Answer to reviews (both guests and logged-in users):
Lani0108: Thanks for the compliment! n.n Miss? It hasn't even been for a week! -.-ll
gundamxmeister: I was thinking along the same lines. We'll see if more people approve or not.
Dawn: You make it sound like the parents are heartless. But still, your suspicions are...?
iluvfairytale: Why don't you go watch it first? Maybe you'll have a change of heart?
SmileRen: Just did.
sereneskydragonslayer: Nope, not in the near future. I want to complete at least till the end of the last arc before killing the main character off.
killerninjaz: Your own parents or Ria's...?
Guest: She's nice to her son, Kalluto, isn't she?
ForeverUnknown: Why would Ria be jealous of her?
Animefreak1145: Yeah, trying to make things similar. The movie is nice in my opinion so I suggest you watch it.
UniCryin: Thanks, I'll try to update soon.
Anime lover: Then you should watch it before you judge it.
Lorelei: I take it you like puppies. -.-ll Kalluto seems like the cuddly type to me so there's that scene. Nope! You didn't get his name right. I thought it's Silva o.o I'm also fond of Retz, she doesn't have a terrible personality like many people assume her to be.
Neko-chan405: Great suggestion, thanks!
Nomurai: They're killer parents, anyone will be nervous. Yeah, you should go check out the HxH movie.
XxJigoku-no-HanaxX: I'll take your vote into account. Tq for reviewing!
hinari: I thought so too. I'll probably add more of IlluRia in.
KalKal: Why not?
Conpeki: Dramatic? I really have no idea how to. Any suggestion? I dunno if Retz is canon or not but it's still created by the original creator right?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.
Warnings: Mentions of character death. Thin!Milluki (well, I couldn't resist, you should've googled him).
Beta: Arii-hime.
CRYING WOLF
by: Riseha
Interlude 1
Silva
Silva Zoldyck remembered clearly the day his youngest son burst into the restaurant, crying about his sister.
At first, he waved it off, sure that Illyria had yelled at Kalluto for being clingy—just because the boy's mother doted on him and was happy with his clinging didn't mean that everyone enjoyed it too. But his wailing: "She's dead!" It nearly had him spewing his tea.
Silva'd frowned imperceptibly at his eldest son who had entered the reserved room a few minutes before Kalluto. As usual, he didn't say where he went.
Silva was proud of his accomplishment, sure. But he wouldn't mind if the boy was more open with his old man. Silva felt like he was talking to a plywood made to look like his son.
Not to say that his son didn't look like a statue.
Fortunately, the rest of children didn't turn out as broken as Illumi. Milluki was a disappointment in his physical prowess but he was a great inventor and they do need more reliable resources and gadgets—so his second son was useful after all. Then his third son and first daughter came: twins.
Silva remembered his own twin sister. His heart still twisted when he recalled her face. Her face was smooth, timeless and beautiful. Her eyes were slits like his and as blue, though colder and lacked any emotion. Illumi's personality was exactly like hers: unreadable, closed-off.
As he'd expected, Killua had rushed off when he heard about it.
What other choice did they have? They ran after their heir.
Silva had stopped. Had turned around to see his calm father and stiff son. "Not coming?" he wondered.
"No," said Zeno, waving him off. He'd cracked his neck. "I don't need any more strain on these old bones and I need to talk to your boy anyway."
When he arrived at the crime scene, he saw Killua crying as hysterically as Kalluto and Milluki—who had never been that good at hiding his emotions—bawling like a baby. Fortunately, no one came running to see what was wrong with the Zoldycks (beside the obvious?).
"Enough," he'd remembered snapping as he pushed his stupefied wife out of the way. He strode quickly to his daughter's dead body, searching for a pulse.
No heart beat.
He didn't let himself panic. His heart definitely didn't try crawling out, nope, not at all.
Instead, he let a small grunt escape. Yep, out of annoyance.
The body was indeed dead. But it wasn't her. His daughter had done a sloppy job in morphing this corpse. Silva slid a small pin into his hand, nicking the jawline, defining her features more. Honestly, his daughter could've adjusted more of—
"There's a suicide note," Silva remembered his wife bawling. "I never knew she hated us so much."
Well, to be honest, Silva didn't think his daughter hated them either. He couldn't make an honest observation though. He didn't interact with her much but he did have high hopes for her—he had hopes for all his children.
