Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my OC.

Warnings: Violence. Deaths.

CRYING WOLF
by: Riseha

Chapter 6

Shock

He killed me.

My brother (blood brother) actually tried to kill me.

Illu-nii had just stabbed me in the back.

I slumped back against the pillows, shocked, terrified, angered. I wanted to scream at him, demand why but I couldn't move. Terror seized me; this was the first time my older brother had did such a thing.

I thought he would never hurt me.

(Not intentionally anyway, but this, flicking a pin at my throat was definitely intentional. He couldn't possible say, "Oops, sorry, wrong room, sis.")

Clearly, I was right. I thought he wouldn't hurt me, it was just my own assumptions because he clearly could. I didn't dare move, just stared with wide eyes.

Unwillingly, tears pooled in my eyes. I probably would've cried in despair, but my rage and hatred far surpassed any other emotions. Betrayal pooled in my stomach, stabbing my heart.

I know that these emotions would surface when Killua kills me, I had expected as much but what I felt now was nothing compared to my imagination.

The burn in my chest—hatehurtragekill—was killing me. I knew that if I had died by Killua's hand, I probably could've fooled myself or convince myself to forgive him and that my death was for the greater good.

But this was Illumi, what would he get out of killing me?

I tried to calm myself, lest Phantasmagoria's effect fade. Stiff with anger and grief, I watched with wide eyes as my murderer moved about, drawing a pen and scribbling onto the paper before stuffing it in my limp hand. I did not blink even as I felt Illumi's eyes on me.

My heart skipped a beat.

Did... did he see through my illusion?

It was far from perfect. To craft a perfect illusion, I needed a lot of time, patience and creativeness. Something which I do not have the moment I sensed Illumi's presence in my room. It was him, the Nen of his, I was sure.

I had prepared myself for a fight, thinking it was just going to be another surprise-mock-attack to test my awareness.

I had considered using Phantasmagoria, I just did not expect for it to be of use to fake my death.

Illumi's pin missed, by just a hair's length. Blood seeped down my cheek where the pin had sliced through. The wound was clean, a straight line, the wound on my cheek decoyed as a slit to the neck.

I trembled slightly when Illumi traced my cheek (or, to him, my neck), most likely checking for a 'pulse'. Then, murmuring something under his breath, he pulled back and left.

That's it.

No tears, no last words, nothing to say why he did as he did. Why did he wanted to kill me?

I may have fooled him this once, but if I returned home, he would know I survived and who was to stop him if he tried something funny?

My stomach flipped-flopped when I realized I could not go home. Still stunned, I was about to drift off to sleep when I realize that they would probably come for the corpse.

I stilled. What do I do?

I sat up, still numb with the whirlwind of emotions as I stepped out of the door. I glanced down to where the maid was. Her eyes were wide, her face contorted in pain and fear, her mouth parted slightly.

The perfect corpse.

I had learned how to fake my own death from those training sessions with Maha. He particularly enjoyed playing dead and knew how to make a corpse similar to oneself to fool the opponent, or foil anyone's attempt at assassinating you. When we first started these bonding sessions, I thought it was stupid but decided to indulge the old man who already had a foot in the grave.

He was going to die anyway, why not let him pass on with good memories of me so that he won't haunt me once he's dead?

Trembling, I set to work. I was not as proficient as Maha or Illumi (who had also learned from the former) but at least, it'd fool the eye.

I wonder if Maha would recognize my handiwork.

My stomach churned. But this was just a decoy, I assured myself. I would leave as soon as possible, and by the time they realized this was a fake, I would be far, far away from here.

But where?

Terrified out of my wits, fearing for my own life, my hands were shaking so badly I had to retry and retry. Only when a sliver of sunlight filtered in through the window did I finish my job.

I took a step back, swallowing the bile rising in my throat. The girl on the bed, bleeding from a clean wound could've been me.

Instinctively, my hands flew to my heart.

Ba-thump. Ba-thump...

I'm still breathing. She's not. We're different and I'm leaving here, I'm going out alive.

I glanced at the wardrobe, realizing that my attire was inappropriate but I didn't want to waste anymore time here where people could easily find me.

Blinking back the tears of fear, confusion and anger, I turned and fled, regardless of how strange and poor I looked in a plain tunic and white pants.

Even as I left the room, I couldn't erase the image of the dead girl (with my face) on the bed.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

My footsteps were rushed and brisk as I made my way cautiously down the hallway.

I was on high-alert, my limbs taut, ready to spring forward and end the life of any threat at any given moment. I glanced at a clock, passing by the lounge, and grimaced, too dazed to care that I'd missed my match and was already disqualified.

