Six

Breathe

The ache in Gon's chest was threatening to swallow him whole.

He lay in his bed with his arms stretched out on the sides of his head, studying the cracks in the ceiling. He felt as if he were living in a void; his thoughts the only company in the madness of his feelings.

The mental punishment that he was serving himself did not relieve any of his stresses. Why did I have to act out that way? In front of Killua, of all people? He closed his eyes and exhaled, the looming weight of the day's events hugged him tighter.

Gon hadn't expected the unraveling of his mental threads from the topic he received. He tried to bite down the words of the truth, instead attempting to resolve Killua's confusion with a lie.

That, of course, was a complete failure on his part.

Images abruptly intruded his mind, different memories that collided angrily and stacking on top of each other like playing cards. He saw nothing but red behind his closed eyelids, each picture becoming more and more vivid of a ghost. He bit his bottom row of teeth harshly as hot liquid seeped into the corners of his eyes. They threatened to run down his cheeks, a mockery to the impenetrable fortress he was pretending to be. He wiped his face quickly, his lashes gently pricking the bottom of his eye, and took a deep breath to swallow down any more tears. He wasn't sure why today was a day where everything hurt, but the ribbon of sadness tangled around him, suffocating his sense of logic.

What was so important, that you would throw me in the river to drown?

His mind breathed the words to life without his consent, the bitterness behind them dirtying his tongue. He sat up scowling, irritated that he was letting himself fall so deeply in the rabbit hole, when he had moved heaven and hell to pull himself out before.

A folded piece of paper cascaded to the floor, settling in front of Gon's toes. He picked it up and cradled it in between his fingers, remembering that Killua had given it to him earlier.

He impatiently opened it, pupils darting to every word written.

If you could taste the words that entered your mind, Gon would compare the note to a sweet melon.

He read them over again slowly, letting the message dance with the air in his chest to a waltz. Gon wasn't expecting the weight of the words to fill his belly to satisfaction. Then again, he wasn't expecting Killua.

He pulled out his cell phone, thumb on auto pilot as it hovered over Killua's name. Gon breathed out a wave of anxiety as the line rang in his ear. He licked his upper lip, mapping out a conversation that hadn't even started yet.

"Hello?" Killua's milky voice sent of bells in Gon's stomach, his mouth curving into a gleeful smile.

"Hey, Killua!"

"Gon. Are you feeling better? I waited for you after class, I was pretty worried."

"Yeah," Gon slapped the side of his head in irritation. The last thing he wanted to do was to make Killua worry because he couldn't keep it together. "I'm okay now, I just had to recuperate, that's all."

"Gon," Killua's voice fell flat and Gon didn't need to be in front of him to know that he would give him a serious glare. "What was that back there? And please don't give me a half assed response."

Gon sucked in a breath of air, the coconut from Mito's candle warmer mingling with his taste buds. "It's nothing, Killua, really. Just some old stupid thing that I shouldn't even be thinking about. Please don't worry about me."

"It isn't stupid if it made you emotional like that."

"Maybe, but trust me it's just an emo Gon thing. It'd do me no good to bring it up, y'know?"

Gon could taste the disappointment through Killua's hard sigh in the phone. He didn't want to leave Killua out of whatever the hell roamed through his mind, but it was a part of his nature now.

"Gon, did you read the note?"

"Yeah actually," the smile stole Gon's face back as he twiddled the note in between his thumb and index. Gon marinated over the words, letting them snuggle into his cheek so that he could taste them again. "That was the reason for my call. I hear you, Killua."

"Do you?" The accusation in Killua's words caused him to swallow the rest of his lie down. Killua could see through his bullshit even if Gon wanted to pretend that he was being transparent. "Because if you really did, why are you still lying to me?"

"I'm not lying, Killua. Some things are better not explained, that's all."

"Fine."

There was a tense silence that slept between them, with each side not sure what to say to the other. Gon ran his finger down the side of his face in dramatics, not expecting the call to take this turn. He pressed his lips together so that he can prevent the wrong words from spilling out. It isn't long before he can hear another sigh tickling his ear buds.

"What are you doing next Thursday, Gon?"

"Nothing but school."

"Good, then I have something for us to do, although I can't promise it'll be anything worthwhile."

"Sure!" The change of subject lifted the weight that was buried in Gon's chest. He was happy for the ability to breathe without restriction again. "What will we be doing?"

