Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my OC.

Warnings: None for this chapter.

CRYING WOLF
by: Riseha

Chapter 3

Twins

Illumi kept a very, very firm grip on my arm as he guided me out of the torture room.

Killua whined in protest, the five-years-old trying to follow but Millu-nii held him back. As metal doors closed in on us, I heard Killua yelling insults and profanities at our second oldest brother.

I dug my heel into the wooden floor, futilely trying to free myself from my eldest brother's iron grip.

Talk about impossible.

I seethed, clawing at his hand but he didn't even flinch. "Let. Me. Go!" I yelled, struggling.

"No," was his flat reply.

"She's going to kill me!" I screamed hysterically, and I knew that was what I feared most, that it was the reason I was struggling like crazy. I knew I was being a hypocrite; when I was being tortured, I wanted to die and now, when I'm probably going to die, I was willing to be tortured instead. I really couldn't decide which option sucked more. "Let me go!"

"No," he said. "listen to me, I'm your older brother and when I order you to shut up and stop resisting—"

"My real brother would never bring me to my death! My older brother would never torture me!"

Illumi turned, a strange glint in his eyes. If I hadn't known any better, I would've called the emotion flashing by hurt.

"Then maybe I'm not your brother," he finally responded, his voice colder than ever.

I stilled.

And that was the opening he needed to sweep me up in his arms; I had a strange surge of vertigo, only now did I realize how tall he was, but I didn't stop squirming and cursing him.

Someone tutted. I stiffened, momentarily stopping my struggles and looked up to see who had approached us: Mother. She still wore those frilly western gowns, her visor in tact and her hat hadn't changed at all, still perched on top of her hair, but even under the visor, I could see the healthy glow of her pale cheeks, signs of pregnancy. I gazed at her swollen abdomen, I guessed she was into her seventh-month.

Great, pregnant women's mood-swings would only serve to make my death quicker. Awesome.

"What's with the noise, hm?"

"Mother," Illumi greeted, surprisingly polite as he dumped me in front of Mother. "Illyria can use Nen."

I expected Mother to drop her teacup on my head then and turn into a raving and raging demon, but she merely quirked her lips and placed her cup down. Her visor hid her eyes, and I was unable to discern whatever she was thinking.

Much to my surprise, she waved Illumi off and gestured for me to sit before her.

Trembling, I did as told. She was my mother, wasn't like she would seriously consider killing me would she?

Who was I kidding? This was the matriarch of the Zoldyck family, a skilled assassin despite her looks, age and current status! I'm dead, I groaned softly, looking at the brightly lit room—probably the last place I'd ever see.

The walls were a bright mint green, white furniture, all were western style. The windows were fool-proof glass, allowing us the view of the garden. I blinked in surprise when I saw the autumn leaves falling but didn't comment on it. At least the scenery was pretty good enough to die in.

"Now, little doll, what's your problem?" she cooed, surprisingly gentle and sweet—much like a normal mother—as she pushed a glass of water towards.

I wonder if the drink was poisoned. Mother had a smile on, looking warm and welcoming, not like the psychotic mother I knew she was. I wondered what sort of miracles the baby was doing to her. Then, abruptly, she pulled a razor out of her sleeve and dump it into the water.

I recoiled. She really—

Mother chuckled. "Don't be silly enough to drink it now, doll," she pushed the glass towards me. "This is to test your Nen type though I do not have a spare leaf at the moment, I believe the razor will be enough to replace it. This is called the Water Divination technique, a way to determine what type you are. Close your eyes, concentrate and exude the aura around you."

"How do I know what an aura is, or if I'm doing it right?"

"You'll know, doll, it is in everyone."

I stared at her dubiously, hesitant to close my eyes in front of her, but decided to do as told since I'm going to die anyway and I'm not going to risk angering her.

I stretched my small hands, hovering beside the glass and closed my eyes, concentrating on summoning and releasing the impulses I felt to my hands. Considering the people I'm related to, I expected to be a Transmuter or a Manipulator, I expected to see the razor moving away or for the taste of water to change when a black cloud formed above the glass, then it descended and exploded in my hands.

I yelped, jerking back as water coated me, soaking my plain shirt and jeans.

I blinked furiously, rubbing my eyes and staring at the shattered glass shards, dumb-founded. That was not normal.

I knitted my brows in concern. I was a... Specialist?

