Killua

"Killua, have you finished today's training?"

Eerie and lifeless.

In the dark corridor, a voice that sounded neither human nor ghost came from the far end.

The white-haired, blue-eyed child, not even as tall as a chair, gritted his teeth, his face tense and uneasy.

This was Killua, the fourth child of the Zoldyck family, a white-haired boy.

He pressed himself against the wall, his fingernails extending like a cat's claws.

He looked somewhat panicked, his gaze darting left and right as if trying to figure out which direction the intruder would attack from.

After waiting for more than ten seconds, Killua could feel his heart pounding.

Fearful and alarmed.

But the faint voice disappeared, and the empty corridor was just as it usually was.

There was nothing there.

Just as Killua slowly let out a breath of relief, a familiar yet unfamiliar face suddenly appeared upside down before him.

His hair stood on end, and his heart skipped a beat.

His throat tightened, and his blue eyes were full of terror.

That black-haired, black-eyed face, ghostlike in appearance, was far too close!

Those lifeless eyes stared fixedly at Killua.

But they held not a glimmer of light or life.

It looked like a puppet, or a porcelain doll.

"B... Big Brother."

Killua mumbled quietly, his whole body seeming to meld into the wall as he did everything he could to avoid getting any closer to the face before him.

After a long moment, he still received no response from "Illumi," and Killua was at a loss.

At last, the face before him couldn't keep up the act any longer. Its cold expression crumbled, and a clear laugh rang out.

"Oh my, who would've thought? Is little Killua, who fears neither heaven nor earth, really this scared of Illumi?"

As he spoke, Coleman slowly took off his mask, grinning from ear to ear.

"You looked just like a little mouse, you were so scared!"

Only now did Killua finally recognize the white-haired person who looked just like him.

"Second! Brother!"

Coleman wasn't the least bit sorry for scaring him. Instead, he proudly dispelled the threads and slowly dropped to the ground.

"Oh, my little Killua, it's daytime. How could Illumi possibly be home?"

Killua glanced at the clock. It was only five in the afternoon.

Right around the time Big Brother would be finishing work.

Relieved, he glared resentfully at his Second Brother for scaring him and grumbled, "Why aren't you out working in broad daylight? What are you doing wandering around at home?!"

And he'd even had time to come over and scare him. Clearly, Dad hadn't given him enough work!

Coleman wasn't annoyed by Killua's reproach. He smiled, brushed off some dust, and blinked as he spoke lazily. "I don't want to go out and work during the day. It's too hot! What's so great about being drenched in sweat?"

With that time, he might as well find a nice spot, bask in the sun, and take a nap.

Night was the perfect time for a murderer to work.

Killua tore off a piece of gauze that was already soaked in blood and muttered, "Don't you sleep at night? You work the night shift every day. Doesn't that wear you out?"

Coleman looked at Killua's injury, thought for a moment, then used his height advantage to scoop the boy up like a kitten.

"Hey, hey!"

Killua flailed in the air until Coleman pulled him into his arms. Then, somewhat reluctantly, he settled down for a while.

"Because I sleep during the day. Besides, nights are more interesting, you know?"

Darkness could shield all sorts of things.

Ghosts and spirits came out to play at that hour.

Wouldn't you miss out on a lot if you didn't go and have a look?

"Once I've bandaged you up, don't let Illumi see you when he gets home late."

Coleman strode along on his long legs as he spoke. "If he finds out, he'll give you an earful."

"Ah, Coleman, Illumi's gotten more and more sharp-tongued lately. Aren't you going to do something about it?"

Nestled in his brother's arms, Killua twirled his brother's wavy white hair around one finger and muttered, "If this keeps up, he's going to go from a taciturn, ruthless, cold-blooded hottie to a brooding, sharp-tongued, talkative big brother."

"What's wrong with that? Better than him keeping quiet and only using his hands all day, leaving people clueless about how they offended him!"

Coleman didn't care. Illumi was still the same cold-blooded hottie in front of outsiders.

Only when he was around these few people at home did his sharp tongue show.

It wasn't a big deal.

Hearing how unconcerned his Second Brother sounded, Killua's face darkened.

At this rate, Big Brother's carefully maintained image was going to fall apart completely in his eyes!

He'd gone from being an overprotective little brother with an overwhelming possessive streak when Killua was three to a sharp-tongued, brooding big brother now.

Who knew what little Killua had been through?

