It was near dawn when I brought my thumb and index up to my mouth…

Hweu-weh!

The shrill whistle pierced the morning air. The nesting birds took off it a huge cloud, outlined by the first dip of the sun cresting the horizon just behind Kukuroo Mountain.

The sight was magical.

Mike came running through the trees, tongue lolly out of the side of his mouth from his night excursions with Haruka… who was no longer clinging to his fur. She was gone.

There was no trace of her.

"Haruka-onee-chan?!" Kil called out. Mike moved back into the tree line at his approach, still wary about being used as a climbing post. My smile disappeared as I began a light sweep of the area.

I had been watching Haruka the entire time, how could she have vanished?

I kept my back to a tree, breathing light, and my body was a statue. I had panicked the second I had heard the whistle. I didn't want to run into Illumi… I didn't know how I could face him. At the gates I had panicked. I had been as frozen as I now stood.

Only this time… I had no way to run. Illumi's presence was too strong, he was too close by. He wasn't alone… another presence? Smaller. Not as dangerous – his little brother? Umm, K-something… Killua! Mimi had called him Killua-kun!

My heart hitched as I remembered his name, my feet shifted and I felt a twig crack beneath my foot. Shit! I didn't think it was possible for my body to freeze any more, but it did. To be honest… I don't think… I was… breathing… anymore.

The world titled; spots of black dancing through my vision.

My back slowly trailed down the tree trunk as my knees grew weaker. Shallow breaths in and out kept most of the ringing in my ears away, but it was still enough to block my hearing. I never heard the approach of Illumi.

I just remember seeing a pair of long, black clad legs bending down so I stared into his expressionless face and emotionless eyes… His black hair swept across my cheeks as he leaned over and I felt arms against my back and under my legs.

"Aniki?! Ani- Hey you found onee-chan!" Kil sprinted the distance between us and lifted onto his toes to look at Haruka, who had passed out seconds ago. Kil's face was filled with curiosity and I saw through half lidded eyes as he raised a single hand, held in a fist except for his index finger, and poked Haruka's cheek.

She gave no response.

"Haruka-onee-chan?" Kil poked her again. And again. "Hey, hey old hag?" After getting no response again Kil looked up at me with big violet eyes, and asked with the smallest waver in his voice, "Will Haruka-nee-chan be okay Aniki?"

I gave a slight nod of my head before starting for the house. I wasn't overly concerned, but I wasn't chancing it by moving slowly either. Sometimes this girl was trouble, but I was used to trouble. Having four younger brothers was not easy, not even for me.

"Illumi dear?!" Mother exclaimed as she intercepted me in the hallway on my way to deposit Haruka in her room. When had it become her room? I questioned myself as I greeted mother.

"What are you doing Illumi? Why do you have that girl in your arms?"

"She passed out." I stated. Haruka was not heavy enough to strain my arms but I did admit it was rather… awkward, to continuously hold her.

"So why did you bring her here dear?"

"She opened the Testing Gate." Mother's face reflected her obvious shock, while I pondered why I had said that.

"What door did she open?" I did not like the calculating tone which entered her voice, but I was unable to come up with an excuse for me to leave without answering.

"The Third."

"Wonderful." Mother turned away, but added over her shoulder, "Make sure she's comfortable when she wakes up Illumi dear."

As she trailed away I noticed that Kalluto was not following her as per usual. How odd. That brother was more my mother's shadow than the real thing.

"Murh…" Haruka tried to twist in my arms, like she was trying to get away from something. I moved faster towards the guest room she had occupied once before, wary that she may jerk suddenly and my grip was not enough to hold her. She may not be happy to find herself waking up against a stone floor instead of a soft bed.

A soft laugh escaped me as I remembered the first time she had slept here. She had awoken half way on the stone flooring, much to my amusement.