I glanced up at Mother for confirmation. She had her lips pursed, but she didn't seem too surprised.

"I knew it," she sighed, picking up her cup and taking a dainty sip, she was facing the scenery outside. I blinked, confused and she elaborated. "There is always a Specialist among every pair of twins in the Zoldyck family. At least, when it concerns the Main Branch of the house." She tilted her head to the side in thought. "I had a younger twin myself."

I could not stop the gasp. "What?"

"I will tell you," she spoke, then she did a once-over of me and tutted. "Once I have you dressed up, little doll." Mother stood, with all the grace of an assassin, and guided me out of my seat. She flitted through the drawers, pulling out a kimono. "Like it?" Mother asked, a smile playing on her lips as she turned to me.

I reached out to take the blue kimono, a shade lighter than my hair, and was patterned with sky-colored butterflies. Mother pulled out a violet obi and gestured for me to turn around.

I grimaced; I didn't like dressing up that much but when I saw Mother's lips thinned in impatience, I hastily did as told.

It didn't take long with Mother's experienced hands dressing me. Once she was done, she glided towards the bookshelf behind us. I, already seated and trying to scratch an itch behind, turned in my chair to stare at her, carefully inspecting what she was doing, lest she took me by surprise.

I couldn't read her expression and that alone set me on edge.

Mother returned to her seat, grasping what seemed to be a photo album. Unconsciously, I leaned forwards, curiosity taking over my fear, as I peer down at the photos of older generations of Zoldyck.

Mother stopped flipping the pages, pointing. I stared at the photo that had her so fixated. I knew instantly, on first glance, that she was not the twin Mother was speaking about. The pale girl smiling up at me had a dark shade of silver hair, grey, and gentle purple eyes.

Looks were deceiving within the Zoldyck family, I knew she wasn't as frail as she looked.

"Who's she?" I dared to ask.

Mother hummed. "Your great-great-grandaunt, Maya Zoldyck, younger twin sister of Maha Zoldyck. She died at the age of fifteen by the way. She is a Specialist, whoever's full name she wrote in her own blood will die. She's a pacifist, a peace-loving fool who dreams to escape the family trade. It's not wonder she died."

Mother scoffed when she said the last part and I couldn't help but wince when I heard that. When I die, I wonder if a mother will tell her younger twin child about me, how I died and what sort of coward I was.

My chest simmered in anger at the mere thought.

Mother didn't seem to notice as she turned another page, stopping and gesturing to a boy's photo. I estimated him to be in his late-teens or early-twenties.

He looked young, but his face was contorted into a scowl, nevertheless, he was hot. His lilac eyes glared out from the pages. I glanced to the picture by the side and saw the same boy with another boy, both had the same face, just that this other boy had longer hair.

"Who...?" I trailed off, seeing the name under the photo.

Zeno and Zero Zoldyck.

Yuck, was I just ogling my granduncle? Eww...

"Let me guess," I muttered sarcastically. "He's dead."

Mother agreed with a hum. "Mhm, quite the aggressive and fiery young man, this one, or so I heard. He died in an attempt to kill your grandfather as he's clearly the weaker one, like all younger twins."

I flinched; Mother either didn't care of didn't notice.

"Ah, here, your aunt, Silva dear's younger twin sister."

Even though I was sick of this twisted mother-daughter bonding session, I couldn't help but look at the woman in the picture. She was beautiful, her silver hair had a blonde-tint to it, and her skin was a beautiful peachy shade. I thought the skin color was natural at first, but then I saw the knives coated in blood and my stomach churned when I realized she'd bathed in blood.

She wore a blue gown, western style with pearls adorning the dress. It was a low-cut in the front, the frills trailing to the back. She had a blue ribbon in her hair, complementing her sweet features and blue eyes. She was hugging a white curtain, bleeding.

I blinked rapidly, realizing that it was not a photo at all, but a painting.

"She's talented," I murmured. "She drew this, didn't she?"

Mother nodded. "Silva loved her dearly, but that woman committed suicide, killed herself in front of him," Her lips twisted into a snarl. "She's mocking him, I know it."

I glanced at the silver-haired woman, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, captured by herself. The dress was familiar. My eyes trailed around the room, zeroing on the cupboard and from the slight opening, I saw blue frills of a blue dress peeking out.

