Right?

Gon would never wave to Illumi, of course. Illumi realizes he is probably at fault for that. He did threaten to kill Gon the first time they met. And later tried to prevent Killua from saving him – okay, Illumi knows he fucked up.

"I want to talk to Alluka," Illumi says plainly, breaking his 'normal person' act. "Not Nanika. Alluka. We haven't seen her."

"I trust Nanika that she's sleeping and tired from teaching the Ai," Killua says.

"I don't." Illumi remembers staring at Alluka playing with her dollhouse, innocent and blissful as Mother and Father discussed which sibling they could use to test her powers.

And then he intervened, suggesting a butler. Because Mother and Father never imagined Alluka could be a danger, but Illumi did, and he knew it was best to prove it soon, so Killua would not be hurt.

He had been so proud of himself when the butler died. For proving his hypothesis.

He'd proven Nanika was not Alluka. His little brother was not a threat to the family; the thing possessing him, perhaps even responsible for convincing him he was a girl, was at fault. They merely had to exorcise him.

And then Mother and Father insisted, instead, that this thing was no longer human, nor a member of the family.

This is true of Nanika. But it's not true for Alluka, and Illumi would like to rescue her. Or him. Hisoka's sided with Killua and Kalluto, insisting that Alluka has shown she wants to be a girl, too.

"You're not planning anything stupid, are you?" Kalluto frowns.

"I taught you both better than that," Illumi replies.

"Okay, true," Killua acknowledges. "Let's find her."


"Oito, come in." Queen Duazal greets the queen escorted by Melody, Leorio, and half the Phantom Troupe. She motions for them to enter her chambers.

Oito smiles tentatively. Duazal is one of the warmer wives; she always treated Oito like an equal, and at times a friend.

Tserriednich could discover their escape anytime now. Oito licks her lips.

"Is this them?" Queen Seiko's austere expression has not changed since Oito saw her last, since Nasubi lived and the succession contest had barely begun. Beside her stand a desperate Prince Kacho and a terrified Prince Fugetsu.

"Oito, if you're tricking us, I will kill you myself," Kacho promises.

"Kacho…there's no need to pretend anymore. You and your sister may both survive." Melody looks at her with pity.

Kacho is horrified. Someone has seen past her awful façade? Someone knows all she wants is to save her sister, even if it means drawing everyone's ire to herself?

"Hi there." Prince Tyson flutters her eyelashes at Nobunaga.

He pales.

"Stop behaving like a harlot," Queen Katrono commands her daughter.

"And yet, we're the ones who married an already-married king, so who is the harlot here?" Oito watches Tyson's tragic expression. Katrono's severity with her homely daughter is reflected in the prince's need for male approval. And it has always hurt Oito's heart, but she's never said anything before.

She's not sure why she feels compelled to speak now. But if she doesn't speak now, when?

"You're no harlot," Phinks assures Oito, nearly tripping over his words in his haste. "Not at all!"

"Thank you," Oito says tremulously, "but I don't know anything anymore."

Tang Zhao stands besides Prince Zhang Lei. The quiet queen has never spoken to Oito. And, in fact, she still says nothing, but her nod speaks more than Oito needs.

"Is this everyone?" Unma demands.

"I believe so," says Swinko-swinko, pinching Sale-Sale into paying attention. "Oito, have you a plan?"

"Of sorts." Oito snaps her fingers, and the door opens one last time.

Mizaistom and the Zodiacs, minus Cheadle and Kurapika, enter the room.

"Told you they'd help." Leorio grins.

"Perfect. They'll help by guarding the Princes," Oito says.

"What?" Tubeppa exclaims.

"We have three targets to restrain. Benjamin, Tserriednich, and that woman, Morena Prudo. All are accomplished and dangerous nen users, and therefore we'll need the strength of the Phantom Troupe to confront them."

Oito clasps her hands and looks around the room, in everyone's eyes, one by one. Some are scared; others defensive; others too cynical to hope.

"In the meantime, we must keep the rest of our children safe. The Zodiacs are talented enough that we queens trust them to guard you all." Swinko-swinko crosses her arms.

"We won't wait here while you die," Tubeppa insists.

"You're not waiting. You're going to be escorted off the ship," Oito says.

"With the Ai?!" Zhang Lei is appalled.

"It's safer out there than here. And if you're so concerned about Ai: they, at least, do not have murderous intent. And we have a friend among them," Oito says. She hopes to God that Alluka is still alive. Her eyes prickle. "My child has likely reached them by now."

She can't bear to think otherwise.

"I'm sure Woble has," Shizuku says quietly, and Oito sends her a teary smile of gratitude.