Killua had cried, unfitting of an heir to the Zoldycks—he didn't have to point this out to the boy, he knew his father and his oldest son would point it out for him. "She can't be dead!" he'd cried.
Kalluto'd looked hopefully at Silva as if he could change the fact. Yes, yes he could. He could tell them she wasn't dead and was out there somewhere, then he could drag her back home, kicking and screaming.
Her wrists were cut. By herself? No, as gloomy and quiet his daughter could be, he knew she wasn't so weak as to die in such a way. Killed? Possibly. By who? Someone who hated her.
Who?
Illumi? He had been late—but he didn't strike Silva as the type to hate his siblings so much. Zeno? That old man wouldn't dirty his hands—oh, well, he probably used Illumi or something. Those two were the only ones who weren't present now. He wondered what they were talking about and why they did this behind his back.
Despite her less than agreeable personality, Illyria was still his daughter.
Didn't all fathers have a say in what happened to their kids? Yes, they do.
He was mildly pissed his father did this without consulting him. Just to spite him, he grabbed the sheets and covered her face. "We'll give her a proper burial," he'd said coldly, indifferently, prompting his children to cry even harder.
He didn't know his children were so close. But then again, he only had a twin (whom he killed) as a sibling. Their parents had told them to distance themselves since birth. Silva didn't think he would've cried if she'd died (which she did).
Sometimes, on days where he'd see Killua and inquire upon his progress, he'd let his mind wander to his daughter. He wondered where she was now and how she was doing (was she keeping up with her training?).
His parents had taught him many things, but caring for his children wasn't something they taught him. But just because they didn't know he cared or not didn't mean he didn't.
Silva blinked, glancing down at his daughter—finally present after hiding for four years. He had a feeling that everyone was secretly waiting for her to come back.
Illyria was eyeing him like he was a monster or something, her whole body must be painful with how tense it was and her eyes were guarded.
"My daughter," he said. "I am impressed. You have grown strong." Better than he expected. Well, it wasn't like his daughter could be weak with her ancestor's blood flowing through her veins and she was raised by the man once heralded as the strongest man alive.
No thanks to you, her eyes seemed to say, something she definitely wanted to say. Silva knew she didn't want to take any pleasure in his compliment, but her eyes still prickled.
Why, oh, why was he given such emotional (not counting Illumi) children? He glanced at his wife who was starting to sniffle (He wondered who got her genes, geez, he wouldn't have known) when their daughter stood, heading towards the door, hand on the knob, but she didn't turn it.
She turned back to look at them, staring at them funny—as if she wasn't sure they were her parents. Nothing sadder for a parent than knowing your children fail to acknowledge you. Was Silva affected? Not really. His kids could hate him for all he care, as long as they live healthy lives and grow to be accomplished assassins, he was satisfied.
Silva raised an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for? Go to your friends," Silva said. "They will be worried for good reason." She was still hesitating; he allowed his face to softened, didn't want to frighten her too badly after all—and something told him this'd be the last time he saw his daughter. "The path you've taken, to be with Killua and your friends no matter what the curse says, will hold many perils."
"You couldn't have been fooled," Illyria said, face hard and dark and cold as stone. "by my sloppy job. I was surprised no one dragged me back... Grandfather- I mean, Netero said that you're..." she faltered, unwilling to share what her foster grandfather had said.
He understood immediately. "What is your question?"
She glared at him, her jaw tightening in challenge. "Why don't you kill me now?"
He smiled; he himself unable to tell whether the smile was sad or pleased—perhaps both, she'd grown. He never noticed much about his children's growth, seeing as he always saw them in passing. But his daughters's growth were never measured by him. Noelle, taken away since birth—everyone simply assuming she was dead and they didn't need another cursed twins in their platter anyway. Alluka, unable to be around without getting killed—Silva still wasn't sure whether his fifth child was a boy or girl. Illyria, left for four years.
"This is a lesson you didn't learn in those four years with Netero, let this be the first time I taught you something, Illyria: sometimes, the only way for you to protect someone is to put some distance."
.
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Chapter 16
Reunion
I closed the door behind me, exhaling quietly.