"My family will having a dinner party. Some important people will be there, which means it will be long and boring. I'm sure my mother has some underlying plan to set me up with her colleague's daughter, but I am in no way interested. Figured you could come and keep me company, at least I won't feel like I'm suffocating from cologne and fancy wine all night. Plus, it'd give me the chance to show you something about me."

"Oh? What is it?"

"It's a surprise, idiot." Killua's baritone tickled Gon's ear drum as he laughed, causing a chill to curl down his spine. "If I told you now it wouldn't be much of an impact."

"Okay, sounds fair. Should I change first? I assume fancy wine means I should dress up."

"Yeah, that would be best. These people can be pretty snotty about clothes and appearances. I'll text you the address and time later on tonight."

"Okay. Hey, Killua?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For the note, that is. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being difficult."

"We're friends right? Then that means that you don't need to thank me, I'm just doing what I feel is right. And don't worry too much about it. Can you just promise me something?"

"Yeah."

There was a long pause on the end of the receiver. Gon had to look down at the phone screen to make sure that he was still connected. "Promise me," Killua's voice broke through, "that if you feel that heavy again, that you'll talk to me about it. I don't like to see you like that."

Gon stopped breathing for a small second, wondering if he could hold himself to such a promise. It was easier before Killua; only letting people see what he had to offer on the surface. But Killua demanded to see the raw, angry brush strokes of Gon's soul, and not some perfectly crafted masterpiece.

"I promise that I'll try, Killua."

Gon closed his eyes, the ghost behind the black void taunting him about the confidence behind his words.

Killua wasn't sure how any of the Zoldyks could breathe under the weight of Kikyo.

On nights when she hosted political dinners, Kikyo ran throughout the house in a manic frenzy. Tidying this, fixing that, making sure her children weren't too far from her puppeteer string. She would go as far as to lick her thumb and clean their faces like they were infants. Killua sometimes wondered if she were crazy enough to try to nurse them again.

He stared at the black suit that Gotoh steam pressed for him and laid out on his bed. The tag had a hard to pronounce French boutique name, possibly one of Silva's personal requests. His stomach churned at the sight of the jester attire he was supposed to adorn - he even checked the pockets for a list of things he could and could not say.

He left his room and descended down the spiral stairs. Milluki and Kalluto sat in the kitchen, with Milluki making a snack that could have served as a full meal. Kalluto's curious face darted between the two sandwiches and soup he bustled about crafting. Killua leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow at his brother's gluttony.

"Geeze, Milluki, you do realize that you're going to have a full smorgasbord of food in a few hours, right?"

Milluka looked up from his sandwich concoction, mayonnaise dripping from his butter knife and on to the counter. Kalluto turned his nose up at the sound it made when it plopped down. Milluki scoffed and removed it with a napkin.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I don't plan on eating anything at the party. I think it's best to rub elbows with the elites tonight. I've been head of the IT engineers on the council for a year now and no one seems to know who I am."

Killua rolled his eyes at his brother's trained command. He glanced over his brother, trying to locate his ears and tail. Killua clapped his hands slowly, the sounds causing Kalluto to turn around and smile at him coyly. "Bravo, brother. If I closed my eyes, I might get you confused for Mother. Our parents would be so proud of your parrot skills."

Milluki cut his eyes at Killua, mentally branding him with several flaming arrows like the ones he played on his video game moments before. "Fuck you, Killua. At least I'm not on Mother's shit list again. She was up all night again talking with Father about you. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to kick you out of the family for good with all of the trouble you cause."

"Oh please don't threaten me with a good time."

"Hmph," Milluki went back to his sandwich, his tongue sliding across his upper lip at the anticipated taste. "Well if you aren't too worried about it, then I guess it's not a threat to you. But you know how Mother is. She has no problem rearranging what doesn't fit into the mold of an ideal Zoldyk."

"Watch yourself, Milluki. Those are fighting words and you know it."

"What?" Milluka waved his knife in the air as he raised his hands like a white flag. "I'm not trying to be a dick about it; I'm only saying that if it happened once it can happen again."

"What are you guys talking about?" Kalluto scratched his head, confusion darting around his purple irises. "I hate when everyone leaves me out of the conversation."

"That's because you're still in a place where ignorance is bliss, Kalluto," Killua walked over to his youngest brother and put his hands on his shoulders. He wished that Kikyo hadn't made it her mission to wear Kalluto around her finger as another ring, but no amount of persuasion could help the teen now. Kikyo treated Kalluto like he was her precious doll, one that she could mold to fix the mistakes of her other children. "For now, anyways."

