Part 5
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Chapter 1

///

There is a moment of silence between the two men. Illumi's eyes, two cold stones in a pool of milky white flesh, stare at his father's. In all the places where you assume Illumi's anger and frustration should shine through is only blankness.

Silva gives a curt nod, even though it is Illumi who is supposed to nod first, since Illumi is the son of Silva. But Illumi does not nod at all. Rather, he simply stares.

After another grueling moment that feels like it drags on forever, Silva makes a scornful, disappointed sound, and he begins to walk away, his broad shoulder brushing against Illumi's as he moves. Instead of following his father's figure with his eyes, Illumi glares straight ahead like a mannequin, a picturesque model of emotionlessness. You feel a bit frightened at the lanky man's silence; he'd just overheard a conversation between you and his father, one that was not kind of heart. He now knew that his father had been testing you! Is he angry, or are the two blank voids resembling his eyes accurate displays of his inner emotion?

All is answered when Illumi says—

"Thank you."

Silva halts. Your face contorts with silent shock and you remained frozen, as if one breath or glance might set off a series of ear-splitting alarms.

"I nearly forgot what it was like to be in such an honorable family," he continues. "(Y/N) temporarily drew my mind away from the status of the Zoldyck name. I thank you for putting me back in my place."

With that, Illumi turns around to face his father. He lowers himself to his knees and bows so low that his back arches and his forehead nudges the floor. His hands sit on either side of his head. He looks like a surrendering puppy.

"Forgive me father, for my absence of caution."

While you were shocked beyond wit's end, Silva Zoldyck turned around and looked at Illumi as if this was an every day occurrence. (It most definitely was not.) Silva nodded again, but less curtly and more like a bow this time.

"I'd like you to be more cautious from here on out," Silva's booming voice resounds. "I expect more from you as the eldest son."

Finally, Silva turns and walks away. All the while, Illumi remains in his bowed position.

"Ill?" you whisper.

He does not react.

"Illumi, are you alright?"

Still nothing. Sheesh. Is he okay? You kneel down on the floor beside him and carefully wrap an arm around his back. Very suddenly, he sits up, like a spring jolting back into position.

When you see his face, you notice the tears.

"Oh my god, are you—"

"I am fine," Illumi says, blankly. His shoulders are steady, and his face is still, but the tears continue to flow.

Is he crying? You can hardly tell. Then you laugh, a bit nervously, and wipe his tears, even though fresh ones spring out instantly in their place. "It's okay to cry, but... man, you cry like a fucking weirdo."

"What?"

You laugh again. "Nothing, nothing."

He pauses, allowing your giggles to ebb away. His dark eyes rest gently on yours as your thumb pushes his tears away. He's so handsome, so delicate.

"Leave."

Now the giggles are definitely gone. Your eyes widen at his, as if asking, 'Dude, what?' Did you actually offend him with your remark about his crying? "Shoot, Ill, I'm sorry," you say. "I didn't mean to be rude... pretend I didn't—"

"Leave."

The shock of him repeating the statement is even worse, even though he has no malice in his eyes, nor in his tone. He seems only to have regret, or something of a similar tone. Letting your hand fall from his face, your eyebrows twitch into a frown.

"Are you sure?" you ask.

"Yes," he says. "Please."

"Okay."

Maybe he just needs a break.

You lean forward, place a gentle kiss on his cheek (to which he does not pull away), and stand. You're not sure if you can find the exit, but you'll just have to try—Illumi wants you to leave, so you're going to leave.

Maybe he just needs a break.

Who wouldn't need a break? Although it's difficult to put yourself in Illumi Zoldyck's shoes, you know that he must feel ashamed that he rejected his family values out of love (a notion that the Zoldyck family doesn't take kindly to) for you. That ashamed feeling is associated with you, so of course he doesn't want to see you.

But you know that he still loves you. Illumi's still in there.

He just needs a little break.

///

He imploded.

Machi breathes a sigh of relief.

It's not very scientific—the reasoning behind how she knows this to be true. Illumi Zoldyck has self imploded, and she knows this because her hunch, and the vague, inward sensation of its presence, have changed. She no longer feels like she has to stop Illumi from doing something that may affect her because this new course of action—the alleged imploding—will not affect her. Thus, he must have imploded.

Perhaps this new thing will destroy Illumi Zoldyck, but she hasn't half a mind to care. At least she won't be the one suffocating in the ashes of the after math.

///

Hisoka is finding it difficult to listen to Machi's advice.

Unfortunately, Machi has failed to notify Hisoka that her hunch changed and he no longer needs to stay away from (Y/N) in hopes that it would save Illumi which, in turn, would help spare everyone from his explosion. So, Hisoka still believes that Illumi is on a mental cliff's edge, waiting to be set off.

Although, part of him isn't really sure that he cares about Machi's hunch. He just wants to see (Y/N).

Out of extreme coincidence, or perhaps something more, Hisoka's phone rings. He slides it out of his pocket, only to find that it's (Y/N).

"Oh my..." Hisoka mumbles with a chuckle. Something must have happened if they are calling him. Not reluctantly, Hisoka answers.