The whip was brought down with a crack onto Killua's back. Milluki stepped back with a satisifed grin, admiring the handiwork he had done. 'Handiwork' meaning the fresh wounds and bruises that had now inflicted on his younger, rebellious brother.

"That one was for me and this...", he brought the whip down again, this time harder and it snapped against Killua's arm. "...Is for Mother." Killua wordlessly spat out blood on the floor and it landed with a splat next to Kiri's paw. Kiri had already had her turn and was now trapped in a small cage near Killua's foot from where he hung from heavy metal chains. She licked her wounds and whimpered softly. In the past she had been tortured less than Killua due to her training being cut short. Her tolerance was considerably weaker and now she was suffering the consequences.

"What was that I heard, twenty-three? Was that a cry?" Sneered Milluki, hearing Kiri's whimper. "Is it time for round two?"

Kiri hissed but backed further into her cage. It was small and cramp already which only really allowed her to shuffle back a step or two.

"It was about time you two came back. Had all your fun already I see. Although, it might've been better if you didn't bring her back. No-one cares about twenty-three," Milluki snorted.

"She has a name. Call her by it." Kiri could hear the anger creeping up in Killua's voice. He hated it when Milluki called her by this nickname. It stemmed from the fact that she was the twenty-third creation of the Kiri project. Killua considered her as family and not an experimental project and wouldn't allow anyone else to refer it as such. These were the moments were Kiri felt less like the older sister.

"Oh? Our precious little baby getting sad now over trash?"

Leave it, Kiri mewed. He's not worth it. He's just saying anything he wants now to let off steam.

"I don't care," Killua replied.

The private chat between the two seem to unsettle Milluki who couldn't understand a word of Kiri's cat language. The only Zoldycks ever capable of understanding were Killua and Illumi. Milluki hardly even felt the need to communicate with her in normal human language let alone feline talk.

"Shut up, shut up!" He kicked Kiri's cage harshly. Kiri felt Killua's anger heightened. With a single pull, he ripped out the chain keeping his left hand to the wall. Milluki jumped at this and started edging backwards. Dangling from the wall he warned Milluki, "you call her that again, I will make sure you can never leave this room." Even Kiri felt a chill from the tone of his voice.

The chubby sibling's body trembled slightly. Despite the 'power' he was wielding now by being allowed to deliver punishment onto the two of them, he knew that Killua's power surpassed his by far and it wouldn't even take a few seconds for Killua to kill him right now, on the spot. If it wasn't for that the fact that they were blood related, Killua wouldn't have thought twice about ending the chubby boy's life.

He dropped his whip and ran towards the exit yelling for help, "Grandpa! Grandpa Zeno!"

Killua, pulled out the other chain around his right hand and dropped the floor then proceeded to free Kiri from her cage. She was too weak to revert back to her human form, the wounds were fresh and still bleeding. Silently, Killua gathered her up into his arms and carried her out of the room.

"I'm sorry."

It's nothing you need to apologise for. We were in it together remember?

"If it wasn't for my stupid idea you wouldn't be hurt like this. It's okay for me, but for you-"

Hush. I had fun. I would do it all over again.

Kiri winced again as a gash on her foreleg opened wider and more blood trickled out. The pain Killua felt in his heart was unbearable. The guilt washing over him felt worse.

"I..Wouldn't"

Kiri's ears twitched. But then you would've have met Gon. Despite what you say, I know he means more to you than that.

KIllua didn't say anything.

You and Gon have something special, Killua. Don't let that go. Don't let Mother or Father say or do anything to stop that. How often is it that you will find someone you can connect to in that way?

"Just like the way you connect with Kurapika?"

This time it was Kiri's turn to not say anything. She didn't now know to approach the topic. She didn't even know how she felt about it herself. Killua sensed her confusion and discomfort. "I wouldn't do it again if it meant hurting you."

Another voice spoke. "You're right about that."

Killua and Kiri's head snapped back up in reaction to the voice. It was Illumi.

"Mother and Father wants to see you both. In his room."

Killua and Kiri saw it coming.

"I have to take care of Kiri first," said Killua, unable to meet Illumi's eyes.

"You know they dislike waiting."

They couldn't argue and so, without a fight, they went.

The head of the Zoldyck had a simply furnished 'study'. They called it study because they didn't have another word to describe it. It had no desks nor books, just simply a large soft leather brown sofa with a fur rug spread out in front of it. Here, Kiri (back in her human form as Silva and Kikyo didn't understand cat talk), and Killua found their father to be sat upon it, two of their furry white pet dogs were sitting behind in, quietly panting. Their mother was pacing up and down the room and stopped when they entered.

