It finally happened. Killua was going to be punished today. Really it was the Zoldyck's own fault he acted out; they had decided that Alluka was to be locked away and only used sparingly. Too many people had died already. So the day was sad all around. You weren't quite sure what to do with yourself. Kikyo had taken Kalluto for the afternoon and Alluka was locked away from you, acclimating to her new room. And now, Killua was in the very same room you once saw Illumi in. And you found yourself in front of it.

His tiny cries resonated through the dungeon like structure.

"You'll have to learn now the rules of this family." Silva whipped Killua, illiciting a yelp that made you feel like you were dying. "We never attack one another. Family is all you have." Another crack and another painful yelp. Tears fell down your face silently. You suddenly felt a hand touch yours. It was Illumi. He was looking downward, shaggy hair covering his face, scratches and bruises all over his arms from trying to stop Killua.

"That's our baby in there," you whispered as quietly as you could.

"No. That is not our baby in there. If it were our baby, he would never be in there." You glanced over at Illumi, tightening your grip on his hand. He looked back at you, emotionless, but with tear-stained cheeks that gave away his true feelings.

The cracking soon stopped, Killua was, after all, still quite young. But one was never too young for discipline in the Zoldyck household. Illumi vanished without a trace, the best course of action for the time being and you dried your tears and patiently waited for Silva to allow you in.

You didn't have to wait long, as Silva never dawdled after a beating.

"You may go take care of him YN-chan"

You ran in only to see your son bloodied and suspended by chains, trying his best not to cry. As soon as he saw you however, the dam broke and snot and tears poured out of him. He was hyperventilating and whispering "Mama-chan" over and over until you made it over to him and release him from his confines. He was tall for four and very advanced, but he still hadn't broken his dependence on you. It was if he knew that you were his real mother and no one else would work for him. Holding your son, who was between 1/3 and 1/2 of your size already, you walked to Illumi's bathroom, having remembered that first, all the necessary treatment items were there, and second, that there were no cameras in the Zoldyck's bathrooms. Killua would be free to cry and you would be free to comfort him all you wanted.

Illumi was in his room when you knocked and he swiftly answered the door.

"May we use your bathroom, Illumi-sama?"

"Of course. Anything for Kil."

He followed you into the bathroom, where you carefully tended to Killua's wounds. They were all surface level and luckily none of them needed stitches, but they did need to be disinfected. And for that, Illumi had to hold Killua as he screamed out.

"No Mama-chan! No more!"

Jealousy surged within Illumi. Did you tell Killua that you were his mother? Did everyone else know that he called you such an informal name? If you got to be Mama-chan, then why couldn't he be Papa-san? It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. Illumi's bloodlust surged and he stood up with Killua and left the room before he couldn't control himself and killed you.

You were stunned. You hadn't thought the scene out in advance. Was Illumi upset that Killua was in such pain? Or was he furious about you disobeying Kikyo and letting Killua call you Mama-chan? Either way, you decided there was nothing you could do now that he left, and so you left to resume training.

Illumi on the other hand, didn't have any idea of where he was actually heading. He just wanted to comfort his son. Well... what he really wanted was to hear his son address him as Papa. It was all he really wanted in the world right now. That, and to be able to stand beside YN. He thought to himself. Sure, he was furious and jealous of Killua and your relationship, but he figured that this would never had happened if it wasn't for his meddling father and his mother's incompetence. Eventually he found himself simply rocking his son as he approached Kikyo.

"Hello, Mother."

"Oh dear, are you babying him? He's four years old now, he shouldn't be shedding any tears."

"I will work on it with him in training, Mother."

"Very well, make sure you do." Kikyo then patted Killua's head in an attempt to show her support, but quickly left. She loved that he was the heir of the household, but she could never love him like she loved her own children. He was just... different. But alas, she needed him and needed to be his mother regardless.