Sup. Sorry for the delay! Mindblocks and stuff. If you have any cute ideas or suggestions feel free to pm or review it to me and I'll see if I can work with it. Thanks for your continued support~

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Killua hadn't spoken a word for hours as they journeyed back onto land from the Island of Illusions. The boy seemed like an empty shell of who he was, blankly staring into space with a lost look in his eyes. He seemed to believe that everything was his fault somehow. Tears sometimes fell from his eyes, but other than that, he was motionless like a doll and allowed Hisoka to carry him everywhere.

"Killua, talk to me. You're worrying me," Hisoka whispered anxiously. It was strange to see Killua in such a state when he had been so animated with his actions and expressions a day ago. Before Gon appeared. Now Killua's cheek was lightly bruised with a purplish hue, the bruise standing out due to his originally pale skin tone. Gon. It was always Gon who made Killua cry. Hisoka grinded his teeth together in rage. He had wanted to tear apart Gon from limb to limb when he saw Killua curling up into a ball on the ground holding his cheek and crying.

It didn't really hurt that much physically. It wasn't the pain that caused Killua to cry. It was the shock of being hit by the one person he trusted and always gave everything for. Or maybe it really was the pain, the pain that struck like a thunder to his heart like an intense betrayal. Killua couldn't understand why Gon had gotten so angry with him. What did he do wrong that warranted such a thing?

Killua was so deep in his thoughts that Hisoka's words didn't even reach him anymore. The boy would drink when Hisoka forced him to, but he wouldn't eat. Hisoka could see that Killua was living in a spiral of misery in his own thoughts. Now, Killua just sat on the hotel bed looking as miserable as can be while Hisoka paced around in contemplation. Hisoka looked up once he felt a familiar nen presence and knew that Killua's brother has come.

"Illumi..." Hisoka said in surprise as Illumi entered from the balcony, staring blankly at Killua with a tight expression on his face. "You... you know what happened?"

Illumi spared Hisoka a glance before giving all his attention to his precious little brother again. "Killua. I've told you before, haven't I?" Illumi gripped Killua's shoulder, staring him down with forceful nen. "You don't need friends. If you don't kill them, they will only hurt you, Kil. Why didn't you listen to your brother?"

Killua's hands turned into fists as he bit his lips. His sore and puffy eyes were threatening to start the waterworks again. "He was my best friend. He... He made me happy," even at this stage, Killua was trying his best to defend Gon. Gon couldn't be wrong. Gon was the light that entered his life of darkness, showing him that there was something out there other than meaningless killing. He taught him to laugh and enjoy life like a kid. It had to be his fault. He must have done something wrong.

"Happy? Look at yourself. You call this happy? You look absolutely pathetic," Illumi spat. "I should never have let you gone with that little brat. He was a walking time bomb waiting to explode on you."

"Illumi, that's enough. Killua is already upset," Hisoka cut in, pulling Illumi's arm to pull him away from Killua.

Illumi's intimidating nen was at once directed to him, along with his killer gaze. "I didn't think I would need to say this, but where were you during all this? Why are you so useless? Didn't you tell me you would protect my brother? Why has he become this state instead?" Illumi growled.

"Hisoka has been good to me, Illumi. He was always there to help me. It was my fault. I should've just listened to Gon and he wouldn't have been angry at me," Killua said miserably.

Illumi hurled the nearest object, which happened to be an alarm clock out the glass window with so much force it broke the glass in their room along with the next building's. He had so much dark aura around him he started to look satanic as he glowered at his little brother with disappointment and rage. "Are you listening to yourself, Kil?! The Zoldyck family listening to others' orders?! He's just a puny little brat with no common sense! An assassin needs no friends. They will just betray you!"

A quick rapping on the door was heard before the door was completely knocked down, and the blond figure which was so familiar rushed into the room. "I knew this would happen!" Kurapika sighed. He had told Illumi to leave Gon alone but he forgot that Illumi would go and find Killua instead to try and brainwash his precious sibling. He knew where Illumi was coming from, but the over protectiveness had to stop.

The aura ceased, and Illumi looked normal again as he regarded the beautiful blond in front of him. "Kurapika."

"Illumi," Kurapika greeted back, urgently tugging on Illumi's arm. Illumi conceded, stepping aside for Kurapika to talk to the distraught boy. Kurapika squatted in front of Killua and waited patiently for Killua to look at him. He smiled kindly and held Killua's hands reassuringly.

"Killua, first I must tell you that none of it was your fault. Stand firm in your beliefs. Your mindset to not follow Gon was right. You shouldn't just listen to him but trust your own judgment instead," Kurapika counseled gently, looking into Killua's eyes to make sure Killua was listening to him. He didn't want Killua to fall into an abused victim's mindset of blaming themselves like he knew Killua would because his faith in Gon was too strong. Likewise, he was going to ensure that Gon would not become an abuser with his stubbornness insisting that all his ideas were right.

