Phantom Troupe's Web

Chapter 23.

Illuki and Killua leave the family estate, venturing down the dirt pathway that mapped the building on the mountain, turning to make their way over to where the butler's quarters were located. As they walked, the young boy couldn't help but stare at the back of his sister's head, observing and analysing her every move even though she was merely walking. He recalls the last time he had seen his sister before their reunion at the Hunter Exam. It was when he was little, playing with their other sibling at the mini playground before Illuki mysteriously disappeared the following night. The boy had many questions to ask but refused to interview his older sibling as he was scared of how she would react to his inquiries.

"What is it Kil?" her silky voice breaks his train of thought, peeking over her exposed shoulder at where he had fallen behind. "I was sure you'd be cheering about seeing Gon again," she joked, hands linking themselves behind her back, a pep appearing in her steps as she skips slightly ahead before twisting her body to face her brother. "What's up?" she asked.

Hesitantly, Killua pauses and looks down at the patchy grass, clenching his fists as he prepared himself. Also stopping in her tracks, the older sibling stared at the child, head tilted to the side and confusion pooled her blue irises. "Where did you go?" he asked after some silence between them, snapping his head up and staring directly into the blue eyes of his sister.

"That doesn't concern you," her voice turned cold, eyes narrowing at the child that flinched under her intense gaze; she steps towards him, her shadow looming over his smaller figure intimately. "Don't interfere with my affairs Kil. They're far too dangerous for a child like you," she added, pivoting on her heels and facing her back to him, continuing down the pathway.

Silence followed the siblings, tension growing between them after the confrontation. As they got closer to the headquarters, they noticed their head butler standing outside, waiting for their arrival as he usually did. "Lady Illuki. Master Killua. We've been waiting for you," Gotoh greets the Zoldycks, bowing to his employers.

Killua beams at the man, excitement catching up with him and pooling in his blue eyes as he spoke enthusiastically. "Gotoh! Where's Gon now? You do know, right?" the child asked the head butler.

"Canary is bringing Gon here, along with his 2 friends. They should arrive shortly, so please wait inside," Gotoh moved aside and gestured for Illuki and Killua to enter the building.

Illuki watched her brother follow a different butler down the hallway, disappearing into the room she had pointed out before slowly returning her attention to the glass-wearing butler that stood in front of her with a stoic expression. She stares at him for a moment, blue irises diverting to the window by the door where she spotted the trio of rescuers and Canary come into view from the thick forest of Kukuroo Mountain. 'What are you up to now?' she thought, walking away from the entrance as the butler went to greet the newcomers, entering the room where Killua was.

Though she was aware of the boys' arrival, she wondered why Gotoh failed to follow her brother's previous instructions and informed them about their arrival. "Nee-chan, what's taking Gon so long? Do you think he's here now?" the white-haired child asked his sister, slumping his shoulders and resting his cheek in the palm of his hand.

"I'm not sure. Let's check with Gotoh, hm?" she chuckles at his adorableness, poking his cheek before standing up and making her way to the door. She opens it and waves her hand at the boy, gesturing for him to follow her to the main room of the butler's headquarters.

"Gotoh, is Gon here yet?" Killua called out, entering the room.

"Killua!" the spiky-haired kid beamed, standing from his seat on the couch and turning to face his friend with a bright smile.

Killua grinned widely, rushing up to the couch. "Oh! You're here, Gon! Along with...Kurapika?"

"I'm just an afterthought?" the blonde jokingly asked, smiling at the boy before the young assassin turned and faced Leorio, pointing at him.

"Liorio!"

The aspiring doctor flinched, glaring at the child. "Leorio!" he corrected.

"It's been a while. I can't believe you came. What happened? Your face is a wreck!" the white-haired boy teased, letting out a small chuckle.

"Yours isn't any better!" Gon rebutted.

The young assassin turned his head to his butler. "Hey, Gotoh. I told you to let me know as soon as they arrive. What were you doing?" he scolded the man who bowed apologetically to him and his sister that stood behind him.

"Forgive me. I had them participate in a little game," the stoic man explained with a hand over his heart. "It was nothing more than a poor joke. I apologise for any aggravation, did you enjoy yourselves?" he asked the trio.

"That was some really good acting..," Leorio trailed off in a whisper.

From behind Killua, the dichromatic-haired Zoldyck scoffed at the blatant lie the butler told them, crossing her arms with an unimpressed frown on her pale face. She walks around her brother and stands between the child and the butler, eyeing the man with a raised eyebrow; she was sure it was their mother that planted the idea into Gotoh's mind to prolong Gon and Killua's reunion, however, she wanted to hear the man confess the conspiracy. Killua then goes on to yell at the head butler, instructing him to not follow the young heir even under the others of the siblings' mother. That night, the siblings left the family estate with Gon, Kurapika and Leorio.