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It was hard for Killua to wait until nightfall. The journey would have been easier during the day, and he was eager to reach his goal, but arriving too soon would prove detrimental. He wasn’t looking for an element of surprise -god knows that showing up at night would raise more alarms than if he’d slipped in and out during the day. Instead he was motivated by the resolve to protect what was precious to him.
Of course that didn’t make the winter night any warmer. Killua pulled his Haori around himself tighter, bracing against the cold as he approached the castle. It towered above him, somehow still daunting despite looking like a layered cake covered in thick cream sitting on top. A young woman stood statuesque at the gate, eyes closed with snow settling in her hair and on her eyelashes, and Killua meant to slip past her without her notice.
“Master Killua,” she said, eyes opening. Killua felt foolish. Of course she wasn’t really asleep.
“Not now, Canary,” he replied, slipping by her and ignoring the hurt she attempted to conceal. He didn’t think he’d come back for her. It would be too risky to come back after he was done here, and as much as he cared for Canary, there were more important things than childhood friends, and she could protect herself. He left her behind. He’d be leaving a lot of things behind after tonight.
His silent footsteps moved him through the room, and he was instantly warmed by the irori in the center of the room. Everyone was still awake, as if they were waiting for him. The thought was nearly enough to chill him despite being sheltered by the cold. He knew what he was willing to do, but they were the largest variable in his plan. He wasn’t surprised when he spotted his mother in the corner of his eye.
“Killua!” she cried out, reaching for him from her place across the room. She didn’t come towards him, and Killua could see why. She still had the bandages from the last time she embraced him. She knew that he had no fondness in his heart left for her.
“Don’t come near me if you know what’s good for you,” he said, for good measure, hand floating over the sword on his hip.
She clasped her hands together against her chest, “Oh Killua, I’ve missed you so much. It’s so good to have you home. Let me get your father. We-”
“I’m here for Alluka,” Killua said, cutting her off. Together they circled the fire, eyes locked on each other. “There’s no need to bother dad about this.”
“I see,” she said, voice more measured than it was typically. She was being careful now, and it put Killua ill at ease. “Of course, Killua.”
Killua didn’t move towards the courtyard. He didn’t move an inch.
“Maybe we should at least call for Illumi-”
“Do I look stupid to you?” Killua asked, cutting her off harshly.
“No, of course not-”
“As if I don’t know why Illumi was there with me at Final Selection. As if I don’t know why he wanted a nichirin blade to begin with!” Killua cried out.
“If I wanted to kill it, I would have just put it out into the sun.”
Killua’s blood went cold as he felt Illumi’s breath against his ear.
“Illumi, darling, we were just talking about you,” Kikyo cried out, relief and delight ringing clear in her voice. Killua could feel a bead of sweat run down his nose. Illumi stood straight and moved across the room, ignoring their mother completely.
“So, we both came for the same thing,” Illumi said, moving to stoke the fire, “We can be so similar at times, Kill.”
“Yeah right,” Killua spat back, but he couldn’t get his feet to move. “I’m leaving here with Alluka and you won’t be able to stop me.”
Illumi’s face was an unreadable mask, but Killua could sense the smugness that bubbled underneath the surface.
“I just don’t want you to have to kill her when it inevitably goes wrong, Kill,” Illumi said, casting his pitch black irises towards him. Killua looked away sharply.
“Don’t underestimate me. I’d never hurt Alluka.” Killua said between clenched teeth.
“Your naivety concerns me, Kill. Do you really see our little brother when you look at that thing?” Illumi asked. Again they seemed to circle the irori, eyes caught on each other as they maintained distance from each other. Killua could feel the prick of fear threatening to spill into tears.
“You can’t- you can’t stop me anymore, Illumi,” Killua said, his feet spurring into action as he made a dash for the door towards the courtyard. He hits the snow outside with a heavy thud. Snow scraped against his face and the hands that caught him. He could feel Illumi’s knee digging firmly into his spine, and knew that Illumi could snap it.
“You’re wrong, Kill,” Illumi said leaning forward, his long hair spilling forward like a curtain hiding Killua from the rest of the world, “I can stop you whenever I like.”
