DISCLAIMER : Following the word itself "fanfiction", I do not own anything in this fiction and credits belong to the rightful creators of the manga: TOGASHI YOSHIHIRO, the publisher, the broadcasting companies of the anime both 1999 original version and 2011 remake - Nippon Animation and Madhouse, respectively and etc.

REPLIES TO COMMENTS

Guest : Thanks ^_^ Ill be releasing at least 3 chapters per week ^^

Milye6 : I just finished writing the whole story last week :-3 It only lasted up to chapter 29. Ill try to update faster so I can finally get to the sequel ^^ Well, if that part gave you the feels, much more the upcoming chapters xDD
Well, Killua is not too religious about his training. He left at the age of 12 and never came back. He seems to not have continued his training so he was only at a minimum level of tolerance to pain, sleepiness and hunger (compared to the rest of the family who have completed their training. THEORETICALLY). Like how he was able to survive a part of the Hunter Exams with no sleep (and prolly very little food compared to his voracious appetite). The Hunger Tolerance one I wrote is just put there in the story for the sake of it xDDD Because I believe, if he can go on a mission that takes pretty long with no sleep, he might as well train to hold his hunger down.
He prolly eats a lot now because why the hell not? He doesnt need to hold himself back from eating xDDD
Sometimes, some ppl fall unconsious with the eyes open ;) it just appears creepier because it was Illumi :P
Do I write REALLY long replies? D: I need to stop! SOMEBODY STOP MEEE! xD

Infinityworlds : Yep yep. It is normal xDDD Killua seems to hate the fact that his brother turned out to be a sociopath. He doesnt really hate him. He just seems to be frustrated. He somewhat admires Illumi's abilities and respects him that he often mentions how strong he is and the things he taught him before every now and then in the series. He never fails to call him Aniki and he always talks to him with due respect (compared to how rudely he usually talks to others). And it also appears that, Illumi is his benchmark and he wishes to surpass him someday like a negative and weird way of idolization. Notice no matter how Illumi sets Killua to a deal with his life on the line, Killua never grabs the chance xD On the other hand, Illumi seems to believe that Killua have always hated him and have wished to kill him. They really needed to talk :/ They love each other in a twisted and frustrated way that it really hurts :'-(

SlightlyYandereMelissa : He won't admit it to himself :P

CHAPTER 10
- HEIR -

I stood by the wall staring blankly into nowhere. My thoughts are wandering and I'm dying out of boredom. It's been three days. All I did was continue my lessons the whole day and stay besides this little devil the whole night...

I must say it was pretty boring not having him around to play with...

I slowly made my way to the window to peer through the curtains and take sight of the rising sun. It's 6:00 in the morning.

I drew the curtains open for the light rays to break in. I wonder how are they doing right now. Are they viewing the same sunrise? Or are they still asleep yet? I'm sure Leorio is! And I bet Gon is out somewhere with the younger Ging fishing for breakfast... Haha! And Kurapika is... hmmm.. no idea? He's prolly alone by himself contemplating on his 'revenge' and how he could stop himself from stopping the massacre from happening... WAIT! We don't belong to the same time zone, stupid...

"Close it...!"

I looked back to see the little devil finally awakened from his three day deep slumber. He was squinting and dodging the rays that tainted his pale skin yellow.

"Hey! Don't underestimate the power of sunlight, it's good for the bones ya'know! It's good for growing little babies like you!"

"Just close it!" He carried on complaining.

"Fine fine..." I shrugged closing it back. "Good morning Young Master!" I greeted him as I approached him. "It's good you finally woke up..."

He stared at his little feet covered by the sheets and the sling in his left arm. He used his right hand to gently reach for his cheeks, then his neck to check for more injuries.

"How long have I been asleep?" He asked.

"Hmm, 3 days."

He looked back at the end of the bed and stared there blankly for a while.

"Anyways, I'm going to call the medics to inform them that you're finally awake so you can have your breakfast!"

I can somehow notice he wasn't too happy about him falling unconscious during his Pain Tolerance Test. I tried to talk to him in a lively tone to cheer him up, but it doesn't seem to work.

"Your mom was very worried you know! She went ballistic, screaming hysterically here and there, nagging your Dad and your Gramps...!"

He clenched the blanket with his right hand gently.

Was it because... it has something to do about what I heard the other night?

"More or less I can tell he can't be an heir... He's not the right one yet I think..."

I was on my way back to Illumi's room from grabbing some spare clothing for him and a clean towel for his warm compress when I overheard Dad and Gramps talking inside.

"Come in..." Gramps sensed me right away and bid me to enter.

I slowly opened the door and bowed to greet them before making my way in. I looked back at them hesitantly that brought Gramps to ask me...

"Gonna ask me if it's okay we're talking about matters like this while you're around?"

"Ahh.." I stuttered. "Yes, Master. I mean, they are private matters and..."

"It wasn't too private at all."

"We really don't care about you nosing around. However, if you dare to even try telling Illumi about it, you know what's next for you..." Dad sternly spoke giving me the death glare I dreaded since then.

"Of course not, Master. I would never dare to speak anything about it to anyone." I bowed once again then proceeding to the unconscious Illumi, dipping the towel in a bowl of lukewarm water...