What kind of leader cries?

Phinks hates emotion. He especially hates tears. Because he cries often, when he's alone.

His heart swells at the sight of Oito weeping. This woman is perfect.

"While you're hiding among the forest, speak with your siblings about what kind of country you'd wish to see. Perhaps we shall implement it," says Unma.

"And you? Our mothers?" Kacho looks afraid.

"We're queens; it's time we acted the part. We – we – we will accompany the Troupe. If anyone can speak to your wayward brothers, it is us," stammers Sevanti.

"We are all clustered here should anyone attack!" Tyson scowls.

"There won't be just people guarding you in the room. Hanzo, Biscuit, Melody, and the elite hunter guards will be positioned outside. If anyone malevolent approaches, they will be dealt with," Oito says.

"And if our brothers don't listen to reason?" Fugetsu asks softly.

"That's why we're here." Nobunaga winks. "Amazing what a little force can do to open one's capacity for reason."

Phinks guffaws. "Ask him how he knows."

"Then…I can tell you the secret way to Tserriednich's chambers," says Tubeppa. "We had discussed an alliance previously." She looks around the room. "Well, I was planning on sparing all of you!"

"That's nice," says Prince Luzurus. "You were going to be my first victim."

"A scientist as your first target? That seems foolish, no?" Tubeppa wrinkles her nose.

"Enough bickering, please," Oito beseeches them. "I understand we're a family, and we can return to our spats and loathings and petty jealousies later, but not now."

"For right now," says Unma, "we ought to be a family."


Nanika has sensed them coming. Mr. Chrollo's empathy could only keep her siblings away for so long.

Still, she remains levitating twenty meters above the ground, staring at the moon. Reaching for the stars, as if reaching for a cookie on a high shelf.

Nanika hasn't missed much about this place, but night floats, when you felt you could be swallowed up by the swirling galaxy above, are the exception.

"Did you even go to bed, little sister?" Illumi asks from below.

Her siblings have entered the room they dined in that evening. Though now it is morning, just barely, just a second past midnight, but it feels like the future.

"I can sleep like this," Nanika says merrily as she sinks back to the table.

"That's awesome," Killua says with enthusiasm. Even now, he does not want to command her. "Um, Nanika, Can we talk to Alluka too? We missed both of you, you see."

"'Kay." Nanika understands. She can only hope he really did miss her, along with Alluka. She retreats.

"Killua!" Alluka's blue eyes open. She throws her arms around him. "I've missed you so much!"

"We've missed you too," Kalluto says, pushing Killua aside to hug her next. "Did you know Machi and Feitan are having a baby?"
"Nanika told me!" Alluka squeals. "How exciting!"

"Alluka." Illumi reaches for her, and his heart aches when she inches backwards. He draws away, hanging his head. "Alluka…have they hurt you?"

"Oh. No, not at all." Alluka clasps her hands. "I teach them to speak out language! They like me more than Nanika, actually."

"But she's one of them," Gon says.

"They, uh, don't like concrete matter or lifeforms very much. Nanika broke a lot of tradition to come to us." Alluka's voice lowers.

"You mean she was kicked out," Hisoka says bluntly.

"Big brother, you're kind of mean," Alluka tells him.

Hisoka chortles with laughter, even as his heart warms towards the child he almost killed. Fighting her would certainly be interesting, though he won't, because Illumi would kill him first.

"She chose me because she saw I didn't fit in already. 'Cause I liked girl stuff," Alluka says, swinging her legs back and forth. "I don't mind."

"But…how of all places did Nanika come to the Zoldycks?" Illumi taps his chin.

Alluka looks distressed. "I don't know. She'd have to tell you. But she won't even tell me."

A question occurs to Illumi, a question he wonders why no one has asked before. "What…what was it like? When Nanika came?"

"Um, hmm, I don't really remember." Alluka looks thoughtful. "I had a new friend. She used to ask me stuff at night when we were alone. Then she saw Killua being nice to me and wanted people to be nice to her, too, so I let her ask for stuff."

But didn't she realize Nanika was hurting people? Did she not understand?

Or does she ask because gifts make her feel loved? Like Illumi used to kill when he was a child, just to feel loved. Illumi opens his mouth.

"Isn't there something you want to say?" Killua asks sharply, cutting him off.

Illumi glances towards Hisoka, who dutifully shows that his phone is not on record.

He kneels before Alluka. His dark eyes look into hers. "Alluka. I am sorry I did not consider you a family member. I am sorry I tried to kill you. And I am sorry – I am sorry to Nanika, too."

Illumi holds out his hand. "From now on, I am going to try to be your oldest brother."

Please. He swallows back his cry.