I saw the dress the moment I stepped in, no wonder it looked so familiar.

"Do you wear it?"

Mother glanced at where I'm looking and frowned. "No," she said. "The dresses here are all hers. Silva kept it and gave it all to me as presents. I never wear them. I have my own style, thank you very much."

"Why did Father say that he killed her—"

"Is it not better to delude yourself into thinking that, you killed her not of your own will, than to admit that she's so sick and disgusted of you that she chose to kill herself instead of dying by your hands?" Mother lips curled in disdain. "I have no lost love for Silvette, now, moving on, I wanted to show you my own twin..."

"Ah, here he is. Handsome, isn't he?"

She was right, I marveled at the devilishly good-looking boy who smirked up at me.

His navy blue hair was the same shade as mine and his pale skin was a trademark of the Zoldyck family. His red eyes glowed in the poor lighted photo when it was taken. His face was cruel and mocking and I shuddered to think of what his victims had been through.

He looked so powerful, so ethereal I didn't think he would die.

"How did you kill him?"

Mother smiled, not at all disturbed that we were talking about how she'd killed her own brother. Her twin brother, her other half.

"I have my ways," she murmured in reply, seemingly in her own dreamland. "We often argued, he always hurt me, and he told me pain was love."

No wonder you're so fucked up, I snorted but gulped when I saw Mother's unrelenting stare on me.

"I believe him, little doll," Mother murmured, her hand fiddling with her visor and hat before, she turned and took it off. My eyes widened when I saw black hair (lacking the navy blue shade of her twin) spilled, nearly touching the ground. Mother was as beautiful as I'd imagined, both terrible and beautiful. Mother laughed, somewhat maniacally.

Her mismatched eyes, one as red as her twin's and the other as black as Illumi and Millu-nii's.

"That's why, little doll, I ripped his right eye out, with my bare hands, and replaced my own with his. We carry one another this way, the same way Maha and Zeno adopted their twin's personality, and how Silva dear grew his hair out like his sister."

I blanched, jerking back and nearly falling out of my seat.

"Little doll, what will you give Killua?" Mother reached out her hand.

-I ripped his eye out-

I screamed, fear swallowing all rational thought as I shot out of my seat and scrambled towards the door, and out of it, running without paying any attention to where I was going.

I stumbled into someone, still screaming.

I sobbed, tears blurring my vision but I managed to make out the faint outlines of a wrinkled face. The old man grinned toothily, spreading his arms wide open like he wanted to hug me.

"Why, if it isn't my great-great-granddaughter?" I stilled, my tears already drying on my cheeks. "Little Ria, your father called you, strange to see you here. I didn't think you know of my existence." The old man laughed heartily, his raspy voice soothing my heart.

But I was still on guard.

He was my ancestor, and I knew from the series that he was powerful, the only man to survive having challenged the strongest man in the world.

Maha Zoldyck, the older twin of Maya Zoldyck...

...who died.

I jerked away, taking a few steps back. This man was dangerous, my common sense told me, the irrational part of me adding that he'd killed a younger twin (me).

"Oya? Wha'cha so scared of little Ria? I'm ain't goin' to kill ya or anything." He placed a hand on my shoulder, gently steering me towards the kotatsu table. An incense was burning and I wrinkled my nose at the scent but didn't comment out of politeness.

"Calming, ain't it?" Maha grinned, his few teeth shining in the dark. I wondered if he had tore into his twin's neck with his teeth, like some sort of vampire. Father said something about devouring twins, didn't he?

"So," Maha's old voice drew me back to reality. "why're ya crying, Ria-chan?"

I blushed. Okay, that was embarrassing. Fortunately, not one of my brothers caught me crying like a lunatic. What sort of sane kid runs away from his or her mother?

Well, the kid who'd been through death once and didn't look forward to it, obviously.

I was tempted to lie, but the wise glint in Maha's eyes told me he'd know it if I lie. Stumbling over the first few words, I spluttered out the cause of my distress.

I expected him to laugh or scoff but he just nodded, as if he understood.

"So she told you, huh? That's more of a Kirito-thing to do." I blinked, confused. "Ugh, she didn't have the decency to tell you his name? Well, Kirito is Kikyo's twin brother. He's, um, rather unhinged. I suppose Kikyo adopted his personality to remember him by."

"I thought she hated her twin, and me," I mumbled but Maha heard me clearly.

