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page twenty two

the zoldyck estate stretches out impossibly far, its size almost overwhelming. illumi had casually offered to give you a tour, to help you get acquainted with the place, but you can’t see why it matters. this is probably the only time you’ll ever step foot here.

the estate glows in a way that seems to swallow the surrounding darkness, but you’re not even curious enough to question it. you're too distracted by the sheer number of butlers wandering around. it makes sense, given the estate's size, but it still feels excessive. it's almost like the mansion itself requires an army of staff just to function.

what stands out to you most, though, is the household killua grew up in. it’s clear now how this place shaped him his struggle to break free, the way he desires to escape the invisible chains that bind him. you can see how hard he fights to get away from the suffocating weight of his family. you admire his determination.

but even the strongest can't stand alone forever. there’s an old saying: no man is an island. killua has the strength to leave, but what he lacks is someone to help him through it. he needs more than just courage he needs someone who believes in him. someone to offer moral support, to help him push through the toughest moments. and that’s where gon comes in. he’s exactly what killua needs, the anchor that will keep him grounded as he fights for his freedom.

as for you, you’ll be there to guide them, not down the path of perfect eternity, but onto one where both of your sons can grow. 

you’ll savor every second with them, knowing all too well that this time with them is fleeting. soon, you'll have to return to where you truly belong, when you can no longer fulfill the role of their mother. your duty as an archon, as inazuma's protector, calls you back. 

and both of these responsibilities, motherhood and your duty as an archon, have intertwined in ways you never anticipated, a love so deep it took you by surprise. but there’s no regret. if regret were to come, it will be because you’ve failed, not because they did. 

perhaps this is the price a god must pay for love, the sacrifice that comes with caring for those you cherish.

"penny for your thoughts?" 

you shifted your gaze from the garden view to the old man beside you. his white hair and mustache contrasted against the deep blue of his attire, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. his posture was straight, composed, just like his expression. 

"illumi has never brought someone over before. i'm surprised the first would be a woman." his voice was even though the sign of old age is there, his eyes fixed ahead. 

you hummed in acknowledgment, turning your gaze forward as well. illumi had been leading you to his quarters when a butler appeared, informing him that his father was expecting him. you caught the brief flicker of hesitation in his usually unreadable eyes before he walked away. 

"he never did till now because he has no friends," you replied, tone calm yet pointed. "did he not want one, or did you instill in him the ideology that he doesn't need one?" 

you weren't naïve. the old man beside you was undoubtedly a zoldyck, but unlike the others, he lacked the overwhelming, suffocating presence they carried.

"sometimes, we must resort to solutions not everyone approves of in order to protect what we value. whether you fail or succeed, you'll never know unless you try. failure is a lesson, a reminder of what not to do next time. success is also a lesson, and all that remains is to improve upon it."

how could you not understand that? you had been in the same situation before. you had seen that tale unfold, only that time, you were the antihero. 

pursuing eternity with the wrong method. resorting to cruelty, not out of malice, but because all you ever wanted was to shield your people from the threats that loomed over their fragile existence. 

maybe this old man had a point. maybe there was a lesson to be learned in his words. but even so, both situations were different. just because it worked on them, and on illumi, did not mean it would work on killua.

"zeno zoldyck. i heard from kikyo that you're illumi's wife-to-be. well, having kikyo as a mother-in-law could be challenging." he finally introduced himself, and you caught the subtle trace of humor in his voice. 

"there's no challenge i haven't conquered," you replied, maintaining your usual tone but adding a slight lilt to match his humor. 

"raiden y/n. you said one must try to see the result. but how do you find error in your actions when there's no one to point it out? when you don't have the ears for it?" a long silence settled between you two, though you hadn't expected an answer in the first place. 

then, with a small chuckle, he said, "i like you, y/n. i hope it won't be long until i welcome you to the family." with that, he turned and walked away, his presence lingering even as he disappeared from view. 

you stared after him before sighing. 

"oh. i forgot to tell him i'm not actually marrying illumi," you deadpanned.

time passed in a blur. illumi never returned, and soon, you heard he had been sent on a mission. not that it particularly bothered you—his absence meant little when you were already left to deal with his family on your own. 

surprisingly, the zoldycks had been rather hospitable. they provided you with a room to stay in and meals to eat. yet, despite their civility, your patience wore thinner by the second. 

the only thing stopping you from storming through the estate to find killua yourself was the decency not to cause a scene in someone else's home. 

and perhaps, the lingering thought that this was still killua’s biological family. you didn’t know if he had truly severed ties with them—or if, deep down, some part of him still considered this place home.

you didn’t want to act rashly and risk hurting killua, physically, mentally, or emotionally, in the process. 

so, you refused to leave your bedroom, making it clear that you wouldn’t move unless they finally took you to him. the butlers tended to your needs, as expected of someone believed to be illumi’s fiancée. you didn’t accept the title, but you weren’t above using it to your advantage. 

a knock on the door pulled you from your meditation. from where you sat suspended in the air, your heels touched the ground soundlessly as you rose and walked toward the door. when you opened it, you were met with zeno’s familiar face. 

"i hope you aren’t busy for this," he said, his voice calm yet carrying an unmistakable weight. "i'll take you to see killua." 

