Chapter Text
On days like these, while the sun is shining and the summer is still young, adventures were something Killua , Gon, and Alluka regularly did. Killua has wanted his little sister to explore the world after being locked up for many years, and what better way to do it than to explore it with his best friend, however, this one seemed off for the two Zoldycks. On today's expedition, they were climbing up a mountain that Gon swore had the best view in all of Padokia. But as they were climbing, kukuroo mountain could evidently be seen in the horizon. Alluka started to slow down, at first, it was a simple distance, just a few steps behind. But it grew to a meter away. Killua sensed something wrong with his sister and turned to glimpse at her.
“Big brother, do you miss me?” Nanika spoke. A sad, almost prevalent look on her face.
It wasn’t often that Nanika came out on her own. Usually Killua or Gon had to call out for her. Most times Alluka would share whatever Nanika felt, so she didn’t have to come out at all. So this was something that intrigued both Killua and Gon.
Killua walked towards her with a gentle smile on his face. Gon followed behind, “Of course, Nanika! I miss you so much!” Killua gave his sister a warm hug. Although the contact eased her sadness. Nanika’s gloomy face didn't change. She then turned her face to Kukuroo mountain. Her face was obvious to the longing she felt.
Gon noticed and commented on it. “Nanika, what's wrong? Is it because we're close to that mountain? Are you scared?” Killua pushed her back tenderly so he could see his sister's face. He then patted her head gently. “Don't worry, we'll never return to that cruel place again. I promise!” Nanika stared down before saying an unrecognisable name.
“Illumi…Illumi…”
Her voice was small and worried. It's almost as if she deeply missed that person. Killua and Gon were obviously confused as they stared at each other, hoping one of them knew the answer. They had never heard of someone named Illumi. Even though they had travelled the world together, they couldn't recall such a name. How did Nanika remember this person? Heck, who even are they?
“Were they a butler? Do you miss them?” Gon chimed in, giving his best guess. Nanika shook her head. Killua tried to conjure up a memory of his time at the Zoldyck estate. They couldn't have been a butler who was alongside Alluka in the prison she was in, since he met all of them, and it couldn't be a family member either. He only had 4 siblings: Milluki, Alluka, Nanika, and Kalluto. But suddenly Nanika's answer made both boys shudder.
“big brother. Illumi is big brother!”
She said in an excited tone, just as though she remembered a treasured memory. Gon looked at Killua as he stared at Nanika. The boys were confused.
“Na-Nanika…we don't have a brother named Illumi…was it an imaginary brother you had?” Killua said in a concerned tone. Has his sister gone insane to the point she made up a brother to deal with her loneliness? Damn it, he should've saved her sooner from that hell… The infested guilt grew even more in Killua's heart.
“no no…Illumi is real! Real! Illumi stayed with me…Illumi is…”
Nanika's voice went from an excited expression to one filled with unease. Killua noticed the distress in her tone. And gave her a bigger, warmer hug. Gon stared at the siblings with a troubled look. Who was this Illumi? Killua and Gon knew that right now Nanika wasn't in a state that would help answer their many prevalent questions. So Killua decided to carry Nanika all the way up the mountain.
The walk to the mountain was harder as the distress grew within the two boys; by then Nanika went and Alluka's sleeping face appeared behind Killua's back. As they reached the top. The stunning view of the sunset over Padokia didn't matter anymore. What was important was to understand more about Killua's secret brother. As they settled, Gon prepared the tent while Killua sat on the soft grass. He stared at Alluka's napping face on his lap. A deep sense of dread locked into his mind. ‘Had my parents hidden another sibling from me again? How much more guilt do they want me to feel? " Killua pondered. He gently patted his little sister's head lovingly.
“Killua! Stop being useless and come help me with this stupid tent!” Gon whined as the cloth draped him, barely escaping. Killua laughed; his best friend always knew how to change the mood. “I find it that you're the stupid one here…!” he said in a smug tone. Killua gently laid Alluka's head on his backpack and went towards Gon to help set up the tent.