"She didn't. I think she loved her twin, even though he always bullied her. I remember young Kikyo, she's so sweet and innocent, hard to imagine now, eh? Kirito always makes her cry, but, then again, he's also the only one who could make her laugh or smile; I don't think they hated one another though. And she certainly doesn't hate you, child, where on earth did you get such a ludicrous idea?"

I blushed even harder. I didn't know what it was that made me feel like a fool, but I suppose it's because of his age.

"I thought she favored Killua," I muttered. "and the only way to keep him safe is for me to be killed."

"In the end, which twin dies is up to the twins themselves."

"Why do we have to fight?"

Maha shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. They say killing your other half gives you power unimaginable, and yes, it's true. I grew stronger overnight after M-" he cleared his throat awkwardly. "she died. "

"It's always the younger twins that died," I muttered, fists clenching in anger. "It's not fair!" I exploded, yelling the last part out loud.

Maha blinked, taken aback. "Now, now, child, don't be so aggressive. You won't know for sure what fate has in store for you, don't worry—"

"It's easy for you to say that," I seethed. "you're the older twin, you didn't die; younever had to worry! You would never know how we feel!"

I scrambled backwards, and out of the door.

Disgust poured through every pore of my being. I hated people like him—people who pretended to care, to empathize when in truth, they didn't give two shits.

I yelped when I stumble into someone's chest, arms instantly caging me and lifting me from the ground. I started thrashing, barely registering the person as Illumi.

Only when I was tired out, panting, that I stopped, shifting in his arms to be more comfortable as he carried me. He didn't say anything concerning my distressed (and unhinged) state, just carried me.

"Where's—" I sniffled, rubbing my eyes. "Where's Kil?"

"Acting as crazy as you."

My anger ebbed along with the hatred and disgust, as I blushed. "Tsk. I- I'm not being crazy, I was just..." I grasped his shirt, fists clenching, gritting my teeth. I was pretty sure I was like Killua in his angered mode, eyes narrowed, the whites of my eyes dominating as my pupils turned to slits. "sorting my problems," I mumbled lamely.

Illumi stopped walking. "Can you walk?"

I nodded, but truth was, I didn't want to walk, I want him to give me a free-ride. I'd forgotten how comforting his arms felt, how nice it was to be held by him.

He lowered me to the ground, patting my head, the gesture somewhat stiff as he eyed the hem of my torn kimono. I had ruined it in less than hour, I was pretty sure it was a new record.

"If you find it hard to move about in a kimono, I'm sure you'll like my gift."

I blinked owlishly.

"What's the occasion?"

"Happy birthday, foolish little sister."

And he left.

By the time I was reunited with Killua, I was sure I had a brother complex for Illumi, which sucked.

I scowled, glaring at the yo-yo Killua was playing with. "Will you stop?" I crossed my arms. "It's annoying. Where did you get that anyway?"

"Illumi gave it to me," Killua replied, pausing and blinking then he turned to me with a wide grin. "Oh, yeah, Illu-nii told me to say this: Happy birthday, sister!"

I blinked, then slowly, smiled. "Happy birthday, onii-chan."

It was very rare that I called him by that honorific and he beamed happily.

Since it was such a special day (we only turn five once, they say, but I'm turning give twice now, and even though I don't even know what date it was today, I think it still counted), I decided to make a very generous offer.

"Let's go see Alluka."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Alluka tackled me the moment I walked in.

I stiffened in surprise, weariness and fear, but when I heard the soft and childish laughter of joy, I slowly relaxed, my muscles relaxing, as I peeled the small child from me.

"Nice to see you too, Allu—" My breath hitched.

I tilted Alluka's chin sharply upwards, gazing deeply into his very vivid red eyes. "Y... you... can you see me now?" Ever since he was born, Alluka had had Nanika's eyes and mouth, this was the first time I saw a very human Alluka.

Alluka, four-year-old now, blinked, tilting his head to the side curiously. "Whatever do you mean, nee-chan? I always see you and Killua-nii-chan!" And speaking of my twin, Alluka twisted and tackled my brother into a hug, laughing as he greeted the boy.

"Pick me up," he requested.

I stiffened when I heard that tone; my heartbeat picked up. Shit, if Killua rejected Alluka...

"Sure," My twin agreed readily, not knowing of the danger he was in. He knelt and hooked his arms around Alluka, pulling him up with him, smiling at me.