— 

outside the estate, three boys had made it past the testing gates. but their journey wasn’t over yet. 

now, they faced another obstacle—the young butler assigned to killua. 

with a steady grip on her cane, she dragged it through the dirt, drawing a clear line between them and the path ahead. her gaze was cold, unwavering. 

"if you step beyond this line, it will be considered trespassing," she warned, voice devoid of emotion. 

gon, kurapika, and leorio exchanged glances. they had come this far. backing down wasn’t an option.

—

the moment zeno pushed the door open, your eyes landed on killua—chained, bloodied, and covered in bruises. 

electricity crackled in the air, tension thickening like an impending storm. outside, the sky darkened, clouds gathering ominously as if mirroring your growing fury. 

but before you could react, a familiar voice cut through the charged atmosphere. 

"mama?!" killua’s enthusiastic call snapped you out of your trance. your gaze softened slightly as you refocused on him, but the storm inside you didn’t wane. 

zeno stood silently at the side, raising a brow at what killua had just called you. he didn’t comment, merely watching the scene unfold with keen interest. 

"wait, who’s this lady?" another voice chimed in. 

your gaze shifted to the side, landing on a much larger child, not tall, but round in proportion. black hair, dark eyes, similar to illumi. you could guess who he was. one of the brothers.

"milluki, show some respect. this is raiden y/n, illumi’s w—" before zeno could finish, you cleared your throat, cutting him off. 

"could you leave us for a moment? i want to talk to him." milluki furrowed his brows, clearly about to protest, but before he could open his mouth, zeno shot him a look. 

"very well. i'll see you two later." zeno turned on his heel, leaving without argument. milluki, however, clicked his tongue in irritation, muttering about how zeno was favoring killua too much as he stomped after him. 

just as they reached the doorway, zeno paused. 

"killua, your father is expecting you to meet him." then, he left. 

you let out a silent sigh before stepping forward, eyes tracing over every wound and bruise on killua’s small frame. 

"don’t worry, mama, i’m fine." you watched as he effortlessly pulled himself free from the cuffs. your fingers twitched at your sides, the searing anger inside you barely contained. but his casual assurance seemed to ease something within you, if only slightly. 

"i can’t believe you’re here. how did you even make it in?" his tone was far too casual, as if he hadn’t just been tortured. as if none of this fazed him. 

"that’s not important," you murmured, lowering yourself to his level. "let’s tend to your wounds first." 

hesitation flickered through your movements. you wanted to reach out, but you held back, afraid of causing him more pain. 

killua only grinned. "yeah. but really, this is nothing."

"could you wait here, mama? i'll just go and talk to dad. i'll be quick." you nodded, reaching out to pat killua’s head. he pouted, turning away with a slight huff. amused, you chuckled and motioned for him to go. 

minutes after he left, the door swung open, revealing kikyo zoldyck storming in, her dramatic entrance almost comical. kalluto trailed behind her in complete silence, his dark eyes fixed on you. 

kikyo was panting as if she had run across the entire estate. "where's my son?!" she screeched, her voice shrill with panic. 

your gaze flickered to the now-empty cuffs behind you before returning to her. "you seem rather unhappy that he's finally free from torture. i wonder why." 

crossing your arms, you met her furious glare without flinching. 

"you understand nothing about this family, nor will you ever!" kikyo spat, the red dot on her electronic visor flashing ominously. "i can't believe illumi wants to marry someone like you." 

your expression remained unreadable. "you can keep the name. i don’t want it. but i will be taking killua." 

kikyo straightened slightly, regaining a fraction of her composure. "you won’t leave this mountain alive, then." 

your lips pressed into a thin line. you had no desire to fight killua’s biological mother, not because she intimidated you, but because you weren’t sure how it would affect killua emotionally. if harming her made him resent you, you wouldn’t allow that possibility. 

"i don’t know what you want from my sons," kikyo sneered, her voice laced with venom, "but i will never allow it. leave while you still can. this will be the last time you ever see illumi and killua." 

she turned on her heel, ready to leave with kalluto. 

but before she could take another step, the sharp press of a blade against her throat stopped her in place. 

kalluto gasped, immediately shifting into a defensive stance, but he did not attack—not yet. 

"what if i told you," you murmured, your tone dangerously calm, "this would also be the last time you’d be breathing?" 

kikyo dramatically gasped, stumbling back before suddenly dropping to her knees. you frowned. you hadn’t even done anything yet. 

"oh, illumi…" she sobbed, her voice trembling. yet, not a single tear fell. 

you scoffed, twirling your polearm before letting it vanish into thin air. kalluto, who had been watching intently, seemed momentarily awestruck. 

then, as if on cue, kikyo straightened, clasping her hands together as she beamed. 

"i was wrong!" she exclaimed, her tone now completely different. "illumi, my son, you’ve chosen a wonderful bride!"

    ┌ ╌ ╌ ╌ ╌  ㅤ °ㅤㅤ 𝒪𝒪.   .ㅤ     ╭◜

      *       ㅤ            ㅤ                              ╎
ㅤ         ㅤ           to be continuedㅤ       ❀

a/n : kind of rushed this one since i just wanted to give you all something before i go on hiatus for a week or two. midterms are coming up next week, so i'll be focusing on that for now.

raiden ei fanart by @thearyvki on x.