As both boys were occupied with installing. Gon with a small, confused tone, chimed in with a question. “How come you never told me you had another brother, Killua? you know, we shouldn't keep secrets from each other." Killua stared down at the rod he had just secured to the ground with a hand on his thigh as he kneeled. “I never knew, Gon… the only siblings I have- or I thought I had were Milluki, Alluka, Nanika, and Kalluto…” Both boys stared at each other and then at Alluka's unconscious form. “Do you think your mom made you forget? Just like she made you forget Alluka?” Gon enquired. Killua gently rose from his kneeling form. "Not a chance, I checked my body after taking out the first thread she stitched onto me. And it wasn't like the time I tried to remember how many siblings I have…maybe I never met him? Maybe he was locked up before I was born or very early into my life…Alluka said he's her big brother so that could mean any age older than 12…”
A light bulb flickered on Gon's head. "What if Illumi was her twin! That could be the reason they were locked up together! “Gon smiled gleefully before Killua smacked the back of his head. "Ow! kiluaa! what was that for, huh?” the white-haired boy glared at him. “dont be stupid, Gon… if they were twins, how come I never played with Illumi? I don't remember a single moment I had with him, unlike with Alluka I remember plenty with her,” Gon light bulb went black. Both of them knew nothing about this boy, or maybe man? Gon scratched his head hard as Killua picked up Alluka and gently laid her inside the installed tent. “All this thinking is making my head hurt.” Gon fussed as he laid beside Alluka. “True, my head is confused as well. Nothing I conjure up is giving me an answer." Killua urgently planted himself on the sleeping bag next to Alluka. ‘Maybe tomorrow will give us the answers.' He thought as he slowly went into a deep slumber.
— — — — — — — — — —
Alluka gently woke up from her unconscious state. She softly wiped her eyes awake noticing the bright blue tent around her. She stared beside her to notice Gon still asleep. Alluka looked out and noticed a shadow sitting near the camp. She calmly crawled out to see that it was just Killua. He seemed to have something serious on his mind.
“Big brother, what's wrong?” Alluka asked in concern.
Killua tried to bring a sweet smile to his face so as not to worry his precious sister. “nothing Alluka…I'm fine…” but no matter what he tried, he couldn't convince his sister. “No, Killua, something must have happened while I was asleep!” Alluka persisted. She looked at him with determination. The white-haired boy couldn't say no to her with such a look.
“Do you know of an Illumi, perchance? Yesterday Nanika mentioned it while we were walking up the mountain. She said he was her brother…is he even real?”
Alluka looked down at the grass. “yes he's real.. he- he’s our oldest brother…even older than Milluki…” Killua stared at her in shock. “Wait- older than Milluki!? How old is he??” Alluka looked lost. “I don't remember, he told me once, but I forgot…since I rarely saw him.. because he was more dangerous than me..”
“You aren't dangerous…" Killua said defensively. “And also what do you mean by more dangerous?” Alluka stayed quiet, almost trying to remember a distant memory. "He has something similar to Nanika…his name is Illuki. Just like he and him are siblings, Nanika and Illuki are siblings as well.” She stopped talking as if worried that this information could get her into trouble. She remembered Illumi advising her not to mention anything about him to anyone. Maybe Killua was fine? He is family, and he even rescued her. Killua looked flabbergasted; not once did he think that there would be another person in the family with similar powers to Nanika. “Even then, how does that make him more dangerous? I know Nanika; she just makes wishes for a consequence."
Alluka thought for a moment, keeping silent until she spoke softly “Illumi has mastered nen and even went to the full assassination training with papa…as a result Illuki can use nen and the physical training Illumi dealt with to his advantage, so if someone made a wish and didnt fulfil the consequence or even just angered Illuki he would use his nen to torture them as punishment. But Illuki isn't bad! He just doesn't like liars and annoying people…” Alluka paused, looking for Killua's reaction. Killua tried to keep composed, but it was evident that this insane information shocked him. “And what about Illumi himself?"