"Killua!" She screeched her greeting and rushed over to him. "My boy, you're unscathed!" She gave a quiet dirty look to Kiri and turned her full attention back to her son, petting and faffing about.

"Killua. Kiri."

Kikyo stopped when Silva spoke. She hastily put her hands away and stepped back, allowing her children some space.

"I heard you made some friends."

It was Killua who replied. "Yes."

"How was the exam?"

"...It was fine."

Kikyo, clearly still agitated, didn't like the pace of this conversation. "Silva, should we not be -"

"Kikyo," he said, cutting his wife off. "Could you give us a moment?"

Kikyo looked like she about to protest, her mouth pulling into a sneer. Not wanting to start an argument with her husband she let out a huff and left the room.

"Now then, tell me about what you guys did."

This threw the pair off. Kiri shuffled about. Killua looked towards the floor.

"Relax. I am not testing. I just want to know what you two have been up to." He beckoned them with a finger and patted the space next to him on the sofa. "Come. Let's talk as Father and son and daughter." If there was a hesitation between 'and daughter', Kiri didn't sense it. The pair cautiously sat down on the sofa, and began their tale. They started slowly, missing out bits of information they thought their father wouldn't want to hear, skimming over the details of meeting Gon, Leorio and Kurapika. Kiri definitely didn't delve into the nitty gritty of her relationship with Kurapika but she felt that Illumi had already filled in the gaps anyways. But slowly, it seemed like all their Father wanted at that moment was to genuinely hear what they had to say, so they opened up. Killua began to talk more enthusiastically about Gon, talking about that time they went head to head with Netero in the basketball game (and perhaps exaggerating slightly at how well they played). Kiri spoke about the time they had to blow themselves out of the prison cell. Their father just listened and engaged. They had never chatted like this before and somehow it felt more like...How a real family would, Killua and Kiri both thought to themselves. They looked at each other and knew they were thinking the same thing.

After a while Kiri excused herself. She wanted to keep chatting but her wounds were aching and she had to get it seen to.

"I'll come with you," started Killua, beginning to stand up but Kiri stopped him and shook her head. "I'll be okay. Please spend some more time with Father." She knew Silva wanted alone time with Killua anyways and was somewhat glad to have an excuse to leave. Shutting the door close behind her, she sighed.

"Thought you got away with that?"

Kiri turned around to see her Mother standing there and Kalluto standing silently besides.

"Mother."

Kikyo pulled her face into an ugly sneer. "I am not your Mother. I never was."

These words didn't sting Kiri as much as she thought it would. She had become somewhat immune to it.

"You have led my poor Kiru astray, my poor boy!" She sighed, snapping her fan open and shut in frustration. "It's time I put an end to this. I should've done this a long time ago."

Kiri sensed something was wrong and braced herself. "What do you mean?"

Kikyo snapped her fan shut one final time and pointed it at her. "Kalluto, get rid of this girl now."

Her younger brother obeyed, "Yes, Mother." With lightning speed, Kalluto dashed towards her. The move was so sudden and unexpected, that Kiri barely had time to dodge. The edge of Kalluto's razor sharp paper pierced her arm. She winced. It added to her many wounds, making her even slower than before. "Mother...!"

"Stop. . THAT!"

Kalluto came at her again, this time it hits bullseye. The paper weapon sliced through Kiri's stomach and blood gushed out. Kiri clutched around her middle and fell down on her knees. The vision went dizzy and she knew she wouldn't hold out for long.

Is this the end? Will I die in my own home?

She heard the far off cackle of her Mother. Should she even call her Mother anymore? Who is my mother? Kiri's thoughts were getting muddled as she lost consciousness and fell flat onto the floor. Slowly, she felt a familiar warm sensation, stemming from her stomach. It enveloped her, protecting her, and her pain went away. Is this...?

"Mother, look." Kalluto pointed to the blue light that now wrapped around Kiri. It turned into a bubble around her and then suddenly, it popped, and two wings spread out from her.

"Argh!" Kikyo shrieked in disbelief. "It's happening again!"

The wings flapped six times, the blue light heightened in intensity and with a flash, it disappeared. Kiri sat up, her body still aching but she was still alive. And very much so.

"You...You are a demon child! Just like Alluka...You should be locked up!" Despite her words, Kikyo was backing away. She gave Kiri one final look of disgust and disbelief and then fled away down the corridor. Kalluto followed suit. Kiri stood up. Maybe she stood up too suddenly but the walls swirled and merged. She felt a wave of dizziness and blacked out.

