"Onee-chan..." Alluka mumbled, holding in her tears.

You tried to comfort her as you continued to hide in the bushes. "It's fine, Alluka... We're gonna find a way..."

Looking over at Killua, you began getting this urge to step right in. However, your knowledge of what Illumi is capable of has kept you at bay. Ryu had the same thoughts, but the look on his face as Senka remained sprawled out against a tree suggested otherwise.

"Kil... an assassin like you does not need friends," Illumi stated, holding a couple of needles between his fingers. "Why do you keep protecting her?"

An audible tsk could be heard from Killua. "I'm not an assassin, Illumi. How many times do I need to tell you that?"

"Impossible." Illumi was starting to look visibly upset. "You were molded to be the perfect assassin by me and Dad. Your only purpose for living is to end lives. This desire you have for friends and freedom is just an illusion, Kil."

You stared at Illumi in horror. The Killua you know is far from the killing machine that Illumi forced him to be.

Killua sighs and turns to Senka, not wanting to talk to Illumi any longer.

"You still choose to help her?" Illumi's brows furrow ever so slightly. "That's no good, Kil. How much farther do you plan to stray from your true path?" His needles start gathering Nen as he walks closer.

Killua shoots Illumi a glare, stepping right in between him and Senka to ensure that he doesn't do anything funny.

An eerie smile makes its way to Illumi's face. "You'll realize it soon, Kil. You'll realize how naive you're being." With that, he threw the Nen-infused needles right at Killua.

Killua's immediate instinct was to dodge. However, the needles would have a chance of hitting Senka instead, so he stood his ground. Clenching his jaw, he catches the needles with his hands as a flurry of electricity surrounds his fingers.

Illumi narrows his eyes. "You've gotten faster..." he mumbles, before a small smirk forms on his lips. "But still so naive."

At that, the needles moved on their own and pierced Killua's palm. He widened his eyes, yelping in pain as blood flowed from his hand, dripping onto the grass.

You held your breath as you watched on, feeling more and more helpless by the second.

"Illumi, you–" Killua glared at him, attempting to pull the needles out but to no avail.

"Hmm, a person would usually be crippled by this point, but you're doing quite well," Illumi says, amusement lingering in his voice. Then, he holds a hand out. "Come to me, Kil."

As he said that, a force coming from the needles in Killua's palm pushes him towards Illumi. Killua winces from the pain but pulls his arms back as hard as he could. "Get... these... nasty needles off of me...!" Killua exclaims between clenched teeth as Nen emanates from the needles.

Illumi narrowed his eyes, exerting more of his Nen onto the needles.

Killua yelled in pain as he felt more force on his arms. He continued to resist until eventually, Illumi's Nen became too much for him to handle. The next thing Killua knew, he fell forward, as his arms were being dragged towards Illumi.

A disturbingly wide smile contorts Illumi's usual deadpan face. "That's it, Kil. It's about time you came to your senses!"

Killua lifts his face, glaring daggers at Illumi. That is until his eyes widened in shock immediately after.

"(Y/N–"

It was as if that strike came from nowhere. Illumi felt a sting on the side of his neck, along with the fact that he's gone off balance. He looked immediately behind him to see you, wearing the most twisted, furious expression. Your entire body was completely shrouded in Zetsu, save for your right hand and the dagger it held, which was jam-packed with all the Nen from your body.

Illumi's distraction allowed Killua to finally pull out the needles from his palms. Just like a flash of lightning, he was now up on his feet and carrying the unconscious Senka even farther from Illumi, settling her down right where he left Alluka. Just as he expected, Ryu was waiting right there with her, with his pale face and ghostly expression.

"I'm sorry..." Killua mumbles, giving Senka to Ryu and rushing back to the scene with Godspeed.

_ _ _

Your brows furrowed in frustration. All the Nen you could muster wasn't enough to at least knock Illumi out. He was still standing, holding the side of his neck. His usually calm face was twisted in pain, but he still managed to hold his ground. "Huh, it's you..." he mumbles. "Since when did you get this strong?"

Before you could even reply, a flash of lightning appeared in your peripheral vision. The next thing you knew, Killua was right beside you, grabbing your shoulders so you faced him directly.

"Killu–"

"(Y/N). You need to run now."

"What?!"

"I'll deal with him." Killua's eyes shone in a way you've never seen before. He had a serious gaze, but it almost seemed like there was something more.

You looked him right in the eyes, before smiling and shaking your head. "...No. I'll fight with you."

Killua's eyes widened as you said that. His lips quivered as he struggled to reply. "Y-You...! (Y/N)..." Eventually, he just let go of your shoulders, letting his arms dangle on his sides.

Illumi sighed as he cracked his neck. "You've grown soft, Kil." He looked down on you with contempt. "This is exactly why people like you aren't needed in his life." He looks back at Killua, extending a hand out to him. "It's not too late, Kil. Bring Alluka to me and let's go back to Kukuroo Mountain together–"

"...I already told you... no!" Killua's eyes glistened as if he was about to tear up. "And you're not laying a finger on Alluka!"

As he said that, Killua nodded his head. In an instant, you both disappeared. Killua used his Godspeed as flashes of lightning flew by, while you used Zetsu to conceal yourself from Illumi.

Illumi prepares more of his needles as he got into a fighting stance. 'Kil's lightning blocked my view of where that girl was. Where did she go?' He thought as a look of irritation crossed his features. He could sense Killua move in every direction at every instant, while you were nowhere to be found.

Amidst Illumi's thoughts, Killua took the chance to deal a fast strike of Lightning Palm on him, before disappearing again. Illumi felt a sting, but it ultimately didn't do anything to him.

"Kil... have you grown so weak that you've forgotten what I'm capable of?" Illumi smirks.

"Well..." Killua replies. "I don't know about that."

As he said that, he felt a presence right behind him. It wasn't Killua's, as he was dashing around the place. But before Illumi could react, he felt another slash across his lower back, just above the hip.

Illumi stumbled forward as the presence disappeared once more. "I see..." he mumbles, regaining his balance. "Not bad at all. You'll regret it, though."

_ _ _

The next time you attempted to strike him, he caught you perfectly by the arm, trapping you in place. "I've never seen a brat with such mastery of basic techniques." Illumi smiles as his empty eyes bore into yours. "You lasted longer than I thought."

"(Y/N)!!" You heard Killua scream in the background.

Illumi's smile grew wider. "This is what happens when you make friends, Kil." He brings out a bunch of needles, imbuing them with the most malicious Nen you've ever seen.

Your eyes widened in horror as you struggled against him. "Let me go!!" You screamed, using your Nen to try to break free.

Killua tried to reach for you but was met with a punch in the gut by Illumi instead. "You're too predictable, Kil. What happened to earlier?" He looks down on Killua as he curled up on the ground in pain, before looking back at you. "Now, become my puppet, (Y/N)." He looks at you with those blank eyes.

"No!" you yelled, leaning away from his needles as much as you can. You gripped your dagger as tightly as possible while the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end. Your Nen was frantic, going in all sorts of directions until eventually, it was in a Zetsu state.

Illumi scoffs. "Stupid. Using Zetsu right in front of a Nen attack?" he says, gripping your wrist even tighter. As he was about to insert the needles right into your brain, he felt something strange with them.

"What?" Illumi looked down to see his Needles didn't have as much Nen as before. He immediately restored it, but it eventually started fading...

For the first time, Illumi had a look of shock and confusion. He slowly looked at your fearful state, to see that all his Nen... was being absorbed by you.