Was that weird or what? I couldn't understand a single thing. And they allowed me to walk out without any fight or deal. My paranoia got the better of me: I started creeping, I used my Hatsu, to conceal myself. I was pretty sure there'd be some sort of trap.
Before I went out the front door, I stopped. I got to see my other brothers. Milluki would be easy to find—he only knew how to pig out in his room after all.
I snickered at the thought of him getting chubbier. I reached his room fairly quickly, and knocked multiple times. He didn't answer. I turned to his digital lock and started typing in the password—I'd be able to get in easily assuming he didn't change his password.
He didn't—the door slid open. The room was empty of my brother's chubby body. I was surprised; Millu-nii was still at the butlers's residence? I thought he'd be back by now—did I mention how much he hated exiting his room? I closed the door, finding nothing of importance there.
There were six of us (excluding Noelle): three floors to hold each of us. Killua and I shared a floor, Millu-nii and Illumi were on the same floor. Had Alluka been allowed to, he would've shared with Kalluto. I knew Alluka wouldn't be at the highest floor (from oldest, at the bottom, to youngest, at the top). The ground floor was reserved for guests and butlers's training area. Our parents and grandparents (plus one ancient ancestor) were in the west wing of the mansion.
The basement was entirely made for training and torture. I hated the basement the most. Lots of unpleasant memories there.
I'd just ask Millu-nii.
"Ria?"
I turned. "Oh... Kill."
Killua stepped down from the stairs. His white hair was practically glowing in the dark (we never had much use for lights, the hallways weren't equipped with bulbs or lamps). He was dressed in new clothes, reminding me that I still hadn't had a bath and a change in clothes.
When he saw me, he wrinkled his nose and gave a very typical Killua answer: "Ew. You stink from Mike's bath. Go and bathe before you hug me."
I shot him a filthy glare, storming past him to where my room was. Killua trailed after me. "Wanna take a bath together?"
I snorted. "How old do you think you are?"
He shrugged, I could just imagine it. "Just trying to catch up on lost time."
I threw the door to my room open. It looked just like I had left it four years and many months ago. It wasn't dusty as I'd expected. "Did someone clean—"
"I told the maids to do it," said Killua, a little shyly. "And I'm glad I did. You came back."
I crouched before my bed. Only this spot was dusty. "Why didn't they clean this part?" I heard Killua clear his throat awkwardly. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously; I stretched my hand underneath the bed, scowling at Killua when I felt the cover of a magazine. "You better pray it's not what I'm thinking it is."
Killua gulped. "Hey, most of it is Millu-nii's stash!"
I frowned. "Do I even want to know?"
Killua took that as an opening to pull me away from his secret. He grabbed me, pulled me to my feet and shoved me to the bathroom. "Go take a bath—you seriously stink—I'll get you clothes." He slammed the bathroom door in my face. If there had been a lock, I was sure he would've locked me in.
I was too happy to finally be clean that I didn't care either way.
"You done yet? You've been in there for fifteen freaking minutes!" Killua's voice was muffled but his irritation and impatience was clearly heard. I sighed, turning off the tap and pushing the door open. Killua unceremoniously threw the clothes in my face.
So much for missing his twin...
I felt a little nostalgic when I found that we were dressed in the same attire. Our size weren't that different. Besides, the shirt was baggy. Our black and white striped shirt reminded me of a prisoner's uniform—not that I minded since black and white were totally my colors. The shirt was accompanied by baggy jeans and a black jacket. I crouched to tie the strings of my black sneakers.
"Where's Kurapika and the others?"
"With Kalluto and Buta and speaking of Pig..."
I glanced up sharply, springing to my feet. "Did something happen to him? He never, ever steps out of his room."
Killua smirked, grabbing a towel and helping me dry my hair. I relaxed under his touch; I feel sleepy, and my bed was so comfy. I didn't think I'd ever have another chance like this anymore and I would like a nap. But our friends were waiting. I yawned, feeling my eyelids drooping.
A sharp tug on my hair jolted me out of my sleepy state. I scowled at Killua who snickered under his breath, combing the water and tangles out of my hair. I didn't realize how long it had gotten.
An obnoxious ringtone ruined the tranquil moment. "Who's that?"
"It's Pig—if we could still call him that..."
I snickered, imagining Millu-nii as big as his room. "Elephant?"