Kiri woke up in her own bed as she recognised the cracks in her ceiling wall. Clutching her throbbing head she sat up to see her eldest brother, Illumi, sitting at her bedside. She remembered what happened. Illumi must've carried me back to my room, she deduced.

Illumi looked at her, "You've woken."

"How long have I been out for?"

"Thirty minutes."

Kiri groaned. "Mother...?'

"She's fine. Still hysterical saying that you should be locked up but otherwise, she is okay."

Kiri let out a sigh sand looked down at her hands. She felt the same. Perhaps even better than before. This always happened with the blue light. It even healed her wounds that she received from Milluki.

"How many times has this happened now?"

Kiri tried to recall the incidents. "Five times."

Although Kiri had answered five, she did not recall the time that she had died when Kurapika had performed cpr. This would've been the sixth time, the Sixth Incident. Kurapika had wanted to tell her but didn't in the end as he realised how big of a deal it was to her and Killua and didn't want to worry.

Illumi nodded, satisfied with the answer. He too, didn't understand the power any more than Kiri did. But for now, it was enough. He lent back on his chair and studied her face. "So, what have you learnt from your expedition?"

Kiri didn't know if she should answer with what she thought Illumi wanted to hear, or what her honest thoughts were. She went with the latter.

"That there's more to this world than I thought there was."

"How poetic." He tighten the knot around the gash a little too tightly that Kiri thought then blood circulation would be cut off. She bit her lip to withstand the pain.

"And an example would be?"

"There's so much more. Different places, things to see, to experience and...Different people."

"Such as that spiky hair boy, what was his name? Gon? That other guy and...Ah yes. That blonde haired boy you seem so fond of. Remind me of his name again?"

Kiri had never told Illumi his name before. "Kurapika." She let the name roll around her tongue.

"Of course, how could I forgot. The Kurta. And I won't forget now." He said the last sentence quietly as though to himself.

It was a bold move telling Illumi what Kurapika's name was. In a way he was him affirming the fact that he had now fully acknowledged Kurapika's presence. It was like a warning to Kiri, 'would knows what I'll do next to him?'

Illumi patted Kiri's head (a little too roughly for an injured patient) and straightened up.

"Where...Are you going?" She asked.

"Nowhere in particular." He reached the end of the room towards the door and was about to close it behind him. With a hand on the handle he said "don't worry about it," and pulled the door shut.

They both knew where he was going.

Despite the strict rules at the Zoldyck household, a rumour was spreading around. Hushed voices at the base of staircases, in the servant's kitchens and living quarters. These whispers were confirmed by the few servants that had seen it with their own eyes that their master and lady's friends were coming to fetch them. These rumour had also reached Killua's and Kiri's ears.

It was now towards these friends that Illumi decide to head to. He wanted to have a particular chat with one of them.

"Gon sure has some muscles!" Exclaimed Leorio, rubbing his sore arms. The trio has passed the set of doors that the Zoldycks deemed as the 'testing gate.' It had taken them almost three weeks to open it but they had finally managed to do it under Zebro's, the Zoldyck gatekeeper's special training. "Thanks, old man."

Zebro smiled and gave them a thumbs up. "Please continue to look over Master Killua and Lady Kiri."

"Thanks Zebro!" Said Gon, waving up arms around, still full of energy.

"Really, thanks for your care these few weeks," Kurapika added.

The doorkeeper nodded. "Over there is the main household where the family lives. If you follow this path you will reach there soon."

The group parted with the old man and followed his instructions. Sure enough, the mansion wasn't far off.

"Man, that dog, or should I say monster, guarding the house sure is something though!" Said Leorio, now covered in goosebumps from reminiscing. "I wouldn't want to bump into one of them again any time soon."

"I hear from Kiri that he is hers and Killua's favourite pet," said Kurapika. "You grew up with animals, Gon, what did you think?"

Gon didn't say anything which was surprisingly. He usually was so enthusiastic at the mention of them but having met Mike, it really gave him a shock. That there are animals with such cold, empty souls out there. "I don't know."

Kurapika and Leorio exchanged a look but didn't press him. Wanting to change the weird atmosphere Leorio changed the topic. "Zebro said that Killua could open the third door already. It was 2 tonnes for the first door and the double at each door...He could lift 16 tonnes?!"

"There's 7 doors total, how much does that weigh?" Asked Gon, trying to count on his fingers.

"Uhm...Uh...Two...Six...Two hunger and fifty six?!"