"Ignorance isn't bliss," Kalluto dropped his shoulders and turned around to face Killua, "it's actually quite annoying."

"Everything doesn't require an answer right away, sweet brother."

Killua swallowed the anxious irritation that climbed his neck, latching on to the walls of his throat. He gripped the back of Kalluto's chair, not bothering to turn around and face the new company.

"Good afternoon, Illuni," Kalluto smiled warmly at his brother. In Kalluto's sugary corrupted mind, Illumi was the golden star of the Zoldyk tree; only Kikyo and Silva shined as bright in comparison.

Illumi waltzed over to Kalluto and placed a hand on the top of his head, patting gently. Killua scrunched his nose at the way Illumi looked at Kalluto as if he were a family pet.

"Good afternoon to you, Kalluto. How were your studies today? Father tells me that you have a debate tournament coming soon."

"Yes!" Kalluto's face beamed the way it did when he had impressed Kikyo. He was brightening his halo to appease the Devil; Killua only hoped that Illumi didn't scorch him alive when he was done. "I've been told that I'm the best on the team. Everyone's pretty impressed, considering that I'm the youngest."

Illumi pet his head again, letting a long icicle of a finger twirl Kalluto's black tendrils around the tip. "I don't expect any less from a Zoldyk. In a few years, you'll be able to take your chair on our council. Father believes that we are the most talented Zoldyks to grace Kukurro in years." Illumi shot a look over at Killua, his eyes replicating the midnight sky. "I'm sure you're excited for your chair too, Killua?"

Killua had to bite back the urge to spit at Illumi's feet. Illumi was a walking disease, one that infected Killua every time their eyes made contact. He turned on his heels to the door before his other side infiltrated his body. He's not worth it, Killua. He's not worth it, Killua. He's not worth it, Kil-

"Kil!"

The soles on Killua's gym shoes squeaked as he ceased his walking. He looked over his shoulder, Illumi's hair consuming his view.

"No matter how hard you try to make yourself the outsider, you are a Zoldyk. And part of being a Zoldyk means that you have responsibilities and obligations. You will take your seat next term; this is a duty that we were destined with since we were children. The faster you accept this, the easier it will be. Why go through so much to upset Mother, Father and myself?"

Killua spun on his heel, his fists clenched tightly with anger. His eyes were unsettled, irises dancing madly. A hot current electrified his body as his breathing rapidly increased.

"Illumi," he spat, words curling out of his mouth like weeds, "if you think that I will take advice from you about family duties, then you are more fucked up then I would have imagined."

Illumi placed a finger under his chin and pouted. "You don't really mean to be that cruel, do you Kil?"

"What's wrong with you!?" Killua was shouting now, his hands tightly clutching either side of his temple. "How can you stand there and act oblivious like you're so fucking innocent!? Illumi, you are psychotic and you're too far gone to even see it anymore!"

Illumi's eyes squinted dangerously, giving Killua a first glance into hell. Even Kalluto seemed to wince back from his presence, instead turning around to the counter top, pretending to trace the lines in the sleek marble finish.

"Killua," Illumi's voice plummeted several octaves, a hollow and abysmal tone, "I am trying to be nice to you, as I understand that you have some weird fascination with that thing. But if you think I will tolerate you speaking to me that way, then you are the one that's fucked. How long do you plan to accuse me of doing something wrong?"

Killua would rather have had Illumi carve out his heart and wear it around his neck. He would sit patiently through any family dinner that Kikyo requested. Any torture would be less painful than the words that escaped Illumi's lips.

"Illumi, as long as I breathe, I will never let you forget what a monster you are. Everyone else may act like they've forgotten, but I am waiting on the day when you cut yourself down with your own sword." Killua turned to leave again before Illumi could break him down further.

"I do everything for family, Kil. Can you say the same?"

Killua let his silence blanket the room, not caring if Illumi was smothered to unconsciousness by its thickness.

Gon knew that Killua lived far from Yorkshin, but he never expected him to live on this moutnain.

Kukuroo Mountain was notorious for two things: Its population of the rich and elite, and its successful government system.

Gon had always heard Mito talk about how Kukuroo Mountain was full of snobby, rich people who never left because of the laws and peace that accompanied the area. Yorkshin was a bustle of different backgrounds and people, cultures marrying together in a city that celebrated difference. It wasn't perfect; a fair share of crimes and cases of poverty slept within its lines. But Kukuroo was obliviously happy, with its laws benefiting the rich and not making room for the poor. He didn't know too much about the area outside of that; Kukuroo was not a place that opened its doors for anyone to visit.

