Beyond the Grave [ILLUMI X CHROLLO]

[ 20 ] Wine Tipsy (The Author)

Sukuna never asked if Illumi attempted to make contact with Itadori and for that, Illumi was grateful. If he had to lie, he preferred to do so through omission.

Doubt crept through Illumi's days in a specter of all his previous failings. In all his fuck-ups, one thing remained true: Illumi's confidence. He may not have felt 100% certainty in all occasions, but confidence was his true key.

He was no longer confident.

Itadori had proved reassuring only to Illumi's sense of cynicism for mankind. If the Sun perished, humanity wouldn't be a major loss, but the Earth wouldn't be better off for it. There were still people he loved back on Earth, too. Besides, his brother had made the decision to remain on Earth—he could have dashed off to Wrath's domain years ago and left them all behind.

Illumi's reasons for wanting to bring Itadori back to Hell were purely selfish for this. As he, Gon, and Killua walked the streets of New York the morning following Illumi's speed dial run, Illumi simmered over how alike Meruem he was. His siblings would go on to have afterlives, after all. Why keep them there?

Why not let Itadori destroy the source of energy?

Would Itadori cease to exist?

"Looks like you're thinking too hard," Gon commented, to which Killua replied, "Careful not to pull something."

Illumi grumbled miserably, a hand dragging through his hair. He pulled it over one shoulder to braid it. If he told Killua, Sukuna might glean that the next time they're in the same room together. If he told Chrollo, Chrollo's sense of obligation to Pride would be enough. After all, he'd given Illumi up to Pride in an effort to rectify past wrongs.

Illumi could tell no one.

No one except Wrath.

And there's no telling how Wrath would take it, Illumi thought miserably, grimacing to himself. At least if I tell Wrath, I still wouldn't have to tell him Itadori's location.

He had the hotel's logo seared into his brain now. It was just a matter of research.

"Can't talk about it?" said Gon, sympathetically.

"Well, fuck you too," said Killua, genuinely.

"It's complicated," groaned Illumi, displeased.

"Does it have to do with your date?" Gon asked.

Illumi blinked at the instantaneous violence this sparked. Killua slapped Gon across the arm, to which Gon shrieked, "I held it in as long as I could!"

"You—" Illumi's face sparked to life with a blush. "You two were following us." And then, in defeat, "Of course you were."

At the same time, Killua was raving already, high above Illumi's grumbling. "You can't seriously be dating that guy. I mean, he's an asshole, for one, and for two, he's Lucifer. You know, the Devil? And again, he's the reason Gon's addicted to hot springs. It's annoying."

"You were addicted to nicotine first, so..." Gon muttered, arms crossed. Killua smacked his arm again.

"You're addicted to hot springs?" Illumi said, confused. "That doesn't sound too bad."

"It's bad when I can't tell time," Gon sighed, looking to Illumi. "Abaddon's domain is a massive mountaintop onsen. If I go without a purpose I end up being there for days at a time. Almost missed rent once."

"Oh." Illumi knew the feeling of timelessness. "I understand."

"See! Ilumi gets it. Wait, you can't see him—"