Humans were wrong. Time was not a dimension. It was an energy.

Nanika bite a bitter orange, and knew how time tasted like. She could have touched it, if she still had a hand. She could have saw it, if she still had eyes. But all she had was her pure, naked, refined existence, and time, more time than her previous human mind could imagine, more time than all the time in the universe.

She felt her life slipping out her body and blending with the substance of time, smoothly, evenly, and knew life and time were of the same nature. What humans called "life" was just the light touch of time inside a body. A chemical reaction. The body vibrated as long as time dwelled inside, and when the body was consumed, or if an accident, an illness, interfered with the chemical reaction, time left out, recovered its freedom, leaving the body behind. When humans' time were coming, it meant their time was going.

What humans call "death" was like ashes after a fire. Time couldn't act on death. No matter how long any god wait, what was dead would never come back to life. No fire could set ablaze ashes. Death is a time toxic waste.

It existed a flower that grew only in Meteor City, that fed on toxic wastes.

A flower that supported births and deaths. That pushed time into new-born bodies, and expelled it from dying people.

The Passage Flower, carried by the wind from the Dark Continent, that grew on lands where nothing could grow. On lands where nothing happened. Where where nothing, but death, silence, and time.

Humans are astonished about plants strength, that can cover desert in thousand colors, dive its roots to the earth core and nest clouds, and even the tiniest daisy that can break through the thickest concrete. How impressionable humans. Nanika knew they were even stronger than that.

Time is blind, time is merciless, but time is not insensitive. Nanika could feel the flower's influence on time course. She could feel the time around being sucked and twirled and twisted and spited, and the fever in the time substance, and the thrust into nature itself, so strong and quick that animals became nervous, and weather created a storm to recover its balance. Nanika could feel the time bonding the flower to a body that carried another one.

Two bodies, a mother and a child. The mother was generously giving her own time to her baby, but it needed to stop now, or she'd die. The smaller body inside the bigger body needed to receive it's own time.

Nanika felt the flower catalyzing time into the smaller body. She felt the chink, the small crack in time, and the little hallway between the passage flower, the smaller body, and the bigger one, and she slipped into.

She escaped.

What was dead could never live again, but Nanika had never been dead. She wasn't ashes. Neither was an anomaly. A scoria. Worst that that, she was indiscrete.

Nature abhors a vacuum. Insects hatch out from dead animals bodies, plants grow up from decaying dead leaves. The toxic waste that was death, it nurtured something else. It was called "peace".

What the matter of time, if you find no peace.

Nanika had to live again, and then die, to receive her peace.

The bigger body that created smaller bodies would created another one soon, and before it received its time, she'd replace it with her own. Maybe the body would already have its own existence. Nevermind, she'd see. A human body just needed existence and time to live, it didn't matter if it came from two different sources.

Nanika remembered when she was an emperor, when she was a murderer, when she was a tree, an orange and a little girl. But the place she was standing now what both familiar and out of reach of her memories. She was in the place bodies were created, before they get a time, before they could have a memory. It was the place of the eternal present. Free of time. The only place she could have escaped into. It was warm, dark and safe, she could feel the calming rhythm of a pulse, the weaves of a breathing, the remote echoes of a voice. It was pleasant. It was comfy.

She felt grateful. She was glad to feel something. It has been… so long. She felt happy to feel that something had been long.

She felt grateful for the boy who brought the flower.

He granted her greatest wish.

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Milluki was turning the amber phial in his little hand. The viscous substance was sticking to the insides. He didn't dare to look up to his father. He didn't want him to notice he was about to cry.

But he couldn't conceal anything from him. Silva kneeled before him, rising up the little quaking chin from his finger tips.

"I know I'm asking for a hard work. A very difficult mission. But it's for the sake of family. I think you're ready. I know you've heard this termagant… this women in the nursery, saying you don't worth anything. I know she's wrong. I know you can prove she's wrong. The quicker you accomplish your mission, the more proud I'll be of you, but be sure, I'll never, never be disappointed. Even if you fail now, you'll never be a failure. This is a poison I've made. It's colorless, odorless, almost tasteless, and I made sure Chrollo can't recognize the substance and go up with an antidote. All you need to do is pouring this poison in a drink. Not in water, for it's not the same density, but something like a milk-shake, or whole milk, preferably something sweet. It's your first time, I've prepared everything to ease your way. Don't push yourself. OK ?"

Silva wiped a tear that was running on Milluki's cheek, kissed his forehead, and left the bedroom. The little boy looked at Tsubone for help, but she averted her eyes in embarrassment. "Sorry young master, I can't do it for you. Master Silva ordered me."