Gon stood outside of the gate at the base of the mountain as a security guard looked at him suspiciously. Gon tilted his head back and began counting the stars that painted the sky above. He texted Killua letting him know of his arrival, anticipation slithering in chest like a snake.

He changed three times before arriving, using Mito as his personal fashion guru. Gon wasn't the suit-and-tie kind of guy; his idea of suave involved matching bow ties and suspenders.

Mito plucked and prodded through Gon's clothes until she created what she called a head turning outfit. Gon winced as he got a glimpse of himself in the mirror, the unfamiliarity of it all choking the back of his throat. Mito had gone so far as to slick Gon's thick mane down into a coif, instantly transforming the teen into a work of art.

At least, that's what ran through Killua's mind when he approached the gate.

A breath caught in his chest as he looked over the muscular brute in front of him. Gon looked too well for the part and Killua mentally sustained himself from making an inappropriate comment.

"Wow, you sure clean up nicely." He stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his blazer, feeling around for the comfort of his marble.

Gon looked down, soaking all of his appearance in. Mito said that he could get whatever his heart desired in that suit, and he only hoped that she was right.

"I didn't know how fancy was too fancy, but when you told me you lived on Kukuroo…" Gon's voice trailed as his intricate lights swayed in his vision. Houses that could double as castles set menacingly in the road in front of him, each one questioning his validity of being there. Gon clenched the nervousness in his fists, burying it deep in his pocket so that Killua wouldn't notice. "I can't believe you actually live here."

"Eh, it's not that great," Killua shrugged his shoulders, "just a bunch of people who only care about money and politics. Not my scene, honestly."

"Yeah it doesn't fit you," Gon looked down at the gravel under his feet as they walked. He wanted the sun to rise so he could confirm if it was gold. "You seem like you would live in downtown Yorkshin and drink coffee with unique flavors."

"And eat really good spaghetti from small cafes and sketch out animals in parks," Killua chuckled, a light breeze dancing through his hair. Gon inhaled the scent of fresh cotton and light cologne. "I feel like you're just describing yourself."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean that you couldn't join me."

Killua glanced over at Gon, words getting caught in a tangle in his teeth. Gon just had that effect on him - he seemed to lose the most simplest of mobility skills.

"Well, this is my house right here," Killua pointed to their left, ignoring an awestricken Gon.

"You live here? What does your family do for a living, Killua?" The Zoldyks had a disgustingly massive estate. The lawn had intricately cut bush designs, with waterfalls and fountains. A vintage wrap around porch was adorned with rocking chairs and swings, and wind chimes sang softly in the night. A classical composition seduced Gon's ear, inviting his attention to the hauntingly red door. Killua walked on ahead, not wanting to discuss the house of terror that lay in front of their feet.

"I suppose, I should warn you about that, actually. What do you know about the Kukuroo Council?"

Gon played with his chin; Killua thought he would make a nice addition to the fine art pieces in his home. "I know that they're responsible for keeping Kukuroo the prestige place it is. And I've heard they're all very powerful and rich. A lot of people look up to them, according to my Aunt Mito."

Killua lowered his head, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. "They've been around for decades, actually. You see, there was once a time when Kukuroo was terribly governed, and most of the residents lost most - if not all- of their money to the dictator at the time. A man decided to overthrow him with democracy, promising that he could help Kukuroo thrive again. So he made some investments with some up and coming firms, and boosted Kukurro's economy by millions. Since then, his descendants have all taken their parts in council seats, and the people always vote for their family members because of their inexplicable charm."

"Yeah, I think I heard something about that. But if this family is so lucrative, why has no one really ever seen them?"

"Kukurro is a place that appreciates privacy. To be honest, you won't find much information about any of the residents that live here; most of them are underhanded mob bosses who come to live off of their fortunes. And because the council keeps cash flowing in with its investments, many of them don't want to add outsiders to the mix in fear of losing money. It's all quite pathetic, actually." Killua inhaled deeply. Gon was hooked on to his every word, a fish prepared to be reeled in. "And have you ever heard of the name of the council family?"
"Nope, can't say that I have. All I know is what I've told you."

"Zoldyk." He turned to face the front door, his pale hand clashing against the bloody colored wood. "My family is the council, and tonight is a party to celebrate another year of their accomplishments."