Hesitantly, I inched closer to inspect the situation.

"Twirl around," Alluka said, his voice now borderline an order. Killua blinked, but did as told, twirling and lifting Alluka high in the air.

"What else, your majesty?" Killua laughed, obviously taking the requests as a joke and a whim on Alluka's part. Only I know of the serious danger.

I gulped.

"Hug me."

"That's easy," Killua scoffed, pressing Alluka's head to his chest and nuzzling the smallest Zoldyck's black hair. Hair like mother's. "Is there something else — Alluka?!"

I gripped Killua's arm tightly, stopping him from pulling Alluka. I swallowed the terrified scream when I saw the empty eyes, no longer was it the lovely Alluka, it was the cruel Nanika.

"Who're you?" Killua demanded, the air of a leader and I knew this was a small sliver as to why Father chose him as heir in the future. "Where's Alluka? What did you do to my brother?"

I did not speak, too terrified and wary to do so.

"Anata no negai wa nanidesu ka?"

Killua gaped, dumbfounded. "W-what?" he spluttered, gazing at me in shock.

With courage I did not know my cowardly scared-of-death self had, I stepped forward, holding out my hand towards my younger brother.

"Hug me, Alluka," I said, voice trembling and not above a whisper.

"Anata no negai ga fuyo sa re."

Nanika tilted its head, a grin splitting its face, and for a moment, I feared that he'd crush me to death. Then I blinked and the atmosphere changed, someone tackling me into a hug, bubbly laughter coming from my abdomen.

My eyes met Killua's mystified ones.

I gently pried Alluka's small form of me, holding his shoulders tightly as sweat of fear beaded down my cheek. "Alluka," I whispered, voice tight with fear; my tone of voice made Alluka's smile drop. "What happened just now?"

Alluka blinked, thinking then he brightened. "Oh, that, I dunno, I just felt compelled to wish for something and then..." he shrugged. "I dunno, really, I don't. I just heard what you want and then I feel that I must hug you!" He snuggled against me, perfectly contented.

"Oh," Killua muttered in a small voice. He may be young, he may not have foreknowledge like I do, but he could sense the danger of the different entity that had possessed Alluka's body before. "I guess we shouldn't say anything about this, huh?" He scratched the back of his head, staring at me for my opinion.

I nodded.

"It's not like anyone wants to come here anyway."

Alluka looked up abruptly when I said that, he looked a little sad and I winced, regretting saying that out loud. We'd explained, in little and gentle words, that the rest of our family didn't have it in them to look after Alluka. Whenever we said that the rest of our family was too busy to spend time with him, he always looked a little sad, like he knew the truth and had already accepted it that nobody wanted him.

"When can I meet everyone?"

I winced, then glanced at Killua who'd always been the better liar.

He shrugged. "No idea," he said smoothly. "You know them, always so busy they barely had time to pee, haha, or something."

Okay, maybe he wasn't all that great at bluffing.

"Or something," I agreed lamely. "Haha."

Alluka stilled, a grin lighting his face. "I hear someone. Someone's coming! Is it one of our brothers?" He sprang to his feet, rushing out of the room he'd called home for many years now.

The room wasn't anything special. Actually, it couldn't even be called a room. It was a shed. Used plates and cups littered the wooden desk, things Killua and I had been too lazy to bring out. The room was poorly lit with a bulb swaying at the top; shelves full of books we'd scavenged to teach Alluka how to read and write took up most of the space in the small room. A bag full of clothes hung from the wall by the door.

Chess boards and shogi boards leaned against the wooden walls. Sandals and shoes littered the ground. A futon was messily strewn by a sleeping bag's side in the corner. An electric fan was by its side, to cool Alluka when he went to sleep.

There was a kotatsu table in the middle with papers and workbooks, a worn sofa with a broken guitar on it. Killua had tried to play it, thinking that it was an easy feat, and had gotten so frustrated by the sounds of a tortured owl, that his nails had grown into claws and he'd severed the strings then crush it on his knee.

Talk about a lunatic. It was almost funny, how Killua could be cute one second and then murderous the next.

Not that I could complain.

"Alluka," I called. "Wait!"

He threw the door open the same time Millu-nii raised his hand to knock.

"Pig," Killua greeted, placing a hand on Alluka's shoulder and pushing him into me. "What're you doing here?"

