wait for me [illumi zoldyck]

46. Revelations

Flashback

"Illumi, what are you even saying?" I huff, rolling my eyes at the male who stands in front of me.

Illumi and I linger in the middle of my mother's garden, under a large purple tree. Of course, we are too old to be playing in the sandbox or on the swings anymore, but it's still beautiful to come out here to talk. It's what we've been doing before Illumi decided to ruin the moment with one of his stupid remarks.

"What do you mean we're just colleagues? Don't you understand how ridiculous you sound right now?" I bark, folding my arms over my chest. His comments are futile.

The tall teenager before me sighs dramatically, looking off towards the setting sun, beyond all of the flowers of my mother's garden. He shoves his hands into his pockets. "You're so emotional."

"You make it seem like we barely know each other," I murmur, a frown etching onto my features.

I can't help but feel hurt by his words. You'd think that after thirteen years spent with one another, he'd at least acknowledge our friendship. Of course, it's very fitting for Illumi to go ahead and spurt nonsense such as this. After all, his mother is very influential on him in that manner.

"Why do you think our parents let us see each other so often?" Illumi asks, as he comes to sit beside me underneath the tree. "We work well together."

I roll my eyes at him again. "You're so apathetic. We work well together, that's true, but it's mainly because we're friends stupid," I snort.

I lean my head against his shoulder, sighing deeply. How can he say stuff like this after we've spent so much time together? He knows me better than anyone else, even my own family.

Illumi arrived, a few hours ago, to my family's estate to update me on a job that we are supposed to take together.

We've been talking for hours. Any normal person would consider my relationship with him that of close friends. Apparently, Illumi isn't normal.

We work really well together, that's a fact. Our families, in general, work well together. That's why we have a mutual alliance not to steal each other's clients. Our families usually don't take jobs together, unless completely necessary. The same goes for Illumi and I.

"Are you tired?" he asks, brushing off the topic. He peers down at me as I lean on his shoulder. I shrug loosely.

"I'm trying to see how long I can go without sleeping. It's been three days."

Illumi nods his head slowly. A comfortable silence stretches over the two of us. I watch the wind rustle the leaves and flowers in front of us, in my mother's garden. A floral aroma looms within the area.

"Killua started training recently," Illumi says with a pleased tone. His hands rest awkwardly on his lap as if he has no idea what to do with them.

I smile. He loves his brother very much. "How's it going for him?"

"Father says he's the most skilled killer our family has ever seen. I'll have to be hard on him," Illumi doesn't seem displeased or envious. In fact, he sounds proud of his little brother.

"I'll give you some candy to bring him before you leave."

"Thanks."

++

Mia

My eyes flutter open.

I finally manage to struggle into consciousness after a long moment of staring at the back of my eyelids, trying to coax myself to open them. Warmth encapsulates my right hand, and I can immediately tell that someone is holding it. By the memories, before I passed out, I can tell that it's Kyser.