"Moving on, I did notice something strange about his behaviour..." Gramps continued speaking to dad.

"Yeah... I can see a great potential in him, however, he manifested some traits that aren't even fit for the ways of being an assassin..."

"Ahh... that." Gramps nodded. "It can't be that bad... It can be fixed. We can always do something about it while he's still young. Although potentially, it wouldn't do good to our business and the family's welfare just in case he gets to be the heir regardless if we'd be able to fix it or not..."

"It's too early to conclude..." Dad added as he finally headed to the door with Gramps following behind.

"Yeah, we're also expecting on your second one..."

And that was the last words I heard from them before they completely left the room...

The medics were finally done checking his current condition and gave me further instructions for his steadfast recovery.

"Open up wide! AAAAH!" I reached to him a spoonful of rice porridge.

He won't budge though! What is he sulking about?! He is starting to get into my nerves!

"Hey, you should eat even just a bit! You're not getting any better without food you know?!" I scolded him, entirely forgetting my designation. "Your medications won't work without it!"

"I failed again..." I heard him speaking to himself. I wasn't sure if that was what I've heard however.

"Kill..." He called me.

"I won't answer your question until you eat this mouthful!" I strictly demanded, slamming the bowl of porridge on the desk on his lap.

He glared at me for a few seconds before surprisingly grabbing the spoon then dipping it on the bowl and gobbled a spoonful. He just followed what I told him despite how I scolded him disrespectfully!

"GOOD!" I placed my hands on my waist, still bossing him around. "Now go for another mouthful!"

"How did you get as strong as that?" He asked after swallowing.

"Why the sudden?" I asked him back confused.

"I followed your condition. I deserve an answer."

That was neat... I honestly don't know what to tell him, or rather, I can't tell him anything...

"Well..." I stuttered. "Experience, I guess? I've been through a lot... SOOOOO! You now finish your food so you can finally get well, go back to your training and become stronger... WANNA BE STRONG RIGHT?" I slapped his back for encouragement.

"Oww..." He winced before dipping the spoon once again in the bowl and continued eating.

"You sure you don't need me to help you eat?"

He did not respond.

I watched him eat on his own while I realize one thing. Is he being under the pressure for trying to live up to his family's expectations, being the first born or the potential next heir? Does he have an idea at least about how Dad and Gramps think about him?

By the looks of it and how he behaves everytime...

apparently, yes...

"Done..." He told me to finally have me take the desk on his lap away.

"Good!" I did so anyways, while he laid back on the bed to get some rest. He tucked himself under the blanket and got back to his hobby of staring-blankly-at-nowhere. Or its just his eyes that looked like it?

"Say... Bocchama..." I tried to ask him, who knows I might get some clues. Talking to him often might get me to the answers that I needed to know. I needed to gain his trust. "Do you want to be the heir? Or at least expect yourself to be the next heir...?"

It can't be that bad to ask him. He won't take it personally, he's a kid after all.

"Heir?" He glanced at me confused.

"Yeah..., like the next person to inherit the family business..."

"Hmmm..." He paused for awhile. He seemed to be thinking of the right thing to tell me. "What do you think?"

Hah! I was the one asking him and right now, he gave me back the question...

To be honest, I still don't know how what to tell him about it. I can actually agree about what Dad and Gramps discussed about him... Imagine the next generation of Zoldycks to be ruled by HIM! I surely would just hide in the deepest, darkest side of the Dark Continent and never come back! OH! and I'll bring Alluka with me too!

I sat on the chair besides his bed. "Remember what I told you? You'll be strong... stronger, faster and smarter than me. Strong enough to be the next heir!" I bluffed, giving him a wide, smug, grin trying to encourage him.

"Yeah right..." He rolled to his side, turning his back on me.

"I'm not lying! I'm a fortune teller. If I say you will, you really will. Believe me!"

Sigh... I guess I have no choice but to lie... But it seems pointless either. He really seemed to know that Dad and Gramps didn't view him as the potential heir of the family.

"But you're not answering the question."

Makes me think what's in me, who also don't fit to the ways of being an assassin, that has to be given too much expectations about being the next heir anyways?... My random bloodlust attacks when Im angered? My physical abilities? He also have that! Or not? I still didn't know if he occasionally goes out to do some minor "missions and orders" like what I used to do when I was his age though...

Come to think about it. If I have been just training obediently and religiously with Dad, Gramps and him, I could've been a lot stronger than what I am right now... And I could've probably used it against him...

...or even surpass him.

"Haha! Of course I can't! Remember what I told you? I can't tell you anything that can affect the future! So... I must not tell you who becomes the next heir..."

Right. That was the neatest way out of this.

"Bocchama?"

He wasn't talking back anymore. I had to stand up to check on him and I found out he already fell asleep.

"Hope you die in your sleep..."I softly uttered as I stared at him, listening to the shallow breaths he took as he peacefully dozed off. How innocent and harmless he looks right now.

"Just kidding..." I shoved the blanket up to his shoulders and brushed off the stray locks away from his face.

I carefully made my way out of the room, trying not to make a single noise.

"Is he asleep?"

To my surprise, Dad was standing in front of me, asking me about the little devil.

"Yes, Master..." I bowed.

"Proceed to the meeting hall, I have a few matters to discuss with you..."

END OF CHAPTER 10