"Of course you have the right to back out of things you don't feel safe about or agree to. No one is blaming you either. Gon knows he was at fault this time and he does feel very sorry towards you." Killua hung onto Kurapika's every word, listening with glistening tears, hopeful eyes gazing towards his older, knowledgeable friend for guidance. "I know you have always tried your best, Killua. I see how much you've done for all of us. You're a great friend, and we all love you very much. I'm sure you know that too, right?"

Hisoka watched in awe as Killua nodded. Kurapika was slowly breathing life into Killua, and he could see the person in front of him slowly resemble the Killua he grew to love as the boy sniffled with trembling lips. Kurapika reached up to wipe tears from a soft cheek with a gentle smile.

"You don't need to be sad. All you have to do is take some time off and wait patiently. When Gon has thought everything through, he will come back and apologize to you properly. I'll make sure of it, okay?"

"Okay," Killua mumbled weakly, nodding his head. Kurapika petted his snowy white hair with a grin.

"Next time I see you, I want to see the confident and sassy Killua I know," Kurapika stood back up and nodded to the two adults in the room, showing that he was done talking.

"Thank you, Kurapika," Hisoka said gratefully. He had been at a total loss of what to do, and he felt a little helpless.

"Not at all, anything for a friend," Kurapika assured, then patted Hisoka on the shoulder. "Thank you for being there and bringing Killua back safely, as well as always staying by his side. I'm counting on you to help bring his spirits up."

Illumi scowled. It was good to see Killua looking better, but this wasn't what he came here for. He wanted Killua to sever all ties with the boy called Gon, but Kurapika had done to come opposite to mend their wrecked friendship. Killua didn't need any friends. Other than Kurapika, perhaps. Kurapika eyed him for a bit, and sighed knowingly. "Come on, we can go for a date. I'm sure you've never been to one?"

"Date?" Illumi visibly perked up, and followed Kurapika out the door like a puppy being taken out for a walk. Kurapika looked back at Killua and shook his head. Oh, the things he did for his two younger friends.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Hisoka asked once the duo left.

"...Chocolates..." Killua mumbled, swinging his feet as he sat on the edge of the hotel bed.

"I'll be right back," Hisoka smiled. It was good to hear that Killua would be eating again, even if it were just chocolates.

"Wait, Hisoka!" Killua grabbed onto his sleeve tightly to prevent the magician from leaving. He looked down when Hisoka gazed at him curiously. "I, um. Don't leave me alone here. I... I don't want to be left alone again." Killua blushed, feeling embarrassed. When he let go of Hisoka's sleeve, however, Hisoka grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers together.

Hisoka smiled at Killua who was gaping at him with vulnerable eyes. "Don't worry," Hisoka promised warmly, "I'll never let you go."

"O-oh..." Killua stuttered, looking away from the cheesy magician. How could he say words like that so easily? How did he stir up Killua's heart so easily, so much that he couldn't will down the heated blush on his cheeks no matter how hard he tried? He wasn't used to feeling loved and protected at all... Those feelings didn't belong to an assassin, and even his parents never babied him like Hisoka did.

Killua squeezed back the large hand in his grip, letting Hisoka know he heard and understood. Hisoka pulled him along, chuckling. "Don't worry, I won't do anything that's not legal to you."

"W-What! You pervert!" Killua screeched, smacking Hisoka's back with his free hand violently, face totally heating up.

"Didn't I say I wouldn't do it? Not yet, anyway," Hisoka replied cheekily. "You're too young."

"Don't treat me like a kid!" Killua retorted without thinking.

"Oh? So you do want me to do things to you then," Hisoka said slyly, lowering his tone of voice.

"Oh. My. God," Killua facepalmed. "Can you please stop?" He pleaded. "My face can't get any redder or it'll explode."

Hisokma turned back to look at Killua, or what Killua wasn't busy covering up. His neck, his ears, and the parts of his face that weren't covered by a porcelain white hand was a brilliant red. The color contrast made Hisoka snicker, but relent to stop teasing the poor virgin. "Alright, I'll stop teasing you."

"I'll forgive you if you buy me some chocolates," Killua offered with his haughtiest tone of voice.

"Yes, your highness," Hisoka said placidly, making Killua smile. But he continued, "Still such a kid, I see. I wonder how long I'll have to wait."

"Hey!" Killua smacked him again, and Hisoka burst out laughing. Killua broke into a wide grin himself. "Oh, whatever. Let's hurry up, I'm starving."

Hisoka was glad that Killua was finally back into his cheerful self. It was like a terrible weight dropped off his shoulders. He didn't know what to do to bring Killua back from being the emotionless doll he lapsed back into like an assassin, but he knew it didn't suit Killua. Not when his face could light up like sunshine with just a smile. He had Kurapika to thank for his help, and he made a mental note to treat the blond with a good meal.

Killua knew how hard Hisoka was trying for him, and he truly appreciated it. No one had gone to such lengths for him before, except for Gon. He felt like he was truly blessed in his life to meet people who brought him joy and made every day so exciting and interesting even through simple things like joking around.

"Thank you," Killua said softly and shyly. Hisoka turned, but Killua smacked him again. "Hey! Don't turn around!"

Hisoka could just imagine the adorable little smile Killua had with flushed cheeks, and he smiled to himself. "You're welcome."

-end of chapter-

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