House Of Cards | Hisollumi ✓

31.

THIRTY-ONE

Illumi had been back at the Zoldyck mansion for a couple of days now and Kalluto had finally found the time to visit him. The two of them had never been close due to their large difference in age and Kikyo constantly clinging him to her side, which also became the main reason why he was never close to any of his siblings.

Killua was practically inseparable from their sister Alluka, he and Milluki were constantly bickering and he had a somewhat awkward relationship with Illumi. Then there was Kalluto, the lonely youngest.

He had always been secretly jealous of how Killua had maintained some form of relationship between all of the Zoldyck children, apart from him. The obvious favouritism from his parents towards the white-haired boy only further proved his point.

But Killua wasn't here right now and Kalluto could spend as much time with his older brother. Surely nothing could get in his wa-

"Hey, Kalluto." The familiar voice made him pause in the corridor and the young boy turned around, his kimono swishing at the arms. "I heard that aniki came back. Is he in his room?"

The dark-haired boy turned to Killua, his expression blank and curt. "Yes," he paused, "Illuni-san is back."

"Oh good," Killua smiled before walking past his brother and towards Illumi's room. Kalluto watched him walk in, his pink eyes gazing at the bedroom door sadly.

The smart thing to do would have been to follow his older brother but Kalluto knew that if he entered, the topic of conversation would solely be Killua. He never understood why Killua had become the most favoured child when he had merely inherited his father's Nen type.

Kalluto had learnt to master Zetsu and Nen all on his own but had never been acknowledged for any of it. Kikyo merely forced him into a new kimono every chance that she got. Killua didn't even wish to be an assassin but the love for him within the family still didn't waver.

The young Zoldyck was tired of being the outcast.

He heaved a sigh and Kalluto decided to continue his walk down the passageway, momentarily pausing in front of Illumi's bedroom door. The young assassin had picked up the bad habit of listening in on people's conversations but he didn't find it best to do that right now. Yet somehow, his curiosity got the better of him.

Kalluto placed his ear against the door and tried his best to listen to bits of their muffled conversation.

The young boy managed to hear an explanation of how their father had come to know of his relationship with Hisoka. Kalluto was surprised that their relationship was still an ongoing thing, just by looking at the magician he could sense their differences in personality.

But something else soon caught his attention, something about a hospital and Chrollo. Then there were sobs. Kalluto had only met Chrollo briefly and it was through a dinner his family had organised, yet, he had still managed to find his presence unsettling.

The crying soon grew quiet and they spoke once again in lowered tones, this time Kalluto being unable to hear anything. He tried to press his ear further against the door only for the sound of footsteps to make him quickly back away.

The door swung open and Kalluto quickly hid behind it, Killua walking out and making his way down the corridor. The white-haired boy left, not noticing the pink gaze that was fixated on his back as he walked around the corner.

Kalluto stood there, not knowing whether or not he should go in. A few seconds later, he mustered up whatever courage he had and knocked twice. Soft footsteps padded up to the door and swung it open, revealing Illumi standing there with teary eyes.