Killua snorted. "See for yourself. Come on, they've been waiting for nearly two hours." We jumped right out the window, like the old times where we'd sneak out at night to play with Mike or spar.
I tackled him into a long, overdue hug, surprising him, but I didn't care.
I felt myself smiling widely for the first time in years.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
I wasn't so sure of this part, but Killua told me I passed out in shock the moment I saw Millu-nii. We raced one another to the butlers's residence, I had been quite excited to see my older brother. Then, when that totally hot boy in his late-teens greeted me, my eyes had rolled back in shock and fainted.
When I woke up, saw Millu-nii's blue eyes staring down at me with exasperation, I didn't try to sit up lest I fainted again. I just blacked-out in shock, nothing serious but my brothers and butlers still fussed.
"Who on earth are you and what have you done to Millu-nii?" I croaked, rubbing my eyes to make sure they weren't malfunctioning.
"So, I worked out," mused Milluki. "and you're acting like that?"
"You can't be my brother."
Where I had imagined Millu-nii to be as fat and large and clumsy as an elephant, I had been proven wrong by this lanky man. Well, Milluki was more muscular than Illumi but he couldn't be considered a brute. His black hair was wavy and messy, and his blue eyes twinkled with dry humor. His skin was pale, but not as bad as before. The most noticeable detail: he was thinner than before.
I nearly had a blackout.
Killua snickered. "I guess I didn't realize how much he'd change until I look into an old photograph. I was there with him when he went through serious training—after that indigestion incident that landed him in the hospital and gotten him a diet. The refrigerator was chained and the internet connection was cut! You really should've been there to see his face!"
This didn't happen in canon. I frowned. "What brought on the change?"
Milluki scowled at being reminded of his suffering years ago. "Now that I work out, Grandfather—" He cleared his throat awkwardly. I looked away; with his newfound strength, I figured he'd been able to corner Illumi or our dear grandfather about me and knew they had a hand in my 'murder'. "Well, I'm allowed to eat as much as I want again. A win-win situation for us now."
"I don't mean the change in your mood," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I was wondering why you suddenly chose to work out."
"We're filthy rich," admitted Milluki. "but with how much I spent on auctions for the Greed Island game, and other stuff..." He shot Killua a pointed look. "Well, without you being out of commission, and our need to feed Alluka, and fund Noelle—don't think I don't know—there's a severe decreasing in our income. The higher-ups started bitching and... here we are."
Killua snorted. "Bullshit. He ate something wrong and he shit—"
Milluki punched his brother in the face without so much as batting an eyelash (they hadn't changed at all, I was relieved for that). He spread his arms with a mocking smile in my way. "You ask so much questions, and I get no hug?" Millu-nii—still my brother who hated going out, still cocky and demanding and loved bossing us around—furrowed his brows. "I thought I'd be more approachable like this."
I tackled him into a hug. He no longer had fat that I liked to sit and play trampoline on. He was all muscles and bones and hugging him was like being slammed into a freight train.
I choked. "Let me go!" I punched him with 5% of Kou. He pulled away, seemingly amused; he didn't even seem hurt.
He snickered. "I remember you're a Specialist."
"You?"
"What are you talking about?" Killua demanded, crossing his arms petulantly. "I demand an answer."
"Manipulator," answered Milluki, running a hand through my free hair. "Well, I've got to be going now. I have some bank accounts to hack."
"Still not an outdoor person?" I wondered.
Millu-nii made a face. "Ew. No. Do you even know how much I hate the sun?"
He punched Killua in the arm on the way out, waved at us and slammed the doors shut. Killua cussed loudly, rubbing his arm. "Do you know why I keep wearing long sleeves these days?" I frowned, shaking my head. Now that he mention it, he did love to wear sleeveless and short-sleeved shirts, I wonder what changed. Killua gestured to the door where our older brother had gone through. "That bastard keeps punching me in the arm as greeting and always used me as a punching bag."
"Wait, you got your ass kicked?"
Killua scowled, jumping to his feet. "He's impossibly fast and strong."
Nen, Millu-nii could only beat Killua through Nen. I wonder what he manipulated. "You'll know why he could beat you soon enough," I answered vaguely.
"Come on," snapped Killua, displeased; evidently, he was a sore loser—well, I was used to it; as twins, we were always competing so his tantrum was something I often had the misfortune to experience. "They're waiting at the backdoor."