Gon burrowed his eyebrows together in confusion. The Killua that he talked to everyday, the Killua who didn't seem to appreciate the spotlight, this Killua was the son of the highly talked about council of Kukuroo?

"I would've never guessed, Killua. Why didn't you ever say anything? Could you ever say anything?"

Killua pushed the door open as the classical musical surrounded them both, the sounds of a violin snuggling comfortably in the crevices of their skin. He looked briefly over his shoulder before reaching out a palm towards Gon. "Because that's a world that I don't think you're ready for. But tonight, I'll make sure I won't let you get caught up in their tornado."

Gon took in the atmosphere of how the other side lived.

The carpeting inside of the Zoldyk mansion was a velvet cream that sank beneath Gon's shoes. He could tell that it was the plush softness of a blanket, which made him wonder if anyone bothered to sleep in actual beds.

Art pieces hung on the walls and sculptures were scattered throughout. Their quality threatened anyone who came too close so he decided to admire from afar. The art seemed like it was merely there for decoration and Gon wondered what Kurapika would say if he saw pointless artwork. Even still, it was minor in detail to the construction of the home.

The ceiling did not exist, rather calling it that was an insult to architect's vision. It was a cathedral style roof, tiny gods and goddesses protruding to life in the cream paint, and they all appeared to be angrily looking down at the patrons below. Gon spotted Zeus sitting directly in the center of it all, hands clasping around the chandelier. It was such an intricate art that Gon felt unworthy of gazing on it at all.

Killua turned around and watched Gon lose himself in the vicinity. He smiled warmly, catching the irony at hand.

If only he knew that's how others look at him.

"Master Killua," Gotoh appeared in front of the two, carrying a tray with two empty glasses. "Lady Kikyo was looking for you, apparently your mother and father will be making a speech soon that they want all of the Zoldyk children present for. Is everything alright?"

Killua scoffed under his breath, catching insulting phrases in his mouth and tossing it under his tongue. "All of the children, huh? I'm not sure if that's possible, Gotoh."

"Master Killua," Gotoh's voice deepened to a whisper, a desperation in his tone milking through, "Please don't make this any more difficult for me. I've already had to face the wrath of your parents from letting me slip through in the first place."

"Relax, Gotoh," Killua sighed, gesturing to Gon behind him, "I just went out to get my friend, that's all. This is Gon, by the way. Gon, this is our family butler Gotoh."

Gotoh bent over in a hurried fashion, stern eyes never leaving Killua's. He pushed his glasses on the top of his nose and dipped close to Killua's ear.

"Master Killua, just what is it that you're trying to do?"

Killua wondered if his mother had a closet of personalities that she wore to suit the occasion.

He watched her glide to and fro around the attendees, laughing and pouring wine and complimenting people on their attires she would bash in secret later. She was almost unrecognizable as she shuffled past him, touching his shoulder lightly.

"Killua," she sang, her teeth frozen in a porcelain smile, "The daughter of the Piquot's has been asking about our handsome son all evening." She pointed her perfectly painted nail at a young lady standing near their fire place, drinking a glass of wine. Her long, silky red hair bounced around as she mingled with an older woman. She looked perfectly relaxed in her mannerisms, and occasionally Killua would see green irises dart in his direction, a playful flirtatious smile stealing her mouth. "Surely it would do you well to go introduce yourself; you know how much the Piquot's invest every year."

"I'm not here for you to play matchmaker, Mother." Killua took a long sigh, dropping his shoulder from his mother's claws. It felt like she was never going to let go so that she could parade Killua around like an auctioneer. "I don't even want to think about that right now."

"Killua," Kikyo's smile was stuck in place as she clenched her teeth; her eyes scanned the room to maintain her humility through her anger. "This is a very important opportunity. You should very much be considering finding someone to settle down with, high school is almost over for you. And since you'll be replacing your Father's seat when he retires, you'll need an heir. And Rozlyn," she pointed back in the direction of the red head, who was chewing her bottom lip while staring at Killua, "is more than a suitable contender. She's a beauty, she's submissive from what her mother tells me, and she's set to inherit her family fortune if she gets married and has a son. Your child will have the best of both worlds, Killua."

"Mother," Killua stepped away from his mother, turning his back to the crowd, "does it ever disgust you how you treat your children like we're investments?"

"I don't know Killua, maybe you should ask yourself that the next time you lie in that five thousand dollar bed I bought you."

