So I was mad. I tried to get Illumi to sit back on his ass after the meal. He needed to rest. He said 'no'. He. Said. No.

Another plate was roughly shoved into the cupboard. Another curse was said under my breath.

Once Illumi had finished eating he had thanked us, and left. Just up and disappeared. I knew where he was going. There was only one place for him to go. Kukuroo Mountain.

And as soon as these dishes were done I was going to follow him and give his ass such a kicking he won't ever think twice of ignoring me again.

"Haru-chan?" Dania's hesitant call caused me to look around.

"Yes?"

"Um, I think you should take it easy on the dishes. Those are Obaa-chan's favourite plates." She was looking at me with alarm. Guess I wasn't channeling my anger very well.

"Dania, do you mind finishing up for me?" I asked the girl. She nodded and I handed her the rest of the stack.

I nearly ran out the front door barefoot, but remembered shoes were a good idea when running through the paths on Kukuroo Mountain. I had tried it barefoot once. I still wasn't sure if it had been mud I had stepped in or, you know, something grosser. I was perfectly okay not knowing.

I reached out to steady myself against one of the trees which covered my family's mountain. My back was throbbing now, but it was nothing I had not been trained to handle. My arm was still partially numb, though I was regaining control with it. Another couple of days and I would be fully healed.

I closed my eyes, taking a breath, and continued on to the house. There I would be able to fall into bed and regain a bit of my lost sleep.

I had awoken last night on my stomach, an unnatural sleeping position for me, as I was not inclined to leave my back open for possible attacks at any moment. I had slowly twisted my body so I was lying on my back, though it was injured. Not long after that, still awake, I felt Haruka's body press against my side. I had not been able to sleep after that and had spent the next few hours looking alternately at the ceiling and at her sleeping face.

I heard something running through the woods, aiming for my back. And it was coming fast.

Hweu-weh!

Mike skidded to a halt before he had the chance to jump on me. I patted his nose, placating him for the time being. I would have to set time aside when I was healed to continue my training with the wolf. He made an excellent partner to practice my speed against. Father and Grandfather were not always available for my training so I had learned to create my own ways to train.

"Good boy." I gave him one last pat and turned away, but he nudged my back.

"Aniki!" Kil's head popped up from Mike's shoulder blades. I guess he had finally convinced the wolf to let him be ridden. The kid was a genius when it came to some of the strangest things.

"Kil. Why are you out here? Should you not be training with father?"

"Dad's busy with Milluki. He told me it was okay to play today. But see, see! I told you I could ride Mike just like Haruka-onee-chan!"

I nodded at his accomplishment and turned away. I needed to get to my room before my strength gave out. I feared if I stayed out here any longer I would be delayed again.

"By the way aniki." Kil spoke up, making me pause again.

"Yes?"

"Some~bod~y's in trou~ble." He smugly sang as another head popped up behind me. This one had blue hair, and was female. There was no way my luck was this bad.

"Illu!" Haruka jumped down from Mike's back. As she landed her knees bent to absorb most of the impact. Also giving her a spring when she used her entire body to reinforce her slap.

Kil's laugh came through the slight ringing in my ears as my eyes sought out Haruka's. I don't think I had ever seen a more hate filled gaze in my life, quite the accomplishment on her part I had to say. I kept my thoughts to myself.

"Do you understand what the words injured, bullet, and rest MEAN? Because I sure as hell don't think you do!" I felt tears fill my eyes but for once I didn't care. If he had been anyone else, if Illumi had not been a Zoldyck, he would have died because of that many bullets being shot into his body. "How can you think for even a second that you are fine?! Answer me Illumi! What kind of world… hic… have you grown… hic… up in to… hic… think… hic… that eleven… hic… bullet holes are… hic… hic… nothing?"

I finally broke down, sobbing. I crouched down, trying to hold myself together. I had been soo scared I would lose another person close to me. I had been scared that what I had done may not have been enough. I was just scared.

And Illumi… Illumi didn't seem to understand that people were worried about him. That if he died, people would be sad.

I would be heartbroken…

I pulled on Mike's fur, wanting to get away. Haruka-nee-chan was crying and aniki seemed to have become a statue. There were plenty of other places to explore from atop Mike…

I was at a loss. Haruka was crying. Kil was trying to sneak away on Mike. And I was at a loss. I had never had to comfort someone before. What was I supposed to say? Was there anything I could say?