"Hello," I said pleasantly the moment we threw the door open. I felt my lips curving into a small smile when I saw their relieved faces. I felt myself relaxing, feeling relieved that they were safe and that I was alive. I didn't know what my father want, I knew that he couldn't possibly stop the rest of our family alone, but for now, everything was fine.
Gon tackled me into a hug—which prompted a group hug as he said the more the merrier. "You guys stink," I said, pushing them away.
"Your bro's scary," said Gon as we walked towards the Gates. He shuddered at the memory. "Not as cold as Illumi, but just as dangerous."
Killua and I shared a glance. "You mean Milluki?" I wondered, growing more puzzled at their nods. "He's never scary. Crazy and obsessive, maybe, but never dangerous—" I faltered, suddenly reminded by the fact I've been away for four years and that I may not know him as well as before. "At least, I don't think so. He seemed the same as before."
My three friends shared a glance. "Maybe, he doesn't scare his siblings like he did us?"
"What happened?" wondered Killua, as puzzled as I was. To us, Millu-nii had been crazy and merely threatened us when we were near his figurines or played in his room. Never would he scare us with anything but horror stories. As far as I was concerned, Millu-nii was terrible with horror stories, he couldn't have spooked them that badly could he?
"We played coins."
"Coins?" I echoed.
"Yeah," Kurapika said, drawing a coin from his pouch and flipping it. "The butlers played with us first, to pass time while we waited for you two."
"If you suck, why did you agree to play?" Killua asked. "Gotoh is the best when it comes to playing coin toss. They're his main weapons."
"Let me guess," I cut in. "He threatened your lives."
Killua snorted. "I'm surprised you guys escaped alive. He plays dirty. He actually has two coins in handy and—"
"He slips them in his sleeves to hide them," finished Kurapika, a little irritated. "It's a miracle when your brother came to save us."
"I can't imagine Millu-nii saving you guys, plus, you said he was scary," I frowned, confused about their contradicting words. "What happened next?"
"He's super fast!" said Leorio, surprised. "Inhuman! And he doesn't cheat, he only has one coin but he's even more faster than Gotoh." Leorio shuddered. "Talk about dangerous."
I blinked, trying to process that bit of information. I had to admit, it was a lot to take in. I had met my brother and had lost him in less than an hour. Not that I could do anything about it. I don't think Millu-nii would accompany us, he only found happiness before a computer screen—and a grumpy Millu-nii was not what I want on my hands.
Kurapika glanced at his watch. "It would be nice to stay and chat, but we got more important matter to talk about."
I frowned. "Such as?"
"Hisoka," answered Gon. "He gave us—well, he told Kurapika, but he also said to bring us with him—valuable information. He told us that something big will happen on September 1st in Yorknew City. Which is like, five months from now!"
"Six months, Gon," I said, smirking. Then I glanced at everyone, frowning. I felt a little sad we couldn't all go together. "Leorio will be going back to his hometown to... what, study?"
Leorio nodded. "Yup." He grinned, flashing us his Hunter Badge. "I finally got it!"
"Oh, good luck," I said dryly. "Anyone with money could be a doctor." Ignoring Leorio's indignant screaming, I turned to the rest of the team. "What about you?"
"We want to get stronger," said Gon. I figured that they were going to learn Nen somehow. "So we'll be going to the Heavens Arena."
I winced. "Ah, that place. Say hello to Wing-san for me."
Killua frowned. "You're not coming with us?"
"I'm not sure yet," I said, shrugging. I turned to Kurapika. "What about you?"
"I'll be looking for jobs as a Blacklist Hunter, see if anyone will hire me," Kurapika answered. He hesitated, glancing uncomfortably at my twin. "...You want to join me?"
Killua started pouting and glaring, alternating between those two—aiming the former expression at me and the latter at Kurapika who coughed.
Ah... what should I do?
A.N: Thanks for the reviews! From this chapter onward, I'll be answering through PMs so please enable the option to PM you. Concerning Milluki's appearance in this AU story, well, I couldn't help myself. Also, he will have a larger role in this story than in canon. Hope no one minds. If you're going to point out it's impossible, I already mention that this is an AU—an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE—story.
Question: Are the characters OOC at all?
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