Part 1
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Chapter 1

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It is the 4th of September.

Many words can be used to describe you. You are a beautiful artwork of talent, a master Nen user trained in Conjuring and a bit in Transmutation, and an assassin skilled enough to have built a name about yourself.

You live a life of independence, bouncing between hotel rooms so your location is never truly known. Building yourself up from nothing was a hard task, but you had help, mostly from a trusted companion—Illumi Zoldyck. You met him when you were 17 (7 years ago) on a cold night as you were about to kill a woman named Corkika Hai. You and Illumi had the same target.

You gained trust for the tall, skilled man faster than you have for anyone before. He helped you when you were at your lowest and trained you until you were strong enough to truly fight for yourself.

Because of your frequent contact with Illumi, you never left the assassination business. It was the only viable way for you to make money when you were young, and since it was Illumi's whole life, you believed it would be your whole life, too. Plus, growing up in Yorknew City surrounded by the rich and cunning, you had to create a name for yourself if you wanted to get anywhere.

As of now, you are sitting in the living room of your second hotel room of the month, reading a book. Warm morning sunlight pours through twin windows over a yellow wall, bathing the room in a peaceful glow. You flip to the next page.

There is a presence near you. Very near. You pretend not to notice, for if you are being watched, you do not want the watcher to know that you are aware of them. Concealing your knowledge of watchers is a skill you learned from Illumi, who not only trained you in assassination techniques, but also in Nen.

The presence nearby feels just like Illumi's, as a matter of fact.

You stifle a chuckle. "Illumi," you say, "are you in here?"

Silent footsteps walk around the wall that divides the kitchen area from the living room. The presence grows so strong it is overwhelming.

"Hello, (Y/N)."

You close your book and set it down in your lap, then look up. Illumi is standing with his hands at his sides, the sunlight from outside making his inky black hair shine. Eyes that resemble lifeless voids stare down at you.

"Hey." You smile up at him, a gesture that he does not return. "What have you come for? Tea?"

He completely disregards your joke. "I have a job that I need your assistance with."

"Oh?"

"Killua has been kidnapped by the Phantom Troupe."

A single eyebrow lifts itself on your forehead, the only bit of surprise that is betrayed in your expression. "What has Killua gotten himself into now?" you ask with slightly sarcastic overtones.

"He is trying to help Kurapika, I believe."

Kurapika. The name rings a bell, and then you get it—he's the red-eyed boy who killed Uvogin, the physically strongest member of the Phantom Troupe.

You hum a bit, glancing out of the window beside you as your book rests open in your lap. "Killua can't break out of their hostage himself?"

"Hisoka says they are planning to kill him and Gon. Oh, I failed to mention that the Troupe captured Gon, too."

You pause.

Killua is a wonderful kid. One of your favorite people, in fact. He is powerful, smart and short-tempered, which you find humorous at times. You have only met him on three occasions, all during training with Illumi. You fought Killua during one of those times in training, and that was when you learned how quick-minded he is.

"Why do you need my help?"

Illumi does not respond, so you continue.

"This sounds like something you can take care of by yourself. You're a good fighter, and I'm sure Hisoka will help you."

"That is true. But Hisoka wants Gon alive, and I want Killua alive."

Then you understand. Illumi wanting Killua alive and Hisoka wanting Gon alive are weaknesses for the both of them. The Phantom Troupe could use that against them. Personally, you would prefer Gon and Killua to remain alive, but you do not have the same strong attachments to the boys as Illumi and Hisoka do, especially not towards Gon since you don't know him personally.

"Well." You stand up, then turn to face Illumi. "What's the plan?"

Illumi reaches a hand out. Between two pinched knuckles is a folded slip of yellow paper. "Meet me here, at the designated time tomorrow."

You reach out and take the paper. It's smooth and wrinkled under your fingertips, as if worn down from being in someone's pocket for too long. You unfold it.

274 Goldwing St.
6am.

Goldwing Street. That area is only housed by two things: residential buildings that are in the midst of being torn down, and a field.

"Okay."

"Hisoka will be joining us," Illumi adds.

You fold the paper back up and slide it into one of your pockets. "Won't Hisoka's random absence make the Phantom Troupe suspicious?"

"He will not be with us for long," Illumi says, ignoring a direct answer to the question.

But you do not know Hisoka well enough to trust him, but if Illumi needs Hisoka's help, then you'll live with it. You have only met Hisoka once, and it was... strange, to say the least.

"I'm going to make myself some dinner. Would you like to stay and eat?"

For the first time since he arrived, the slightest hint of a smile appears over Illumi's lips. "Thank you for the offer, but I can't stay. I have an agenda."

You nod a bit, returning his smile. "Okay," you say. "Be safe. I'll see you tomorrow."

And then Illumi is gone, without another word.

You know telling him to be safe is pointless. He does not need your warnings to stay alive. He is a Zoldyck, after all.