I didn't care.

Right now, nothing matters more than preserving my own life.

I hurried down the hallway, my senses hypersensitive from recent events and when I ran into someone at the corner, I nearly speared the man without seeing who it was.

I jumped back in shock, nails sharpened, eyes wide and narrowed.

I blinked. "Wing?"

The glasses-wearing man blinked in shock, the upper half of his body already recoiling, sensing the danger radiating off me. "Illyria," he said calmly. "I was just going to look for you."

He took a step forward, forcing me to leap backwards. He stared at me as if I had grown two heads. "What's wrong?" he asked, baffled.

"Stay back, you're not Wing."

The impostor furrowed his brows, I had to admit, Illumi was an impressing impersonator but he couldn't fool me. Illumi had no ability to copy other's Nen abilities and their memories.

"Illyria," he said, raising his hands in a placating manner and he looked genuinely concern.

Yeah, right, I thought bitterly, Illumi look as if he wouldn't harm me and see what he did? And that was what my brother did, what would and outsider do to me?

"Is something wrong? Why do you look so scared? Is there a threat?"

"You're the threat!" I snarled, lunging and slashing.

"Illyria Zoldyck!" he yelled, stumbling. "By Pluto's name, what is wrong with you?!"

I stilled. "Wing?"

"Oh, now you realize," Wing muttered sarcastically, standing up and once my irrational fear minimized, I started to sense his Nen with Zetsu. "Are you sleep-walking or something?"

It was Wing, not an impostor, just my pseudo-mentor. I was convinced when he yelled Pluto's name. Wing was of Greek origin, his mother was from Greece and his father was a local but he followed his mother's religion. His Nen, something which could not be impersonated no matter how impressive my brother's abilities was, was real.

I slumped onto the couch, burying my head in my hands in mortification. "Oh... what do you want?" I asked distractedly, trying to find a way to silence Wing without killing him.

"I know how excited you are to reach the 200th floor, but you didn't show up for your match, I grew worried about my student. Definitely not my favorite but still my student," he joked lamely.

"How cold."

"Whatever. What's wrong with you anyway?"

"Why do you care?"

He sighed, pulling a packet of tissue from his front pocket and handing it to me. I stared blankly at it before taking it, starting to swipe my cheek of the blood.

The kind gesture reminded me that I was not completely alone, and maybe, just maybe, he would help me.

"It's a teacher's duty to see what's wrong with his student. You're upset, your Nen's fluctuating in fear and panic. Something's definitely wrong," he paused, adjusting his glasses. "A fight with your brother?"

"My oldest brother just tried to kill me," I mumbled, waiting for Wing to laugh it off.

But he didn't. He was frowning. "I knew Zoldycks were fucked up—no offense, Ria—but this fucked up? What did you do to him?" I glared at him for the note of awe in his voice and he gulped. "What do you plan on doing now?"

"Run," I sighed. "get away, as far as possible, from here."

Wing coughed sarcastically. "In those clothes? With no cash?"

"I have millions of Jenny stowed away. I had yet to claim my reward."

"If you're supposed to be dead, how are you going to claim your money here and at your bank account? Your family will definitely know then."

"Oh," My shoulders slumped. I didn't realize until Wing pointed it out and I felt exceedingly stupid. He was right. My cheeks flushed when I saw the last option. "Wing-sensei," I called grudgingly, seeing the man stiffen and edge away imperceptibly. "Could you please lend me some... lend me Jennies?"

My cheeks burned with humiliation. I hated asking for help, this was borderline begging for me.

"Please?"

The man sighed. "Fine."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I was nervous to be out in daylight, in plain sight.

My long blonde-green hair flared about me, I hated how bright it was, how easy it was for someone to pull on it and the wig will fly off. I was pretty sure I was as red as a lobster right now, I was sensitive to the sun, it was killer for my pale skin. I glanced around, my green contacts hiding my real eye color.

This was a flimsy getup but it was all Wing had.

It would've been better if I had used my illusion instead, but I had learned of its weakness. I could only cast one illusion at a time. If I use illusions to hide my real face, I would be vulnerable if an enemy attacked; I wouldn't be able to alter their sense of perception if I hid myself with illusion.

It was a sucky weakness.

I have no idea how to improve it but I was determined to.

Now, I have somewhere to go.

I maintained Zetsu, scouring the area for any Nen-users and when I detected no one, I quickened my pace, coming to a stop before a very familiar orphanage.

Often, during my two years of come-and-go between my house and Heavens Arena, I had came here.

This was where Noelle and Yukiji had resided in. Actually, I was surprised not one of my family members had found out about Noelle. Either they were being merciful and turning a blind eye or they were truly ignorant (highly unlikely).