“He's alright…Illumi is kind and very protective of me…but he can be strict…he likes order and routine…if someone messes it up Illuki comes out and deals with them…however he rarely expresses these emotions…he's very pretty too! Oh, how beautiful Illumi is!”
Alluka says with her hands on her cheeks as she reminisces about her days with her oldest brother. Killua noticed her gleeful expression and smiled gently…” that's good to hear, I'm glad at least someone was kind to you while you were locked up”. Alluka nodded. As both siblings kneeled in front of the tent, a small figure came out slowly. Gon yawned as he crawled out. “What were you guys talking about?”
“Just about big brother Illumi!” As Gon heard that familiar soft voice, he awoke in surprise. “oh right! Who is your big brother, Illumi? Me and Killua couldn't wrap our heads around it no matter what!”
Killua chuckled, “Turns out Illumi is actually real. He's just like Alluka. He has an entity named illuki who is related to Nanika…they're both siblings!…he's also older than piggy!” “And he's very pretty and powerful!” Alluka chimed excitedly. Gon's mouth opened a gap. “So he isn't your twin?” Alluka shook her head. Suddenly, a strong growl came from the brown-eyed boy's stomach. "Oops! I didn't eat dinner last night…hehe,” gon rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "I think that's a cue for us to start breakfast." Killua said as he stood up. Alluka and Gon followed as well.
— — — — — — — — — —
The three kids sat in a semicircle as they ate some of the food they had packed. They planned to stay up on the mountain for 5 days and prepared just enough to feed three mouths. Killua and Gon ate instant ramen, both slurping loudly and messily. Alluka sat quietly, eating her strawberry jam sandwich in a daze. Something prevalent occupied her mind. Killua noticed her sad expression and tapped her shoulder. “Hey, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?” Alluka stared up at her older brother. “I just…I miss him. I miss Illumi. I hope he's safe. I feel bad that he'd never left that house in years…i-I want to make him proud and happy…I want to see him again and to hear his rare laugh too…I know its impossible because its very risky, I know what mama tried to do when you tried to save me. I don't want to risk it, but even Nanika feels my longing. And it's not fair for Illumi and Illuki to be trapped meanwhile me and Nanika are free.” Alluka's vision started to blur. Her intense worry and tears caused both Killua and Gon to be silent. The white-haired boy hated seeing his precious sister like this. He couldn't deny her anything, even if it meant going back to the Zoldyck estate.
“Dont worry Alluka, we’ll save Illumi…even if it's risky!” Killua said out loud without a second thought before being nudged on the arm by Gon. “Killua! Are you out of your mind?! It's not just risky, it's life threatening! We might not even return if we try. Don't you remember he's locked up in a high security prison?”
Killua rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide the small grin that betrayed his recklessness. “I know, I know… but I can’t just sit here while he’s stuck in that dungeon. We’ve faced worse, haven’t we?” His eyes darted to Alluka, who sniffled and wiped at her tears. “If I have to sneak in, I will. I’ll figure out a way. I… I can’t let him stay trapped, not when Alluka is hurting for him." Gon studied his best friend before sighing. “I know how much you love your sister, I love Alluka too! But you can't just risk going back; you need to think about it. What if your mother finds Alluka and takes her back?…and Nanika has been feeling weak lately so she can't make big wishes ever since she saved me…”
Suddenly Gon felt a hand on his shoulder, it was small and warm. He glanced at alluka…”I wouldn't mind going back if it's to just see him again, my heart worries. Especially since I left, illumi used to express his loneliness with me…Now that I’m gone, I'm not sure how he feels..nanika wants to save him as well… So please, Gon?” Alluka said in a hesitant yet determined voice. Gon softened at her plead. He realised how crucial this was to her and how Killua isn't just doing it for his sister. Maybe it's to find the truth about this twisted family? What if what they knew wasn't as solid as they thought?
“Alright, I guess we need to save him.” Gon told the siblings. “Great! Now we need to devise a plan, something foolproof enough for us to successfully get hold of that prison!" the white haired boy jumped in confidence, before sitting back down on the lush grass. However that's easier said than done…