"Money isn't everything, Mother."

"Look around you, Killua," Kikyo's smile had long since dissipated as she furiously looked into her son's eyes. "Money is the reason why any of this is possible. Money gave us our family name."

"Money is also the reason why my sister can't benefit from that name."

Kikyo looked around the room to see if anyone had heard him say that. She opened her mouth to scold Killua, her anger beating against her skin and threatening to explode, when a tanned teenager appeared behind him, stuffing his face with shrimp.

"Hey, Killua! This food is pretty good!"

"Kil," Kikyo could not take her eyes off of the unknown guest that hid in her son's shadows. "Who is this?"

Killua's smile took on a life of its own, curving into a dangerous smile to mock his mother. "This is a good friend of mine, Mother."

"A good friend? And just how did he know about tonight?"

"Well that's simple," Killua folded his arms across his chest, a challenge. "I invited him."

"You invi….Killua." Kikyo clenched her chest as if someone vacuumed the air from her lungs. If Silva was present, she would dramatically fall into his arms. "You would invite someone without discussing with me or your Father first?"

"Don't see the big deal, who else would I have to talk with?"

Gotoh maneuvered through several guests, putting his hand on Kikyo's shoulder. He looked at Killua at the fire that he ignited, and he hoped that he could extinguish it before she burned down the lot of them.

"Lady Kikyo, I believe Master Silva is ready for the speech. He's asked me to get you."

Kikyo nodded at Gotoh, her eyes never leaving the ocean blue ones in front of her. "You should make your way to the front room, Killua. You wouldn't want to miss this speech."

Killua found it sickening the way people hung onto his parents every words as if they were gods.

Silva's white blonde waves of hair bounced off the lights that hung high over his head, an arm tucked under the curve of his wife's side. Kikyo played the part of a council woman perfectly, but it was her part of the loving wife that should have won her an award.

She placed an palm on Silva's shoulder, and gazed at his cheek lovingly. Milluki and Kalluto stood not too far from them, with Milluki looking over at the trays of food with sadness. Killua had to admit- he'd been doing a good job of not pigging out as normal.

Illumi stood on the right of his father, his darkness contrasting with the picture perfect light that his parents spent time evolving. His face was expressionless, and no one seemed to notice his intense glare towards Killua and Gon. Killua glared harshly back, knowing Illumi wouldn't dare act out with so many people present.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming tonight," Silva took a sip of his wine and sat it on the mantle behind him. "This year was another success for Kukuroo, with an estimate of 8.2 million dollars of investments that poured in." The round of applause was almost immediate following that projection. The people respected Silva and company for their sense of business and politics, their picturesque family scene, and most importantly, the cold hard cash that never ceased to pile in.

"Of course, none of this wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for my son. He's only been with the council for a few short years, but I've never seen someone have such a keen eye for the almighty dollar like him. He knows how to pick through the real seeds, and watching him water them to flourish, well that just makes me proud as a council man and as a father. So please, ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for my son, Illumi Zoldyk."

The applause went off without a hitch again, droning out the room from any other noise. Killua slapped a palm over one of his ears to reduce the volume, but the loudness broke through the slivers in between his fingers like light.

Killua felt the contents of his food climb the ladder in his throat as he watched his brother take center stage. Eyes were glued to Illumi's daunting presence and handsome mystery; Killua wondered what stares Illumi would get if the truth were to come out.

Illumi bathed in the glory, a small smile poking through his otherwise stale face. He raised his glass in the air, declaring a toast. "Thank you Father for those kind words. To the good people of Kukuroo, I want you to know that I would not and could not be standing here today if it wasn't for your belief in the Zoldyk name. You all chose to vote for me to take the seat, and it's an honor to be able to repay back the gratification where it helps the most: your pockets."

The uproar continued, the talk of money exciting everyone to the core. Illumi had a presence that made his words transform into liquid gold; the vocal Midas, Silva called him.

"Please, you all are far too kind. It's been nothing but my pleasure to have guided Kukurro into another promising fiscal term, and I promise you that nothing will change on that forefront. In fact, I give you my word that it will only get better. As you all know, right now I am the only Zoldyk child who sits on the council. Many of you may have met my brother, Milluki, who takes care of all of the security and engineering on our fine mountain. But there has yet to be anything quite like what will soon take place. For you see," Illumi tilted his wine glass to the back of the room, towards Killua's location, "My younger brother will be taking seat next term, if you all will allow it. He's a visionary, and at the Kukurro Charter Program, he instantly rose to success as a national debate champion. That feat, to remind you fine people, was only once accomplished in Kukurro by my father. It's an honor even I couldn't hold, but I couldn't be more proud of the man that he's turning into. And I know that you all will be more than happy with his handsome face on our council. What's even more exciting- won't you come up here darling?"

