Hi, guys!

Here I am again, after months of absence. I've been on a long deserved vacation for two months. ^^

I haven't forgotten about you guys; I was only a little bit too lazy and I am sorry about that.

This chapter is dedicated to Bushwah who had been encouraging me to continue my story.

Enjoy!

PS: I don't own the main character. He was designed by this perfect human being Yoshihiro Togashi, so all praise goes to him.


Kalluto was aware of every centimeter of his body, yet his limbs were stiff, and it was difficult even to breathe. Carefully, deliberately, Kalluto focused and refocused his eyes, but the absolute darkness he was held captive in remained impenetrable.

Actually, "held captive" was the wrong phrase; he came here of his own will, after all. He should have left his ego aside, and focused on the primary objective of finding his brother, but instead, he had taken his father's mission like a fool.

He wasn't sure his father knew about the hidden danger it contained. Kalluto preferred not to think about whether his father knew or not; whether this test was set up by him, or by another family member. He didn't want to believe his father would do something like this. He had always been straightforward, telling every family member exactly what he thought of them. His training was simple, though often difficult to master.

Of all the members of the family, his oldest brother Illumi would be the main suspect. Illumi had a knack for these kind of dark schemes. All the planning, the torture and manipulating, it was an integral part of who he was.

Still, even considering his brother's sadistic nature, Kalluto found it hard to believe that a family member was behind this. Ever since he was born, "family" had been the center of his life. As far back as he could remember, he had been lectured daily about how important it was to do well at the family business and make the family proud, and hundreds of other things concerning the family. Surely, his beloved family would not have intended—

The clatter of metal on metal startled his thoughts away, and Kalluto tried again to see what was going on, but his attempt was in vain. Either it really was perfectly dark in that place, or his sight had been otherwise obstructed.

He heard footsteps, close and coming closer. His heartbeat had become a symphony of unhappy drums, hammering in his ribcage as if it wanted to leave and have a life of its own. He tried to steady his breathing, as his lungs couldn't expand enough in his petrified body to support panic.

A strange man's voice spoke from the darkness, in front of him, and to his right. It seemed closer than the footsteps, though that was probably only an illusion.

"Now, now, now, let's see what we've got here."

Kalluto's heart skipped a beat. He didn't recognize that voice, but it still managed to spread an awful feeling in him. He didn't know which one scared him more, that he was unable to move and see, or that the one responsible was an outsider.

Though he had tried to deny it, Kalluto knew his situation. The inability to move, his racing heart, and that awful feeling concerning the man: they were signs he'd seen a million times in his own targets. He had been crippled by fear.

He didn't believe he was so scared of this man that he'd lost his sight, though even that was possible. There must be some trick, some secret talent the man possessed, to make his body shut down so completely.

He heard the man come closer and his hateful voice penetrated the stillness again. "Why don't you run, little girl?"

Kalluto was so frustrated he wanted to scream aloud. He wasn't a girl, despite the appearance his mother had taught him to project, and if he could have moved...

He didn't even know exactly what had happened. All he knew was that he'd made a mistake that would probably be fatal. The error his family had carefully taught him to avoid at all cost.

The mistake of hunting a predator more capable than himself.


A/N: There's quite some drama about Kalluto and his gender. It is officially known that the Zoldyck family has five sons. Also, in the manga, Kalluto refers to himself as "boku" which means "I" but in a way a man would talk. I take that as proof that he's a boy who dresses feminine.

I know this chapter's a bit complicated, but I wanted to clarify certain relationships with his family. Next chapter, all will be explained.

Please don't be afraid to give me your honest opinion about anything in the story.

Bye
Siham