"Please Tsubone… I don't want to do it…"

Tsubone looked back to him. She had witnessed this so many times, the distress, the sense of loss, the fear, the pain. So she did what she'd always done, with Illumi, with young Silva, with Silva's brother, and what she'd do with Killua, and with Kalluto.

She took the child in her arms and gave him a big hug.

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Chrollo had been so diligent in the orchard, he showed so much interest in trees and plant, that no one thought about asking him what he was doing when he got deeper in the forest. Every butler assumed he had another important work to do.

Chrollo was feeling blessed for his very good memory. Meteor City had its own and unvaried flora. He had never seen the plant he was looking for but in books, and the illustrations weren't very good, damaged by bad weather. He wasn't sure he'd find what he was looking for, but renowned assassins as the Zoldycks, may have their own little secret garden, right ?

And eventually, he found the plant he was looking for. The fruits were small and hard. Perfect. The hemlock fruits were even more toxic when unripe.

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Milluki slowly stopped to cry in Tsubone arms. The butler put him on the floor, kneeled before him, forced a beam on her face : "What can I do to comfort you, little master ? How about a little snack ? Or candies ? I won't tell your mother, I promise."

"...Hot chocolate" whispered the child.

"I'll make it myself, I know you like my chocolates" said Tsubone with enthusiasm. "Will you take it in your room ?"

"In the playroom" sobbed Milluki. "And… Tsubone ?"

"Yes, little master ?"

"Make two" he added with a croaking, broken voice. "A bigger one, for Chrollo. Make sure… to use whole milk."

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Maha had said Chrollo knew nothing about this family. But Chrollo knew it was the kind of family who built a secret passage between the nursery and the poison room.

Kikyo had been charmed when Chrollo asked to see the baby again. She was happy to know that some family related person would stay by the baby's side, and this person wouldn't be Illumi, who hold the baby too tight and woke him up in his sleep to check if he was still breathing. Kikyo'd rather take care of the child herself, but she was exhausted, more than ever, as if she was still pregnant, as if something was still sucking her energy from the inside.

Chrollo had been left in the nursery where Killua was taking a nap, and it didn't take long to find the entrance of the secret passage. He had all the required ingredients, but he still needed the mortar and the alembic to distil the substance. He had to be quick. It was pretty experimental. Chrollo liked the thrill of experiments, of course, but above all, it was necessary, in a assassin family, to use a poison none of them could recognize.

And he had to infuse an antidote too. It was crucial for his plan.

He stole two empty phials in Silva's drawer, filled them with the poison, carefully closed them, hoping Silva wouldn't notice his larceny. If everything went good, he could bring them back in two days. Conceivably, the Zoldycks wouldn't have to create a new poison in the meantime. It was a risk, but a calculated one.

The two phials in his pocket, he took down the scale to the nursery. Nobody had detected his short disappearance. Killua was still sleeping, his eyelids fluttering in a dream. He was so cute. Chrollo leaned on the cradle, giving a delicate kiss on his forehead. Killua sighed, but didn't wake up. Chrollo hummed in hushed tones : "Killua, sweet Killua, Zoldyck's heir of great value, gentle baby, I'm sorry, but I'm going to kill you."

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In his private apartment, Zeno celebrated Killua's nen with Bisky. It was still a little early for champagne, so they clinked cups of coffee.

"And how about the other child ?" asked Bisky. "The one who came yesterday. I haven't seen him yet."

"You did." said Zeno sipping his coffee. "You mistook him for Illumi. Do you ever take a look to the pictures I send you ?"

"Honey, on the last picture, Milluki wears diapers."

"Fair point. But it doesn't allow you to call me "honey""

"Ok old rag. But it doesn"t answer my question. Do I examine him ?"

"Don't bother. He has a nen, and I'm pretty sure he has a hatsu. He'll pass the glass test. I don't know why Silva hasn't asked him yet."

"He think the child deserves better. I heard him."

Zeno shrugged. "This guy sure has some paternal strak. I wonder who he has that from."

"Not from me, for sure. But Silva is responsible, more than you think" she added when Zeno rose an eyebrow. "Your job is risky. Silva is the only survivor of his siblings. He didn't have the time to get to know his little brother a lot, but he sure didn't forget. A Zoldyck family needs to have some transmuter in reserve. I wish the best for Killua, don't get me wrong, but..."

