For some reason, you found yourself outside the warehouse, sitting down on the grass and bringing your knees to your chest.

It was cold, and very late at night. Looking up ever so slightly, you could see the waning moon providing you solace with its soft light.

In fact, it was just like that night all those years ago.

____

The moon was just as bright, and the breeze just as cold.

"...Nii-chan? It's starting to get super dark," you pulled on his arm a little, trying to get him to stand up. "Should we head back?"

He didn't respond, and your gaze fell to his bandaged arm. It's been a couple of hours since your parents announced they were leaving for a few years, and your brother's mood seems to have gotten worse.

'...What should I do? Nii-chan is never like this...'

You felt yourself tearing up from worrying, but you immediately shook your head, forcing those tears back and taking a deep breath.

"Do you... do you want to wait until Mom and Dad are gone?" you asked with uncertainty, fidgeting as you waited for his response.

He didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at you from the corner of his eye. It was a cold, lifeless, almost hostile stare. It almost seemed like something broke inside of him.

You felt chills run up your spine. That was not your brother.

"...No, it's fine," he finally responded, getting up and dusting his pants.

"Nii-chan...?'

"Let's go back now," (B/N) said, extending a free hand for you to take. His tone was firm and oddly confident, a stark contrast to the look of emptiness in his eyes.

"O-Okay..." you hesitated, before taking his hand and walking back.

You ignored how icy his touch was, or how eerily silent he was the entire trip home.

'Maybe he's just sad that we won't get to see Mom and Dad for a long time...'

But deep down, you knew that was far from the truth.

____

"–(Y/N)? What are you doing out here?" a voice interrupted your thoughts.

You nearly jumped in place, whipping your head around to the source of the voice.

"Oh, Nii-chan..."

Your brother raised a brow, before sitting right beside you. "What's wrong?"

You averted your eyes, turning away and looking up at the moon again.

"...The moon looks familiar."

(B/N) blinked in confusion. "What?"

"I mean–" You hugged your knees closer to your chest. "...It looked just like that when mom and dad died."

Your brother's expression turned bleak as a suffocating silence followed. You looked down on the grass, while your brother stared at the moon in your place, his expression unchanging.

"...huh, I never noticed," he finally replies, looking down at you through the corner of his eye.

Your gaze never left the ground even after hearing his reply.

"Why is it still bothering you? That was years ago."

You tensed up, breath hitching for a split-second. "It's..."

"I'm here, at least. So stop worrying about that, (Y/N)." Your brother chuckles, patting you on the head.

You finally look up at him. A gentle smile decorated his features, but his eyes held something ominous that you couldn't describe.

'How could I not worry about something like that, though...?' you thought, avoiding eye contact with him from then on.

(B/N) chuckles. "Anyway, let's talk about something else."

Your mind could only drift to one other thing. And it wasn't anything pleasant either.

"(Y/N)?"

"–How could you let Illumi take Alluka?" you manage to blurt out.

(B/N) found himself taken aback by your sudden outburst "...Huh?"

"Why do you want Ryu and Senka dead?!" You slammed the ground with your fist, tears welling up your eyes. "This isn't what you promised me..."

"(Y/N)..." Your brother moved to pat your head once more. His touch was reliable and reassuring, but for some reason, it didn't make you feel any better.

You clenched your jaw, stopping yourself from speaking any further. A part of you wanted to force an explanation out of him, but the other wanted you to back down. He's your brother, after all. He's never done anything wrong.

...right?

You hear a deep sigh from your brother. "(Y/N), trust me. This is for our own good, okay?"

Your feelings of doubt and hesitation only grew stronger.

"You'll understand, in the future." Your brother stands up, holding an outstretched hand for you to take. "It's getting late. Let's go inside." He gestures to the warehouse.

You looked up at him, but you didn't stand up nor take his hand.

(B/N) shook his head and chuckled, before pulling you up and taking your hand. "You're just tired. Everything will be better tomorrow."

You stayed silent, looking down at your feet. Every part of you knows it won't get any better. As long as you and Alluka stay trapped in that warehouse.

...and as long as you don't see him again.

___________

"Come back to me, please..."

Killua would never forget your expression as he said that. He remembers the way you tensed up at his ice-cold touch, the stammer in your weak voice, and the look of absolute pain and confusion in your eyes.

He laughs to himself bitterly. That memory of you hasn't left his mind for even a second.

"You're... incredibly stupid, you know?" Killua mumbles, looking down at his hands. "How could you not have seen what he was doing...? How the hell could you still follow him after what he did?" He clenches his fist, brows furrowing deeply at the thought.

"You know, I've been noticing you staring at your hands for a while." A voice interrupts.

Killua looks up to see Ryu standing by the door. "Oh, it's you." Killua sighs and lies down on the bed. "At least knock or something before coming in. Geez..."

'At least Ryu looks a bit better than before.'

"I did," Ryu replies with a deadpan look. "You didn't hear me, then? That's strange coming from you."

Killua tensed up and cleared his throat. "I was thinking of a way to get (Y/N) and Alluka safely. It's no big deal."

He could tell Ryu was not convinced. "Okay then," he replies, before taking a seat next to the bed. "You're getting discharged today, right?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me where you're going. I'll take you there." Ryu pauses, brows furrowing into a deep, determined frown. "I'll fight with you."

Killua's eyes widened slightly as he stared at Ryu's. They glimmered like a raging flame. A flame he would never expect from someone like him.

"A few days ago, you asked me what I was planning to do, right?" Ryu continued. "I've decided. I have to keep fighting... For her sake" Ryu takes a deep breath. "I'll make sure Sanguis never takes anyone away from me ever again."

Killua could feel the corners of his lips tugging upwards. "It's rare for you to get this fired up."

Ryu chuckles. "Well, you'll have to start getting used to it."

'And Senka... you better be watching.'