"That was some quick maths there, Leorio."

"Thanks," said Leorio, puffing out his chest, obviously not catching onto the sarcasm that laced Kurapika's comment.

"I wondered how Kiri did?" Asked Kurapika, wondering out loud.

"She probably opened just as many! They're all monsters here!"

Kurapika pondered on it but just couldn't imagine Kiri doing it. Now that he thought about it they had never really seen Kiri fight properly. He wondered how she would fare in combat.

"Hey, we're almost there."

They approached a set of large black doors at the entrance of the mansion. It really was grand and took their breath away. Waiting by the steps at led to the front doors was a butler. He wore a black suit with a rather pre-mature receding hairline. His sharp cheekbones and thin-framed glasses added to his strict look.

"Welcome, friends of Master Killua and Lady Kiri. Please come in this way."

He bowed and motioned for them to enter.

They were led to a relatively small waiting room. One the walls hung a few paintings of flowers and such as decoration. A lone table with a vase of flowers stood on one side of the wall. In the centre was a low coffee table with two sofas facing it. "Please take a seat."

"Where is Killua?" Demanded Gon.

"Master will be with you shortly, he just told you to wait here for him."

The trio was slightly dubious but nevertheless, sat down. "Except you." He directed this at Kurapika. "Master Illumi would like a word with you."

Five other butlers who had been lining the far end of the wall without a word now formed a circle around Kurapika.

"Hey...!" Protested Leorio, but Kurapika stopped him.

"It's okay. I will be fine."

"But-"

Kurapika shook his head. "Where is he?"

One of the butler led him to another door. Gon and Leorio watched as their friend went through it, worried but trusting him.

Gotoh took a seat on the sofa and laced his fingers together. "Now, shall we play a little game to pass the time?"

The butler bowed and shut the door behind Kurapika. The room was more of less empty, completely deprived of any furniture. At the opposite end to him were large windows with thick, heavy velvet curtains framing them. They were tied with a golden rope and on the window ledge, leaning again the side was the eldest Zoldyck. He was looking out of the window and didnt move even when Kurapika arrived.

"Did you know Killua came back opening the third door of the testing gate?" Asked Illumi, breaking the silence.

"So I heard."

"And did you know how many gates my precious little sister opened?"

Kurapika went with a safe choice. "I would guess two."

Illumi now turned to face Killua. He could feel the pair of black, soulless eyes scrutinising him from head to toe. "She didn't open any."

Kurapika furrowed his brows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I say she didn't open any but what I mean is.. She couldn't open any." Illumi stood up now and began to walk towards the Kurta. "See, Kiri has always been in the shadow of Killua, ever since he was born. That's no surprise because Killua is and will be the heir to the Zoldyck family." He stopped a step away from Kurapika who narrowed his eyes. "Despite being a Zoldyck, Kiri is weak. She is like a small creature and this" he motioned to their surroundings, "is her shell. She is not made for the outside world and the only place she should be is here, forever...Although, quite frankly...Mother sees no use in her anymore and wants to get rid of her. (Kurapika sensed hardening in Illumi's voice)."

"I am going to cut to the chase." Illumi leaned his head next to Kurapika and whispered, "I don't appreciate you butting yourself in our family business." He cocked his head to a side. "Do you even value your life?"

Kurapika didn't say anything but Illumi felt a slow anger being to rise inside the young Kurta. "I see what is happening between you two, but it is not what you think it is. Kiri is not a real girl. She is made up. She might seem real to you right now but that's not how it is. These...feelings, (he seem to struggle saying this word), that she feels will come and pass. It's all part of being a teenager. But once she realises that these are just mere feelings which will pass, she will lose interest and come back to us to serve for the Zoldycks." He paused and studied Kurapika's face. "Do you understand or should I make it more clear? If you continue the way you do with her, I will kill you. Right now."

Kurapika didn't look fazed. His gaze was casted downwards so Illumi couldn't see his eyes, now burning a bright crimson red colour of anger. He gripped his hand into a ball.

"You pretend to be a cold and uncaring but, actually, she means a lot to you doesn't she?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Kurapika took a deep breath to re-compose himself and looked up to face Illumi. "Kiri. You pretend like she is just a Zoldyck puppet, but she means more to you." Illumi's dark eyes met Kurapika's passionate ones evenly. He broke away first.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"You can stop faking whatever act you are putting on. If you didn't care you would come out here all the way just to tell me to lay off. The truth is you don't want to admit you have feelings for your sister. That you have genuine brotherly care for her. Feelings that you have been trying to force her and Killua to not have and now they're creeping up on you."

