wait for me [illumi zoldyck]

Chapter 13

(updated: March 20, 2021)

Illumi

Dried leaves crunch underneath the weight of my footsteps. In the distance, the occasional sound of impactful blows and voices can be heard. I can't make out what the voices or saying, or who they are coming from, but something inside of me apprehends that one of them belongs to Mia.

I beg my legs to move quicker, hoping that everything is under control, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Doubt spreads through me deliberately, understanding that the power of the aura I felt earlier is much stronger than what I'd expect Mia to be able to handle on her own. She's always been less capable physically, depending on her nen spirits more than she should.

Back in the hotel, I had told her that I did not care what happens to her after we complete the favor for Hisoka. In fact, I never planned to come to find her afterward, deciding that it would be best if I didn't feed on her doubts about her engagement. Father made it very clear that he does not approve of my choice to go visit the Hano family.

My thoughts are snapped back into reality, as the nen I previously felt suddenly intensifies. I halt in my steps, looking around frantically. In the distance, laying against a tree trunk is a small figure who is clearly injured. Looming beside her is another figure, tending to her wounds. I can't quite make out who they are, from my distance, but I begin to feel a sense of foreboding again. As the scene before me unravels, my gut coils with an array of emotions. The girl laying there, injured, is Mia.

I rush to her side hastily, reaching out to grasp her small wounded body. She's littered with large bruises that stand out against her delicate skin. The white dress she was wearing, now torn and stained. Beside her, a healer spirit wraps a bandage around her arm. Cloths stained with blood lay all around us.

Mia looks up at me, her tense muscles somewhat relaxing. Her face melts with relief, as she grips my forearm gently. "You came back," she breathes.

My brows knit together, frowning softly. She seems so relieved that I'm by her side, despite the way I spoke to her. A jab of regret runs through me, wishing I could explain myself. 

"I wasn't done with you just yet." 

I push back stray curls from her face, noticing her swollen left cheek. The truth is that I couldn't bring myself to leave her, knowing that she would be married soon. My eyes rove her body, examining the injuries she sustained. There are multiple severe bruises, along with many scrapes etched into her skin. The biggest wound would have to be the one on her arm. A deep gash, which has by now been wrapped up and put together by the healer.

"Who did this to you?"

My voice comes out softly, contrasting the anger that simmers within me. It builds up dangerously. I rarely feel angry, not like this.

A bitter look passes over Mia's face, "Takeo," she mutters, looking off towards the treeline just ahead of us. "His aim has been to kill my family, all this time. The alliance was just a ploy, designed to get close to us."

My grip on her body tightens, the information seeping in. If somebody planned something like this against my family, I'd do everything in my power to end them. 

Father never liked the Akagi family. He always said that their motives were too malicious. They've fed off jealousy for too long. There's a reason why they never were able to surpass the Hano family in terms of success and recognition, and it wasn't because of their alliance with my family.

"Illumi, I think he's the reason why my mother died. I think he killed her."

Mia's voice wavers, eyes brimming with unshed tears. I hold her body close, anger and bloodlust seeping from my pores. I knew her mother, very well. In fact, Mia resembles her more than any of her other siblings do. Her death was a catastrophe for the entirety of the Hano family. It's what led to Mia and I being separated. 

Takeo will die today.  

"Where did he go?" 

My eyes follow Mia's outstretched hand that points in the direction of the forest just ahead of us. Concentrating, I can hear the repeated sounds of distant impacts. No doubt, Mia sent her nen spirits to drive Takeo away so that she can heal herself.

My mind strays for a fraction of a second. Her spirits can only hold Takeo off for so long, and she obviously is in no position to fight him to win. Was she planning on dying here?

"My nen spirits brought him farther away from me," she explains, eyes snapping up to meet my own with a look of urgency. "Illumi, you should know something-"

"I have to go find him." 

I've become dissociated from reality. My mind is filled with the intent to kill one individual in particular. I am no longer able hear anything around me, all of my attention focusing on killing Takeo Akagi. 

"Illumi, please." 

Mia reaches a shaky hand out, as I stand. She tries to stop me, grasping my arm, but I begin making my way in Takeo's direction. Her hand slips, falling to her side. 

"I'll be back right back," I mutter, darting towards the sounds of fighting in the distance. 

It doesn't take me long to find him. Takeo's rage is imminent through his malicious aura. He is not trying to hide anything, clearly thinking that Mia is no threat to him.

The thought envokes another wave of animosity within me that feeds off my bloodlust. I imagine all the ways I'll rip through his body, killing him as painfully as possible. I have no respect for this man. He discredits his profession, displaying a clear lack of restraint that is required in assassins.

My mind wanders back to when Riku Hano announced Mia's engagement to him. I knew that his family was bad news, why didn't I do anything? Why was I willing to let Mia be with this man? 

Approaching the battle scene, I register the hoard of nen spirits throwing themselves onto Takeo one-by-one. Each one lands a blow, sending him flying farther back, but each time he gets to his feet without any issue. His face is twisted with nefarious intent. He roars, launching himself onto the nen spirits.

My steps come to a halt, rage swimming in my vision. It takes Takeo a moment, before noticing me. Aura bursts out from within me indignantly.

"Is that little bitch dead yet?" Takeo mocks, a wicked grin forming on his lips.

All I see is red. 

++

What did you guys think about:

- Illumi discovering that Takeo injured Mia?

- What Mia was trying to tell him?

- Illumi's rage?

Don't forget to comment and vote ✔️