"I got you perfectly right. I think the same. But the stranger is older, if he's adopted now, there'll be inheritance wars. Maha's seen this before. I don't want Killua to be despoiled. If he's really a transmuter, his kid must be Milluki's butler at the most."

"Or Killua's. The kid is so fond of this baby, this is very touching. A real little mom. Kikyo told me he wanted to watch him sleep, and he insisted to give him the bottle himself when he'll wake up. He was pretty keen about that. Kikyo accepted, of course. Looks like you found a weird sweetheart."

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Chrollo had changed clothes when he heard Milluki invited him in the playroom, and he was so happy and impatient he was bouncing his way to the room. The phials in his pockets were clinking. He'd had great news to tell him.

But Milluki didn't look like he'd be open to joy and great revelation. His face was serious, and the fake smile he was trying couldn't help. He was holding two steaming cups. Chrollo took them from his hand to hold him against his chest. He was really happy he had learnt this hug thing.

"We're going to be brothers. For good. I promise." he whispered in his ear.

Was it the emotion ? Milluki started to cry. Chrollo kneeled before him, a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong, Millu-Millu ? You don't want us to be brothers ? You don't like me this way ?"

Milluki was sobbing so loud he hardly enunciated : "Oc.. ofsc.. Of curse I wou.. Want ! You best brother ! You play with me ! You give hugs ! You don't call me fatty ! I want to erase Illumi and you're my big brother from the beginning ! I hate him ! I hate my father ! I hate my family ! I'm not a asssi...assuss...an assassin ! I don't want to be a big brother ! I don't want responsabilibilibilities ! I want to be a little boy and play with you !"

Chrollo didn't expect this emotional river. A bit disconcerted, he handed him a steaming cup. "Here, take this. It smells good ! What's this ?'

"Tsutsutsubone's chocolate. Best one. Only when we're sick, or to reward us, usually. But today's special."

Chrollo beamed : "Yes, it is. Today, we're family." He sat crossed legs and took a sip from his cup : "What could refrain dad to adopt me, do you think ?"

"... You not transmuter. And anyway, Killua is. Everything is spoiled. It's the end."

Chrollo almost choked on his chocolate in laughters :" You're so dramatic ! What if Killua died ?"

Milluki shrugged. "Won't happen."

Chrollo took another sip of his chocolate. He got a little milky moustache. "Babies are fragile. If Killua became very, very sick… and die. No longer Zoldyck heir but me. You'd said, I'm not the only transmuter in the world. But what if… two of their children became very sick… and I save one. Like a big brother. Like in reals families. These thing happen all the time in books."

Milluki looked confused. Chrollo gave him time to process, drinking his chocolate. It was indeed very good. He should compliment Tsubone.

Milluki shooked his head like a puppy going out of water : "I don't get it."

Here came the delicate moment : "We're family, aren't we, Milluki ? You love like a brother ?'"

"I do."

"And sometimes, people must do very difficult thing, for the sake of their family."

Milluki's voice croaked : "...I know."

"I created a little toxic the adults don't know. I'm pretty sure they don't know. I poured a little in your chocolate when I took it from your hands. It will give you symptoms like you're sick. Soon, Killua will show the same symptoms. Like it's a contagious disease, that only harms younger kids. No one could suspect poison. Don't worry, I'm making an antidote. .I'll ask to be your nurse, I'll take great care of you, and tomorrow, I'll give the antidote in secret, and you heal. But not Killua. Everybody mourns, but I'm here, you're here, we're brothers and I'm your savior. No parents could get rid of me after this. It would be like a sign, and they'll need to transfer their affection to someone else. It's called : "psychology", you'll need it too when you'll be older to get what you want."

Chrollo finished his chocolate in a enthusiastic gulp. He was pretty proud of his plan.

Milluki slowly put his cup down. "I noticed it has a bitter end. But I thought it was sadness."

Tears ran again down his face. Chrollo took him in his arms again. He hoped he was doing hugs right. The child sure need comfort. He was holding him so tight….

"I'm sorry Millu-Millu. But don't worry. You'll feel dizzy and feverish, but I doesn't hurt…"

Milliki hide his face in Chrollo's shirt. "It doesn't matter… it doesn't matter at all…" he rose his face to chrollo, distress and despair in his eyes : "Chrollo… If you can't give me the antidote… if… you die… it means Killua and I will die, too…?"

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Author's note : The story is coming to its end, the next chapter will be the last ! I want to thank you for reading and for all the sweet reviews you give, it means the world for me, you're great, thanks for your support - and patience, because I'm aware I don't update as often as I should. I hope the finale will meet your expectations, see you soon !