Illumi's expression remained blank but inside his memories were stirring.

It was an Autumn day. A rather cold and windy Autumn day but nevertheless, an Autumn day. Illumi remember the season well because it had been just when the leaves had changed to a beautiful sunset-orange colour and a few begun to scatter and gather at his feet.

He infiltrated the palace easy enough. The security was poor and it wasn't that big in the first place. The guards fell easily one by one and soon, everyone had fallen and he approached the nursery. The nurse stood in front of the cot, protecting it. She was young. Illumi almost thought with a pity that she had to die so soon. When she was done and dusted he leaned down to look at the princess. She was awake. Her large black eyes looked back up at him with a questioning expression. He had forgotten all the other babies he had murdered in cold blood but he had remembered thinking, what a small delicate creature this was. So easily broken.

"Goodbye," he whispered, unsure of whether he was saying that to her or to himself. Just as his hand was approaching her, she let out an unexpected gurgle of laughter. He paused mid-air and looked to see where her eyes were looking at. A piece of slightly damp orange-brown leaf had stuck to the side of his clothes and remained stuck there since he was outside. The baby princess was now looking at it, obviously amused. Illumi picked it off with his spare hand and let it flutter to the floor. Repositioning himself, he reached out again. His needled reached its designated spot. It pierced her skin and a bubbled of blood trickled down her neck. The baby frowned but didn't cry. A soft blue glow emerged from where the needled pierced. To Illumi's surpise, it pushed the needle out. Not matter how he tried to oppose the force, it pushed against him so hard that the needle was flung out of his grasp across the room. The baby chuckled. She grabbed his thumb with her chubby fingers and let out a loud laughter. At that moment, Illumi didn't know what came over him. Was it just the pure innocence of the baby that had gotten to him? Was it because he was young and his heart had not hardened enough yet? Or did the strange blue light captivate him? He didn't know which it was but something had made him stop. He still didn't know when he had returned to Kukuroo mountain, with the baby soon to be named Kiri, in his arms. And that, was the First Incident.

Illumi snapped back to reality. Kurapika felt the cold aura subsided and Illumi's head drooped down, this long black hair obscuring his face.

After a moment, he spoke, he voice slightly unsteady. "She will come back to us soon. This will be one chance I am going to give you," and left the room without another word.

Kurapika returned to the waiting room where things had taken a surprising twist.

"Gon...What happened to your eye?"

"Oh! This?" Said Gon, pointing to his now swollen and bleeding eye, "Nothing much we were just playing a game."

Kurapika shot Leorio a questioning look as though to say, what game?! But Leorio shrugged.

"It seems like Master Killua is ready now," said Gotoh standing up. "I will go and fetch him."

But before he had finished his sentence the doors flew right open and Kiri and Killua stood there.

They both looked battered and worn down but apart from that, Kurapika never felt such a huge feeling of relief seeing her standing there in one piece.

Kiri, now in her human form, had bandages all over the place and Kurapika felt his heart ache. He wasn't quick enough.

Gon immediately rushed forward to meet his friend. "Killua! Killua! Are you okay? You have so many bruises! Kiri too!..." They let him babbled away and Leorio joined in. When they were done faffing over Kiri and moved onto Killua, Kiri broke away from them and approached Kurapika.

"I..." Kiri appeared to want to say something but then changed her mind. "Hello."

"Hello," Kurapika repeated, unsure of what to say. Kiri gave a small smile and something inside Kurapika broke. He hands automatically reached forward grabbed her, holding her into a tight embrace. In that moment, he decided that he wanted to protect that smile no matter what it took. I want to. This girl who had gone through so much just like himself. Kurapika who had started off with a family and faced the experience of losing them all in one night. Kiri, who once had a family but had been too young to experience what it was like to have one but she had also lost them. He wanted to protect what was left of her innocence. He needed to. Not just for her but also for himself as though to protect the sanity he still had. Maybe he saw a hint of his young self in her. Him before all hell broke loose.

"Thank you..."She whispered, her hands reaching up to grab the back of his top, drawing him closer. "For coming to get me."

She felt some well up inside her. A bunch of confused emotions and frustration swirling and tangling up inside her chest. The feeling of when you don't feel sad or angry...Or rather, you don't know what kind of feeling you are feeling and you can't control it or make it stop. She buried her head in the crook of Kurapika's neck and for the first time in sixteen years, she cried.

Kurapika didn't reply but he didn't need to. He just stayed and held her and that was enough for the two of them.

They had both found somewhere they belonged to.