Killua swallowed the heaves in his chest from frustration. Without his consent, his parents and Illumi orchestrated his run for council seat. To make matters worse, Illumi was now helping a petite red head on the elevated floor where he stood. She turned around to face the crowd and smiled tenderly, green eyes directed at Killua.

"Rozlyn Piquot, the heir to Piquot Industries that produces the beautiful diamonds that adorn your necks and wrists, and my brother have entered into a relationship. I wanted my brother to break the news, but I'm so excited for his betrothed that I had no choice but to spoil it. Our families have been in talks, and it seems like a spring wedding is in order. A Piquot and a Zoldyk; the world is a magical place, isn't it?"

Killua had to reach out and touch Gon's hand for a sense of familiarity. Gon's eyes darted back and forth between the stage and Killua, his stomach twisting and turning into violent knots. He squeezed Killua's hand, blue eyes wildly expanding before him. "Killua," he whispered, "is this true?"

"No," Killua spat, his tongue burning from the acidity of his words, "this is all bullshit. He thinks he has me trapped."

"So everyone, please give a friendly toast and welcome to your future Kukuroo President, and the husband of this beautiful little lady on my side, my little brother, Killua Zoldyk!"

Killua held his breath in frustration as the crowd turned to face him. Kikyo had a smug grin on her face as she clapped slowly along. Silva sipped out of his wine glass, his eyes cold and hard, threatening Killua to take the floor. Milluki and Kalluto looked confused, and Milluki seemed to break his resolve as he inched closer and closer to the buffet.

Killua's shoes turned to brick, the only weight keeping him up was Gon's hand. Kikyo's lips tightened to a strict line as she waited for her son to move. The clapping decreased as Killua remained glued to the floor.

"Killua," Gon whispered to his side, a lump forming in his throat. "Are you going to go up there?"

"Kil," Illumi smiled mischievously as he spun Rozlyn around, "don't you want to come gather your fiancé before I take her as my own?"

Killua found the nerve that hid itself in his pockets. He walked towards the stage as the applause started again, his eyes locked into Illumi's pits. He had to remind himself to breathe, all to keep from committing murder.

He ignored Rozlyn, instead taking the mic swiftly from Illumi's hands. He brought it close to his mouth with restraint. "Thank you all. I don't deserve the words that my brother has spoken of me. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening." He slammed the mic back into Illumi's chest, knocking him backwards a bit. He jumped off of the stage and bee lined through the crowd.

"Kil," Illumi sang back into the microphone, voice of honey and tea, "Is that all you have to say to our wonderful guests?"

Killua's feet dragged towards Gon, scooping the teen's wrists in between his hands. He took a moment to admire how perfectly it fit in the pocket of his flesh. "Gon," he hushed, "let's go outside."

"Kil?" Illumi watched his brother take the bronzed teen towards the balcony. A wind of anger whipped through his stomach, but he quieted it with a warm smile that emerged on his face.

"Hmph, I think our darling Killua has a case of stage fright."

The breezes at night were always Gon's favorite.

Things seemed to exist differently at night, almost as if one could morph into the being they needed to be.

Killua's skin was kissed to perfection under the luminosity under the moon; silver streaks of hair that looked like they came from the surface of celestial sphere.

Killua was hunched over the railing of the balcony in their backyard. Gon supported his back against the cool surface of stone, trying to find the words to give Killua some comfort. But when he snatched back his palm from his hair, he came up empty.

The silence that blanketed between them seemed faulty, with both parties wanting to liquefy the ice with conversation. Killua took a deep breath, bringing his head up to meet Gon's eyes. Even against the inked scenery, Gon's irises were still warm enough to melt Killua's nerves.

"I'm sorry I brought you here. I knew it would be terrible, but I didn't know it would be this terrible."

"Mmnn," Gon shook his head, tilting it downwards and flashing Killua a smile. "I'm glad you invited me. Besides, could you have handled this completely alone?"

"I've done it before, but I must admit having someone I actually like here does make it easier."

