Part 4
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Chapter 3

///

Killua knows that something is wrong, but he does not know what.

He can feel it. There is a tension in the house. There was a special sort of tension when he saw Illumi carrying (Y/N)'s body to the basement, with Hisoka following close behind.

Why was that happening? Did something happen to (Y/N)? Killua knew what went on in the Zoldyck basement... perhaps Silva was right; maybe (Y/N) shouldn't have been let in the house. Not only is it causing problems for them, but also for the Zoldyck family.

Perhaps Killua will not leave tomorrow. Part of him wants to stick around and see where this is going, even though it really is not his business.

Currently, he is sitting on his bed, hands folded behind his head. He is giving himself time to relax with his thoughts, but is interrupted by a knock on the door.

Killua sighs. "Come in."

The door cracks open and Canary peeks her head in. "Gotoh sent me to get you. A phone call is in for you."

"Who is it?" Killua asks, sitting up with intrigue.

Canary smiles softly. "Gon and those two others. It did not sound important. I think they're just checking in."

Killua nods, stands up, and follows Canary to the phone. As they are walking, in silence, as usual, Killua wonders if he should tell Gon about Illumi and (Y/N). He decides against it. Killua does not want to think about the two of them and their drama anymore; it is out of his hands at this point. Even though the house is full of a strange tension, there is no way for Killua to figure out what exactly is happening without prying. Illumi does not like prying.

Just as Killua is finishing this thought, Illumi walks past him and Canary. Unlike usual, Illumi does not glare down at his younger brother. He seems to be heading back towards the basement after leaving, for whatever reason. His dark eyes are set with purpose.

///

"I think I'll take you to a spa after this is done. We can get massages and have our nails done..." Hisoka trails off, chuckling at his thoughts.

"I don't think Illumi wants me leaving the house yet. Because of the Troupe," you reply.

Hisoka raises a curious brow. "It's not up to him, it's up to you. Do you want to leave the house?"

You pause.

"I'm not sure," you finally say. "Not yet. I want to wait at least for the Troupe to leave; Ill said they were going to another city to take care of something."

Hisoka chuckles, then sighs. "I don't know how you do it. I'd get tired of this house after a single day."

You smile a bit, and then the door opens. It is Illumi. Your heart throttles suddenly, sending waves of anxiety throughout your body. Illumi's hands are empty, and his eyes look it, too.

"Did you—" You choke a bit and stop to clear your throat. You are so nervous you can hardly speak right. "Did you get the test?"

"Yes." Illumi reaches into his back pocket to grab a white stick with a pink cap. He stares at you all the while. Without another word, he holds it forward for you to take. You stand up and collect the stick—it's made of cheap plastic, no more than 5 inches long, but it's the scariest thing you have ever seen.

"I am going to come with you," he adds.

You do not even have the heart to argue him. "Okay."

Behind you, Hisoka is staring at your figure with empathetic eyes. For the first (or maybe the second) time in his life, he feels bad for someone other than himself. He is worried for you, but he refuses to believe it. I'm only worried for myself, he thinks. If she is pregnant with my child, what will I do? Suggest an abortion?

He occupies himself with these thoughts rather than thinking about you. Illumi walks out of the room and turns to the left, not waiting up for you to follow.

You walk slow behind Illumi, even though he is moving quite fast. "Slow down," you say quietly.

He turns and glances on you, then stops until he is next to you. He then falls into your pace, eyes glaring ahead. You stare at the floor as it passes beneath your feet. Cold concrete.

"Your heart is racing," Illumi observes.

"I'm nervous."

"Why?"

You don't say anything. After a moment, Illumi reaches over and grabs your hand. The touch feels warmer than usual, like an engulfment of affection around your entire being rather than just your hand. You want to thank him for the small gesture, but decide that it would be stupid.

Once you get to the bathroom, Illumi draws his hand away and opens the door. You take a breath, smile at him, and walk inside. He closes the door behind you.

It takes a long time for you to finish taking the test. After entering, you stared at yourself in the mirror for a while, then sat on the toilet and stared at the pregnancy test.

Then you sat on the bathroom floor and waited for it to go through. You set it face down on the tiles next to your legs, leaned back on the wall, and closed your eyes.

That brings you to this moment. Your face burns with the prepense of tears, and then they begin to flow, silently, like little leaves with nowhere to fall. You are crying, yet you have not seen the results yet.

Suddenly, the door opens.

You open your eyes to see Illumi's figure standing in the entrance, looking awkwardly tall.

He blinks. You blink.

"How... did it go?"

"I haven't looked yet."

Illumi sits down beside you, being careful not to enter your personal space. You observe that his motions aren't as smooth as usual; perhaps he is nervous, too. Or maybe he just feels odd because you are crying.

You wipe the wetness away from your cheeks.

The moments pass slowly, almost serenely. White tile flooring, cold under your legs. The test, registering your pregnancy status. The toilet a few feet away—you can faintly smell the toilet water. Dim yellow lights, held over the mirror that shows one how they see themselves; how the world sees them.

Just then, Illumi picks up the test.

"Wait!" you say, grabbing his wrist.

He freezes, dark eyes locked on yours.

At the sight of your face, Illumi's heart clenches. You look so distraught, yet so placid, both at the same time.

"Are you ready?" he asks.

You take a breath, then nod, then close your eyes. "You look first."

Illumi looks. You peek an eye open. He gives no reaction, just stares at the answer. The line, or the multitude of them, that tell you everything you need to know. Unless it's a false test.

He holds the stick forward. You take it, and look.

One line.

You're not pregnant.

You start to laugh, then you start to cry. Illumi stares at you, vaguely uncomfortable, but more confused. What is this reaction?

You lean forward and engulf Illumi in a hug. He hesitates, but hugs you back.

"I'm not pregnant," you sigh.

He laughs, and it is a short, loud sound that is so out of place that it makes you laugh, too.