Killua and I visited this place often, sometimes, I would be able to fool everyone with illusions and Alluka could come too. Once the butlers and maids caught on though, I was pretty much banned from entering the room, or I would have my Nen temporarily sealed with one of their charms.

I exhaled slightly as I stepped indoors. I felt safer, though the long I stayed, people watching me, I started feeling claustrophobic.

I think I'm going crazy, I can't stand standing still or in anywhere spacious because then, I'd always feel like someone was looking at me, and soon, someone would be pointing at me and screaming who I truly was. If I was in closed space, I would feel trapped with nowhere to run should someone truly attack.

I was ready to see my younger sister and Yukiji—the two of them, plus Wing, were probably the only one I would trust right now.

I tapped my foot repeatedly on the ground, limbs as taut as a bow, ready to spring forth into action should anything remotely interesting happened.

I jerked away when a ball rolled into my feet.

"Pass the ball, Nee-chan!"

I smiled stiffly at the children, reaching down, weary and unconsciously shifting to Ten for defense, as I grabbed the ball, momentarily relieved that the ball was not a bomb in disguise as I tossed it back to the children.

It didn't explode. My limbs uncoiled slightly as I stepped further in, automatically, my Nen sought out Noelle's. I poked my head into the small room that was my sister's.

She was weak since birth, often ill and she had a room all to herself because of this and Yukiji was her personal attendant. It was a good thing she was isolated, I heard that my sister was quite the bully and often made kids cry with her mean remarks.

Red eyes lit up at seeing me. My face softened as I stepped forward.

Noelle smiled—so unlike the video footage the orphanage showed me of her smile when she was with the orphans—when she saw me and tackled me into a hug.

I stiffened, reminding myself repeatedly that this was my loyal sister and she wouldn't do anything to me. I peeled her off me, as usual, before removing the wig.

She looked up at me curiously. "What's with that getup?"

"I'm, uh, in hiding," I considered telling her the truth but then I know that she'd probably blab to Killua. And I couldn't have that. Killua was still a very shaky adversary now, I don't know who's side he was on and right after our largest fallout ever, I didn't really want to see him.

(my chest hurts)

"Why?"

"On a top secret mission," I lied glibly, without batting an eyelash. "So I need you to keep this a secret from Killua, okay?"

"Why?"

Her favorite word was 'why' and it irked me to no end. I hope for her sake that it was a genuine question and not a mean to annoy me.

I cleared my throat, smile slightly stiff as I answered. "Because no one can know, or elsethey'll come after me."

Noelle's curiosity dimmed, sobering slightly. I didn't know what sort of story Yukiji spun out for Noelle, but my sister believed that the household of Zoldycks were enemies and threats to me. I managed to sum it up that our family's abusive and if I did anything out of accordance, I'd be tortured.

(Wasn't entirely wrong but it stung to hear it now when the wound's still smarting.)

"Oh," She trembled with barely suppressed anger. She clenched her fists, teeth gritted as she spat, "Nee-san, when is this going to end? When will you finally be free?"

Possibly never, I thought silently. I knew better than to tell her this as she was extremely sensitive about my safety.

I patted her head. "Where's Yukiji?"

Noelle jerked her head to the doorway. I wasn't as surprised as I was at first, after many experiences, I had learned that Yukiji was very stealthy.

She smiled at me. I stood and walked towards her with the promise to come to Noelle once we were done talking.

"Yukiji, I need you to do me a favor."

She blinked. I swallowed, I knew this was risky but I needed to know who's on my side and who's not. I wanted Killua on my side, he carried very large influence over my existence and if he's by my side, I knew that the family would hesitate, and even if they did try to kill me again, I would be taking away their heir, it was a lose-lose situation to them (try to kill me, Killua would hate them, don't kill me and I might be ruining whatever they're planning).

I didn't know about Millu-nii but I needed a way to get a message, one that could be understood, to them.

Didn't Millu-nii have some sort of crush on Yukiji?

"I need you to write me a simple letter of a few words," Yukiji blinked, silently motioning for me to continue.

I considered what the letter would be consisted of.

"I'm alive."

I said, and with that simple statement, the world seemed a lot simpler.

(but not any lighter or easier)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

QUESTION: Do you wish to see other character's point of view?

REQUEST: I posted two new oneshots—featuring Alluka—and I want some opinion of it so go check it out and review!

Also, I've been itching to start a Illumi/Killua story- multichap of course- but I feel like gender-changing one of them. Would you prefer to read boy/boy or for one of them to be gender-changed?

REVIEW

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