Beyond the Grave [ILLUMI X CHROLLO]

[ 19 ] Get Your Physics Degree Out

After a brief visit to Chrollo, Illumi tried for the number three: his late grandfather's house at the university. There, the clock struck four in the morning and predawn cast a blue haze across the house. His brother was still asleep, and so Illumi stepped away.

He sat for a while in his Grandpa Zeno's study. His brother had kept most everything up, including the painting hanging above the defunct hearth. It was of a warm summer day in the backyard, their grandmother lounging out on the porch.

Melancholy came easy to him, but in that moment, it crushed him more so than ever. He'd spent the past five years and five months believing he'd never see his grandfather again.

And now I can visit him.

This discovery was shrouded with doubt and unease. He'd only just come to terms with his grandfather's passing, and though Illumi's personal culpability still weighed heavy on him, it was comfortable and familiar. He didn't know what the years had done to his grandfather's spirit. There was always the chance that his grandfather's age-old wisdom failed and in the end, he recognized Illumi was still to blame.

He resents me, Illumi believed, hands over his face.

A light in the foyer came on.

There was silence. Illumi held his breath even though he didn't even need it.

His brother's footsteps creaked down the stairs. Illumi hadn't heard the alarm, but the clock on the wall said it wasn't even five yet. He doubted Killua woke up at such a time.

Killua's silhouette appeared in the office doorway, facing the foyer. With his back to Illumi, Illumi dared not move. His grandfather's chair was creaky at best and at worse, it screamed when rocked. He held still as Killua plodded away, bedhead askew.

Illumi lifted his hands from the armrests with the intent on continuing to speed dial number four. Before he could, though, Killua turned to face the office.

Shit, Illumi swore, fists clenched.

There was trepidation in Killua's eyes, like he was seeing a ghost. Logically, Illumi knew Killua couldn't see him—after all, his brother was still alive and well, unlike Gon. He wasn't touched by the afterlife in the same way Gon was, but doubt was a powerful substance.

Killua lingered in the doorway, staring straight at Illumi—or rather, through him. His fists were clenched at his sides.

He can't see me!

And then, quietly, Killua whispered, "Grandpa?"

Well now this is just plain identity theft, Illumi thought as he deadpanned, "No, it's Illumi."

Killua entered the office with a sigh and, slouching, all but melted into the chair opposite the desk. With his eyes closed and head tipped back against the chair, Illumi registered the exhaustion sinking Killua's eyes and embedding them in deep shadows.

Killua rubbed the heel of his palm against one eye socket and, shaking slightly, lowered his hands back down.

Work must be difficult right now, Illumi wondered.

"You should get some more sleep," Illumi suggested, and hoped Killua could hear him.

Instead, Killua merely stared at the mat spread across the desk's surface. His grading was still strewn somewhat legibly across the table—done, not done, review. It was all organized into stacks.

When the clock chimed at the hour, Killua was falling asleep in his chair, elbow on the armrest and cheek squished up against his palm. He didn't wake up to the clock, and he didn't wake up to the creak in his grandfather's office chair, either.