Millu-nii scowled heavily, glaring at Killua, then gave a curious stare Alluka's way before his gaze finally landed on me. He completely ignored his younger brothers as he spoke to me, "Mother's giving birth."

I blinked. "So soon? I thought she was just into her seventh—"

"Nearly eight, at any rate, she's still giving birth," Millu-nii arched a brow. "It's totally your fault."

I was even more baffled, bristling as I was accused of the early birth. "What? I can't control—"

"I dunno," Millu-nii shrugged. "Maha-idaina sofu says it because you walked out on her, dunno what misunderstanding you ladies have, but the stress and panic forced an early birth."

Oops.

"Is Mother okay?" Alluka asked, concerned as he frowned up at me and wow, did I feel dirty at causing the possible death of my mother and whatever younger sibling about to be born. I'm sure the next child is Kalluto, but, if something happens...

What if the world only wanted five Zoldyck children from the Main Branch of this generation?

"Let's go," I murmured, stomach churning at the thought of a dead baby. "bring us to Mother."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

As I'd expected, no one was happy to see Alluka.

Even the aloof Illu-nii's guard flew up, he glared—a feat I did not think he was capable of—at Alluka.

Our youngest brother either had to be an idiot or blind (both of which he was not) to not notice. Alluka flinched, shimmying behind me and Killua's slightly larger forms; his grip on my hand was almost unbearable.

"How's she?" I asked, clearing my throat before speaking. I wanted to shrivel up into a husk when everyone's gaze landed on me.

Even Maha-idaina-idaina-sofu and Zeno-sou-sofu was there, unlike the time of Alluka's birth. Two people—they killed their own twin—I absolutely did not want to see, along with Father—my sire I could tolerate because he didn't kill his sister with his own hands but... what sort of sister kills herself so that she won't see her brother longer than necessary?

(What sort of man was my father to elicit such hate?)

"I'm not surprised you ask," Illumi (an awesome brother one moment and a pompous bastard the next, nice) remarked coldly.

"Idaina-mago-musume," Maha called, running up to me. "Jeez, don't just run out on me, I haven't even finished what I was saying yet. I didn't mean that ya're about to die! I wa' jus' sayin'—"

"I want sweets," Alluka muttered, staring up at me.

I kicked him.

Maha blinked, the cheery and goofy expression sliding off to replaced by a cold, calculating glint which was the trademark of our family. He held out his hand to Alluka, a few wrapped up candy in it, the boy did not take it.

I snatched it and pressed it into Alluka's palm, hoping that the next wish would not be impossible. I asked for a hug the last time, not too big a wish, so maybe...

"Illyria," Alluka called, his iron grip on mine so tight I think he'd already stopped my blood flow. Shut up, Nanika, shut up. "I want you to hold me."

"Demanding little brother, isn't he?" Maha chuckled, the cold look in his eyes disappearing.

I didn't relax even as I shifted my hold of Alluka (I was regretting bringing him out, now wonder the family locked him in). Killua laughed nervously. "Yeah, haha."

"I want—" Mother's pained scream drowned out whatever Alluka was saying.

My panic skyrocketed. Oh, shit. "What?" I demanded. "Repeat what you just said, Alluka, I didn't hear you."

My little brother didn't repeat it, instead, his grip tightened on mine. Great, thanks, Mother, you just cost your whole family's death by screaming. What was the punishment for rejecting Alluka? Wasn't it something along the lines of death for your loved ones and a few more people who you spent the most time with?

I shivered. I glanced desperately at Killua. "Did you hear?"

"No." Killua turned to our other brothers. "You heard what he said?"

Illumi arched a brow. "That brat's wish can be fulfilled later, Mother comes first."

"Millu-nii, please," I turned to my plump brother who continued typing away at his laptop. "Aniki!"

"I think he said something like," he shrugged. "uh, miss me?"

"Uh, I think he wants to piss, yeah, haha," Killua grabbed my arm and dragged me away with Alluka in tow; we sped down the hallway towards the closest washroom to make the lie seem more believable even though I was sure they were wondering why Alluka needed two of his siblings to help him piss.

"What did he want?" Killua demanded the moment we stumbled into the bathroom.

"He wouldn't repeat," I said, irritated. I knelt before my brother. "What other words rhyme with '-iss?"