Before I could react in any way Haruka was back on her feet. I felt another slap, less forceful than the first. Tears were still streaming down her cheeks and I raised my own hand to feel my cheek, knowing that there was quite possiblly a red imprint of her hand forming on it right now.

When I still did not react in any way Haruka felt the need to pound her fists against my chest. Insulting me over and over,

"Bastard. Jackass. Asshole. Zombie. Meanie." And some I wasn't sure if they were insults or simply words which popped into her brain. After running through the list twice, she buried her face in the sweater and wept some more.

How was she able to cry so much?

"Do you get it yet you wide-eyed cat?!" I shouted into his chest, clutching his shoulders. He was standing with his arms at his sides, saying nothing. Doing nothing. And all I could was cry.

He reached up to pry my hands away, holding them in his against my chest. I sniffed as I looked up into his face. The expression there was…

"I'm sorry." He whispered. His features were softer than I had ever seen them. Even when I had seen him giving Killu a piggyback ride. Never. He seemed to have let all his guards down. "I…"

I paused. Not sure what I could say. It had never been my intention to hurt her. I did not want her to cry. But I also didn't know how to get her to stop.

"You really don't get it yet do you?" I looked up with clear eyes. All my tears having been shed. Could I say it? "I don't want you to die. I care about you. But you don't seem to notice."

She… cares about me? What did that mean? And notice what? Had I missed something in her behaviour? My eyes searched hers, wanting answers.

I laughed, soft and low. He really was a dense kind of guy…

"Illu…" I leaned in, tilting my head slightly, and pressed my lips against his. They were soft, and I pressed myself closer. His hold on my wrists loosened. I used the opportunity to trail my hands up his chest, snaking to his neck and holding him to me as I continued the kiss.

And ever so slowly I felt him respond. His own hands found their way around my waist, keeping the rest of my body pressed to his own.

I stood up on my toes, wanting a better angle as we continued the kiss. It was no longer only one sided. His tongue trailed across my lower lip, seeking access. I let him in, and his tongue stroked mine. Curious. Demanding.

My fingers raked the top of his head, and I felt his hair slide through my fingers. It was silky… A new sensation on top of all the others.

I broke the kiss as my air finally ran out. I was panting. And so was Illumi.

Something hit my back, arching my spine into Illumi more. Burning pain. I coughed, blood splattering out all over the white in front of my eyes.

"Haruka?" I looked down to see the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. A mouth I had just been kissing.

Blood was spreading out across the front of her shirt, where her heart would be. The left side. She was going limp, her head rocked forward to rest against my chest once more.

"Haruka?" I asked again.

"I… llu…" Her arm reached up, and she raised her head to look at me. I felt as her thumb caressed my cheek bone. A gentle touch I had never felt before. The light in her eyes faded away and I watched as her hand fell to the side. I gently lowered her body to the ground, repeating the gesture on her own cheek.

But she was dead. Her eyes were already growing dark and her breathing had ceased. Soon enough her entire body would grow cold. She was nothing but a corpse.

"Illumi dear. You should never let yourself become so distracted. Tsk, tsk. Mama is so disappointed. I thought the girl would be of benefit but she ended up being nothing more than a distraction." I raised my eyes to see the yellow dress of my mother appear from the trees, followed closely by the red traditional kimono wearing form of my brother Kalluto.

I stared at her from where I was kneeling beside Haruka.

"Now Illumi dear it's time for some more training. Kalluto-chan, come along too." She turned and started walking away without saying another word. Kalluto trailed silently behind, only saying three words,

"Yes, okaa-sama."

I wiped all emotion from my face. There was nothing to be done. Haruka was dead.

I picked her up like I had done before, cradling her to my chest, and placed here beneath a tree. The light and shadows danced across her skin, making her appear alive once more. But that would not last. Soon enough the night would come and claim her body.

But her soul was too bright to stay in the darkness. She would continue to live in the light. But I…

I stepped away from her and faded into the shadows. Returning to the house and the dark… Where I belonged.

Haruka had been nothing more than a sun to my world. A sun which was extinguished. Now, I needed to return to what I had been.

What I needed to be…

A Zoldyck assassin.

A professional killer who did not make friends because they held you back.