"Enough, enough. If you're unhappy with Illumi as he is now, go ask your Third Brother. See if he was scared of the old Little Illumi or not."

Coleman smiled, but his tone was casual.

He was far more relaxed with Killua than with Illumi or Milluki.

He was even willing to chat idly with the little boy.

Clearly, this gifted little boy with white hair and blue eyes had won Coleman's affection.

After all, the child really was beautiful!

Like a translucent blue gem, sparkling with light.

Coleman loved those bright blue eyes, full of longing for freedom.

With just a little polishing, they could shine brilliantly.

He just needed to think carefully about what tools to use.

His thoughts strayed for a moment, then quickly returned.

"Remember, if Father takes you along to kill someone, act normal."

Thinking of the trial his family put them through, Coleman frowned slightly and whispered his warning.

"Make sure to show at least a little fear or shock. If you can't manage that, a blank expression is fine. But don't smile, got it?!"

The kid was always going out with him. Sometimes, he couldn't help seeing Coleman create his works of art.

"Okay."

"What do you mean, 'okay'? Don't act disgusted, either!"

Coleman was at his wits' end. He didn't want to be blamed for leading the future head of the family astray.

Killua pouted and said nothing.

Honestly, Father's way of killing people just wasn't as good as Second Brother's.

Big Brother's way wasn't as good as Second Brother's, either.

Second Brother's work was like a work of art.

And now he wasn't even allowed to praise him?

Fine, if he couldn't praise him, why wasn't he allowed to show how much he disliked everyone else's methods?

Second Brother was a tyrant!

"Also, there are countless ways to escape, but if you hurt Mom or your brothers, you'll see what happens when I spank you!"

Coleman threatened through gritted teeth. That brat really needed a beating every day, or he'd run up the walls.

Last time, he'd nearly scratched Kikyo's face. If Illumi hadn't reacted quickly and thrown the little squirt aside, Coleman might have beaten Killua half to death!

"Hmph!"

"Geez, never mind. Where's little Alluka?"

Coleman thought of the child their father had taken away that morning, and his brow furrowed again.

At the mention of that name, Killua froze, his arms tightening around Coleman for a moment.

"I don't know."

Burying his head in his brother's chest, Killua spoke in a muffled voice.

He didn't want to share Second Brother!

I'm clearly more talented, so why can't Second Brother play with me every day?

Honestly, why does Second Brother have to spread his affection around?

Why can't he just like me?

Reluctantly, Killua decided that he could let Second Brother like Illumi a little more.

He didn't want to share his brother with his little brother!

"Don't be difficult, Killua. He's your own brother!"

"Hmph!"

Looking at the little boy squirming in his arms, Coleman couldn't help laughing.

I've been staying home too much.

It was also because Father and Mom had let the children run wild.

They'd all gotten so attached to me!

I'm not even that kind, and I'm a bad person, after all.

Why are they clinging to me?

Coleman, at seventeen, touched his handsome face and couldn't figure it out.

"Stop fussing, kid. Your little brother's in trouble."

Coleman did his best to speak to Killua gently but firmly. "If we don't deal with this properly, you might never see Alluka again."

Killua panicked at that.

He immediately lifted his head and looked at Coleman with pleading, confused eyes.

"What happened? What's wrong with Alluka?"

As he spoke, he struggled to get down.

"I want to go see him."

Coleman tightened his hold, keeping the child firmly in his arms.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I'm here, aren't I? I'll tell you once I've found out!"

Coleman scolded him, displeased by Killua's impulsiveness.

Chastened, Killua immediately settled down, though he looked a little aggrieved.

Coleman sighed and ran a hand over Killua's white hair.

His eyes narrowed, but his steps never faltered.

He spoke calmly. "No matter how much Father dotes on you, he won't let you go see him right now."

A dangerous, dark, and sinister aura surrounded Alluka.

There was no way Silva would allow his child to get close to such an evil thing.

At least, not until he figured out what was going on. He wouldn't let Alluka out.

But Coleman was intensely curious.

He really wanted to go and see.

So he decided to go.

"Then can Big Brother go see him?"

Killua blinked his moist eyes at his Second Brother.

Only when they wanted to plead or ask a favor did these kids call Coleman "Big Brother" outright.

Clearly, the clever little boy had started using his cuteness to work Coleman.

Coleman played along and nodded.

"Of course."

Confident, with an inscrutable smile tugging at his lips.

"Of course I can."

The Almighty Giant of Hunter x Hunter: Ultimate Elegance.