Gon closed his eyes and grinned to his ears. Killua couldn't help but to return the smile, momentarily forgetting his current problems. "I'm glad to hear that, Killua." The way that Gon said his name was poetic. Killua wanted to embed it into his brain so he could have something to listen to late at night. "Your brother, Illumi? He's not a good guy, is he?"

"No, he's literally the worst. And yet everyone kisses his ass like he's some sort of prince. It all just makes me nauseous."

"You don't seem like them at all, Killua."

Killua held on to that sentence for what seemed like forever, playing it over and over in his mind. "You think so?"
"Of course! The fact that you think otherwise is puzzling to me. I'm sorry if this comes across as offensive, but they all seem so secretive, and not in a good way. Listening to them talk doesn't seem very genuine. You're not that kind of person, and you should never think that anyways."

Killua leaned back over the railing, playing with one of the flowers in the pot next to him. He fought the urge to pluck one and give it to Gon. He threw that idea away in his mental garbage.

"Thank you, Gon. You know how to make me feel better."

"I can say the same for you, Killua. I'm really glad to have met you. I don't know what I would do if you weren't around."

Killua looked up at honey eyes, lingering on them for longer than he planned. He didn't notice when he moved closer, but his thigh was bumping against Gon's. Gon had apparently forgotten how to breathe at the contact, face flustered as Killua rose to meet him face to face. He didn't move from the position, and he didn't know if he wanted to.

Killua's face was inches from Gon's, he could pretty much taste the woodsy cologne that was dabbed on the teen's neck. He wanted to reach out and taste it, taste Gon, taste freedom from inhibition.

"Gon," Killua almost didn't recognize the voice as his, a low and musky tone that escaped his lips. "I should say those words to you."

Gon swallowed hard, wondering if Killua could hear how fast his heart was beating. Killua's nose was almost touching his own; he could feel his breath on his bottom lip. "Then why don't you, Killua?"

"I should…."

Killua's palm found itself at the base of Gon's chin, lessening the gap between them. He wasn't sure if this was a two way street, but Gon wasn't stopping him. Initially, he wanted to see how far he could go before Gon brought his sense back into his head. But as pale lips nudged against bronze ones, he realized that he had long crossed that line.

Killua closed his lips around Gon's bottom, tasting the sweetness that lingered on his skin. Gon tasted exactly the way he thought about at night.

He let his lips remain in the same spot for a while, mentally surprised that Gon hadn't broken away yet. Gon pressed back lightly, feeling the electric shock that radiated from Killua's lips. He breathed into Killua's mouth, attempting to taste the inside of Killua's teeth. Killua pulled back, his face clouded with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Gon. I shouldn't have just done that." Killua put his hand over his mouth, his fingers lightly touching where Gon's lips just were. I just kissed Gon, I just kissed him randomly. Even I wasn't expecting that, I know he hates me, oh my god…

"It's okay, Killua."

Gon's voice coddled Killua's insecurities, showering him in a blanket of light. "Really, I understand, you just got caught up in the moment."

Killua felt the contradicting temperatures of emotions that collided within. Gon seemed to dismiss the idea altogether about why Killua had kissed him, which made it a lot easier. But it also proved that Gon just didn't feel the same way.

But he had kissed him back…

"Let's just forget that it happened, okay?"

Killua felt his stomach drop to his feet at Gon's words. A kiss isn't like regretful words, Gon. You can't just take it back.

Instead, he replied, "Okay."

"Hey," Gon changed the subject, not completely grasping the severity of the situation. The kiss with Killua was magical, unexpected and damn it all if it wasn't what he needed. But Gon's fear that Killua would take a bite from his fruit and spit it out when it didn't taste as sweet as he had hoped overpowered his lust. I can't let that happen again. I don't know if I can bounce back this time. "Remember when you told me you had to show me something? Think now is a good time?"

Killua regained his composure, brushing off the events until he could choke on his regret later. He had a promise to fulfill, and he wouldn't let the cloud of disappointment rain down on him later.

"Yes, now is more than perfect for me to show you. We'll have to sneak around a bit inside, but it'll all be worth it. I have someone that I want you to meet."

Thank you guys for your continued support of this story, it means the world to me.

As always, I appreciate any and all feedback, good, bad or in between.

I'm not sure if this will be a long story or a short one, I suppose it depends on what all I have to say, and how I can get it out.

Right now I'm projecting 15 chapters, but that could be more or less.

Once again, thank you kind souls, and I'll see you all soon!

~Bitchii-usa.