Killua was ready to be dragged back into the castle by his ankles, and he was ready to kick and slash and bite his way to freedom and to Alluka with every breath left in his lungs, but Illumi just stood and dusted off his haori.
“I’m curious. I want to see what you think you can do to calm her down,” Illumi said, offering him a hand. Killua fought the instinct to spit in it and got to his feet on his own. There was a fire in his gut and he desperately wanted to punch Illumi in his smug face; However this was not an opportunity he could take for granted. If he could leave with Alluka and without a fight, it would all turn out for the better. Together, and with Kikyo fretfully following behind, they headed towards the cellar door on the other side of the large courtyard.
Killua scowled when he saw the heavy snow that had settled on top of the doors. They hadn’t even checked on her. They left her down in the cold. Killua bit his lip. Together they fought the frozen doors open, and together they began down the stairs. The moonlight followed them down the stairs in a solid beam of light, but it didn’t reach the bottom where Alluka was trapped. Kikyo went ahead and lit the torches that brightened the cold cavern they had exiled his sister to.
Amongst the fine fabrics and toys that crowded the floor of the otherwise barren room slept a young girl, curled into a tight ball as her chest heaved. She still breathed. Killua took a deep breath himself and approached her slowly. He noticed the chain holding her by the neck to the wall. She must have exhausted herself trying to pull free, he thought, kneeling down beside her.
“Be careful, Kill,” Kikyo pleaded, but they fell on deaf ears.
“Alluka,” he whispered, shaking her shoulder gently, “Alluka, I’m here to get you.”
She blinked awake, eyes still heavy from sleep. She looked just like he remembered, with bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks. It was hard to imagine she was kin to the monsters he’d faced in the forest. Alluka pushed herself off of her futon and onto her knees, but once she noticed Kikyo and Illumi standing in the entrance, she shot to the back of the room and against the wall.
When Killua looked at her face this time, her eyes were black and her face was sullen and pale. Even a demon feared the Zoldyck family, Killua thought to himself, anger burning in his gut. He didn’t want to think of what they’d done to scare her like this. Instead he reached out to her.
“Alluka,” he said, his voice hoarse, “Please it’s me. It’s your big brother.”
Alluka did not meet his eyes. Her empty gaze looked over his shoulder at their brother and mother. Killua could feel their eyes burning holes into his back. He didn’t dare cry.
“Alluka.” Tears didn’t betray him, but his voice did. She turned her head to him. Her pitch black eyes sent a chill through him that permeated through his clothes.
“I’ll tell you what, Kill,” Illumi said from behind him, “If you can get her to leave with you, you can take her.”
They both ignored Kikyo’s protests. Killua clenched his teeth at all of the unsaid caveats. Illumi’s black gaze scared him far more than anything that Alluka could do to him. He shook the thought and looked down his outstretched arm at the trembling Alluka.
“Alluka, I can take care of you. I’m your big brother,” his voice was steady now, “I’m Killua. Let me take care of you?”
“Killua?” Killua gasped. Her voice didn’t sound the same. It sounded distorted, as if she were speaking underwater. Still, there was recognition there, and that was all that Killua could ask for. Tears fell and he wiped them quickly away with his other arm as she reached out to him. He grasped her arm and cautiously pulled her into his arms.
She continued to tremble there, but no longer out of fear. He could feel the drool dripping onto his haori and he wondered when she laste ate. He pulled awake carefully, holding her at arms length, and smiled at her. “I guess we’ll have to figure that out.”
The empty expression smiled at him. “Killuaaa.”
He unlatched the chain from her neck. It had been soaked in something made with wisteria. It had left burns. Killua shook away his rage and stood. They couldn’t hurt her anymore. He offered her his hand and she took it without hesitation.
“Are you sure about this, Kill?” Kikyo asked, watching as they passed onto the stairs.
Yes, Killua thought to himself, helping his sister climb to the top. There was nothing in the world he was more sure of.
“Have fun,” said Illumi, his voice carrying itself behind them.