"It's not fun," Killua adds, but there's a playful note to his voice. A note that raises Illumi's hopes.

"And you love him anyways," Hisoka sings, throwing Killua a glare.

Wait, is Hisoka actually defensive over Illumi? Killua tries not to laugh.

"I am sorry I exposed you to danger on the ship," Illumi continues.

"They would have found us anyways. Just took shorter when Nanika used her nen." Alluka's eyes shine. She looks cute enough to leave Illumi breathless, wondering how he had wanted to hurt her. "Will you pat me on the head?"

Illumi nods. This isn't Nanika's request game. This is his sister.

He's not afraid. He reaches out to stroke her hair.

Alluka giggles as she returns the favor to Illumi's head; he looks as though he really has floated into the stars.


Come morning, Kurapika's skin is still slick with sweat. His arm sticks across Chrollo's bare chest, and his chin is buried in Chrollo's shoulder.

"We have a guest," Chrollo says gently, to awaken Kurapika.

An Ai hovers in the doorway.

"I think it wants us to follow it." Chrollo fishes for their clothing, and notes with some delight how Kurapika's face still blushes.

The creature squeaks. Ai.

This, at least, is one of the friendlier members of its species. It babbles to them as they follow, emitting nothing but a pleasant aura.

"I think it likes us," Chrollo says, mesmerized by the way the clouds glow gold in the dawn.

Kurapika snickers. He doesn't often know what it's like to be liked. Not anymore.

"Hi!" Nanika waves from the same table they had dinner at. "We have breakfast!"

Illumi and Hisoka, looking even more tired than before, sit there. Killua looks grumpy, Kalluto is asleep at his seat, and Gon looks, well, as awake as Gon usually does. It's a relief to see that Gon is fine, even if the Zoldycks look like hell.

Cheadle enters the room, bouncing Woble.

Kurapika leaps to his feet and takes the Prince, to Illumi's disappointment.

The Kurta really likes children, Chrollo realizes, watching Kurapika talk gibberish to Woble.

He feels a twinge of guilt, because he really would deny Kurapika that if they continue their relationship.

So Chrollo scoops Woble from Kurapika's arms. He beams at the baby, who claps her hands to his cheeks and pulls on his nose.

Children…are cute.

Children…won't remember this. Woble will only grow up knowing if her mother and allies defeated her brother, or she may not grow up at all.

Machi and Feitan arrive with a horde of Ai, and Chrollo can't help but ponder if Woble will know their child, befriend them, despise them. Who knows what life could bring?

But he knows he wants their kids to have the chance to know each other.

Once everyone settles in their seats, Nanika claps her hands again.

"Ai, ai! They didn't refuse your request." She nods.

"Did they accept our partnership?" Machi asks skeptically.

"They want proof that you won't colonize us."

Killua's mouth opens and closes. "We don't have proof."

Nanika looks troubled. The Ai's voices rise.

"We aren't in charge! Prince Tserriednich is, and we want to replace him with a good person, but that's all we have. We came here for Alluka and Nanika only," Gon asserts.

"Kid, please calm down," Hisoka, of all people, mutters.

"My companions are right. We don't have proof." Kurapika rises. "But I have something close to proof."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a jar of scarlet eyes, as his own turn the same color.

"I'm from a small clan who were exploited for our eyes." Kurapika points to his. He raises a shaking hand with Pairo's eyes. "These were my best friend's. Taken when our entire clan was slaughtered."

His voice catches. "I swear on these eyes, I would never allow that to happen to anyone else. Be they human or Ai or anything else that lives on this continent."

Feitan, Machi, and Chrollo stare at the table; everyone else is transfixed on Kurapika.

Kurapika has never used his story for anything but fuel. Fuel for vengeance and hatred.

But now, he thinks, as he moves his eyes from Ai to Ai, pleading with them, perhaps good can still come from his pain.

Ai, says a husky voice.

"They accept your testimony," Nanika says. "And agree. Though any betrayal will be met with your deaths, and all of those you love."

Feitan eyes Hisoka. "Don't fuck up."

"I don't actually wish to die," he shoots back.

Killua hugs Nanika. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Nanika smiles. "Pat my head."

Chrollo turns to thank his lover, but Kurapika is already moving away from him, crossing the room.

Kurapika approaches Machi with Woble in his arms. He's not sure why he wants to do this, but he does. Especially now, after laying his pain bare. "Hey, Machi. You deserve a chance to prepare."

"You'd trust me with a child, Chain Bastard?" Machi avoids his eyes.

"I do," Kurapika says, and she smiles in relief.

When she lifts the toddler in her arms, she feels a second chance lift her heart.