"Tease? Piss? Rich? Kiss?"

I pressed a kiss on Alluka's forehead, because the first three were ridiculous. I don't think Alluka would want to be teased and we're already rich, I dunno how to grant that. Piss? That would be tried out once I kissed him.

When Alluka reared back, Nanika's grinning face greeted me, and I sighed in relief, falling back.

"Oh, thank Kami," I moaned, slumping down onto the toilet bowl (fortunately, the lid was closed).

I wasn't going to die after all.

"What is it that you wish for?"

Killua stepped forward. "For Mother's safe birth. Let her give birth safely, successfully." I winced when Killua made that wish; this was saving a life, how tasking of a wish is it?

That wish also made me feel bad, Mother probably wouldn't be having trouble giving birth if it wasn't for me. Yeah, well, the cruel conscience of me said. If she hadn't been so cruel, she wouldn't have the problem now.

"Let's go and see if it works, onii-chan, onee-chan!" Alluka tugged on our hands, hard, running out of the bathroom as if he hadn't been openly scorned by the rest of the family and had nearly gotten all of us in trouble.

When we came back, the people hanging about the hallway was gone. I glanced about, seeing the maid Yukiji smiling hesitantly at us and pointing us inside.

Twin cries greeted us. I was puzzled, exchanging glances with my own twin before stepping in.

Unlike Alluka's birth, Mother lovingly cradled her newborns.

Newborns.

Another pair of twins. I elbowed my way to the front, tugging on the sheets to pull myself forward. I still couldn't get a proper look, it was hopeless—

"Whoa!" I yelped, clutching onto the arms holding me up. I knew the grip of my eldest brother enough, so I didn't mind. I concentrated on the babies' faces. "What're their names?" I must know, what if they're like me, children unplanned and had foreknowledge?

"The older one is Kalluto," I blinked; Kalluto had no twin in the anime. "The younger one is Noelle, a girl, I think." Mother smiled, more at Kalluto than at Noelle, there was love in her gaze, the visor abandoned in this birth.

Noelle received less attention from the rest of the family (because there was no point in getting attached to a child who was destined to die earlier, same case with me and though I understand now, it still hurts), Alluka was flat-out ignored. Alluka smiled painfully when people pushed him away.

I stood back, taking his hand and the baby Noelle. I didn't think anyone noticed with their baby shower over Kalluto—the older twin. Little lucky brat; and even Killua was being drifted away by Zeno and Maha for a little chat, concerning the future heir stuff.

"Alluka, what say you we go back to the shed?"

My little brother smiled, grateful for the cover as we left the happy family. We were unwanted, I knew this, but... knowing and experiencing it was different all together.

Alluka stretched out his arms. "May I hold her?" he squealed, jumping up and down in his enthusiasm. I nodded, carefully shifting the baby into his arms even though I don't think it'd be much danger if the baby fell. I mean, Alluka had dropped his head countless times, and hey, he turned out fine!

"Sure."

Alluka smiled down gently at the baby who was sleeping soundly, unaware that she had been forsaken since birth.

"Welcome, baby. I know this place may not be the best place, the best home, and we might not be perfect, but whoever you grow up to be, Onee-chan and I promise to love and care for you."

I turned away.

Kalluto had no twin, no one mentioned her; the chances of Noelle never being born in the first place was possible, or maybe the original birth also went to hell and only Kalluto survived.

Or, maybe, Noelle had been born and she'd died in a battle with Kalluto.

Either way, I sure didn't like the situation. I glanced briefly at Alluka who was playing with Noelle. "Get her a blanket," I muttered, shuffling towards Alluka's bag. "Keep the newborn warm." I didn't know how true this fact was, it just seemed sensible.

I wondered how Noelle would look like when she grows up. Definitely, she'd look like Kalluto, right? Since Kalluto looked enough like a girl already, it wasn't hard to imagine how his younger twin would look like.

"We're one big happy family, right, onee-chan?" Alluka glanced up at me for confirmation, stopping whatever he was telling the newborn to face me.

I smiled bitterly—what he said couldn't have been further from the truth.

"Yeah, we'll be together, always," I said, wondering if the bitter taste of lie could be washed away.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

REQUEST: I would really love to know of your opinion about the backstory I had for the twins in the Zoldyck family.

QUESTION: Should Noelle be allowed to life or die?

REVIEW

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