A/N:Inspired by A Hundred Days Hence by Yukitsu. I think that it should have been a full story, which is why I felt so compelled to write this. I'm not trying to copy his/her story. I just like the premise.

I'll try and keep their appearances series neutral. Like avoiding Neon's hair color, Kurapika's eyes and the like. I personally prefer the 1999 version.

Stomping Ground

Chapter 1

Kurapika looked on with indifferent eyes as he was shaken by his collar. The man in front of him, barely an inch apart, yelled in desperation.

This had become a normal occurrence ever since the Phantom Troupe incident. Annoying, but he put up with it.

"You've got to help me! Please! Do something!" the man, Light Nostrade, hollered.

Kurapika resisted an exasperated sigh.

The man was broken to the point where Kurapika served as more of a psychologist and mafia head himself. One moment Light would have his head in his hands, sweating, muttering, and cursing. He'd tell Kurapika to help him handle something, which the boy did. The next he'd be near screaming, tossing papers, and telling Kurapika to shut up and stay out of his way.

Had it not been for the potential to retrieve the lost eyes of his clan, Kurapika would have left a long time ago.

Forcing down his bubbling impatience, Kurapika said as gently as possible, "You don't need to worry. I'll make the necessary phone calls immediately. You should rest sir, the doctor instructed you to keep your blood pressure at a low."

The doctor had to be cut shortly after that. Light Nostrade was scrapping the bottom of his figurative barrel for every jenny he could get. Servants, police protection, all of the cannon fodder guards, and others were left to work for someone else. Light got rid of them in a frenzy, not thinking of his own actions until they caught up to him.

Neon had nearly been shot.

If it hadn't been for Kurapika's personal interference, the Neon Nostrade would have been brought down by a sniper. Melody had located the would be assassin and gotten rid of him, but the fact that anyone dared to approach was sign enough that things were truly going under.

Melody had become Neon's head nurse in a sense. Day after day, Neon would idly twirl a pen and try to see if her ability would come back to her. The pen would usually drop from her reddened fingers. Melody often had to remind her to do basic things like eat, or she would play something on her flute to calm the girl into sleep.

The only thing aside from Melody's music that would cheer Neon up would be shopping. And even that was cut short. Not used to having a limited budget, there would be times when she'd plain not want to go.

Basho fared slightly better than the overworked body guards. He'd sometimes assist Kurapika when making business deals or managing finances. Granted, Kurapika knew a bit about the underground world, but Basho was second best next to Light himself. There was no way Kurapika would ask Light for anything himself.

The other remaining staff tried their best to stay out of the way. Even coming into Light's line of vision could lead to being fired.

Evening fell sooner than Kurapika had liked as he rubbed his reddening eyes, though not from emotional strain. He needed to remove his contacts before returning to the glowing laptop before him. It didn't take much to get Light sedated to the point where he practically let Kurapika run everything. As long as he did a good job, Light would remember it and let him go back to his business, usually disappearing into his personal quarters until his next breakdown.

Cool water felt relaxing against Kurapika's face as he splashed himself a few times in the bathroom sink. Looking at his eyes, he noted the prominent veins going back to their more natural state. After the incident with Zenji, Basho had been next in line to see Kurapika's true eyes. The other never mentioned it again, understanding, and not wanting to interfere.

Once Light Nostrade drank himself to sleep, Kurapika allowed himself to relax, do a helluva lot more than his job paid for, and get rest himself.

1:00am-5:30am. That was when Kurapika slept. Kurapika's young body, still growing, needed better sleep. The flickering shadows and things that just weren't there were getting harder to ignore. As much as it worried Melody when he'd stare at a particular corner for half a second longer, thinking it was some obscure figure, he couldn't give in. His clan's eyes were on the line.

A drug dependency happened because of that.

Substance abuse wasn't exactly what Kurapika was aiming for, but the caffeine pills did wonders when he was too tired to think. Though ordinary pills began to wear off too fast, Kurapika managed to order a special brand used by soldiers that lasted twice as long.

"Your heartbeat isn't normal. You need to rest, at least 7 hours this time." Melody advised, Kurapika didn't listen.

So there he was, typing away in the smaller of the manor's few studies. The issue of bills had to be taken care of tonight. Such was the problem when living in luxury. Water bills because of fountains as well as excessive chandeliers still ran up higher than some people paid for a car. Kurapika didn't relent and kept going.

By the time 1:30am came along, Kurapika was ready to drop on the spot. After making it to his own personal quarters, he was asleep before he could even get in bed, tripping over something or other, and happily falling onto the soft cushions of the sofa across from his bed.

Morning came all too fast as his extra loud alarm blared in his ears. He had to shower, change, get ready for Light's fumbling, take care of business, and look for more leads on the scarlet eyes.

Before he could get up, a small hand pushed him back down.

Looking up, he saw it was Melody.

"Kurapika. I could hear the unsteadiness of your heartbeat. You need to rest. Mr. Nostrade won't be up for awhile anyway."

With a bit of force, Kurapika stood anyway.

"I told you don't get too worried. I can handle myself. I've had plenty of sleepless nights to deal with."

Melody frowned and placed herself in front of him. "No Kurapika. Those pills aren't helping. Your mind needs rest. And how do you expect to get anything done when you're hallucinating and running yourself ragged. Have you even properly looked in a mirror!?"

The boy sighed, then yawned. "I can handle it. You're over reacting, now just go back to your post. I'm sure Neon will need you sooner or later."

As much as Melody wanted to interfere, she held her tongue and left. Without a moments delay, Kurapika set to move as well.

Scalding hot water reddened his skin but woke him up all the same soon after. Knowing the bit of awareness wouldn't last long, Kurapika placed in his contacts and swallowed a pair of his caffeine pills, appreciating how the dregs of sleep left his body for the time being.

When the steam cleared, Kurapika really did look at his reflection.

His skin looked a bit too pale, dark circles graced his eyes, and even his hair flopped a bit. Oh well, appearances didn't matter when you spent most of your day behind a computer screen or patrolling a house. As long as he could fight, he'd be fine.

As he exited his room, he caught sight of Linssen, the usually silent but efficient body guard that accompanied him in York New. The man was in charge of general guard duty at night while Kurapika slept. Due to the significant lack of men protecting the place, shifts were longer. Kurapika wished he could have convinced Light to think before he acted, but when dealing with an unstable old man whose job and mission depended on, one had to know when to be silent. But Kurapika had the feeling that the man wouldn't kick him aside so easily. He made an impression, and proved to be trustworthy through and through.

Linssen nodded his head respectively and continued on his way, finishing his last hour of patrolling and then to bed. Kurapika didn't respond, making his own way to Light's quarters and await the inevitable shouting. Though since the man probably wouldn't be up for awhile, as Melody stated, Kurapika chose to return to the study and find anything new about the scarlet eyes.

It was almost funny how the even the mafia were so in tuned with the web. Even as going as far as ordering hits through online games. No, it was a bit funny, Kurapika just didn't have the energy to laugh.

The sun was beginning to rise, and it was time for a patrol around the area. Security had more holes than needed and the blonde feared people like the Zoaldyks would interfere. He didn't doubt Killua could kill him if he wanted to, so going against the boy's father or any of those he had met wasn't in his best interest.

No new leads today. The boy sighed.

At this slug's pace he wouldn't get anywhere. He'd just have to try again tonight. For now he had to mentally prepare himself for Light's ranting or Neon's pouting. The teen girl was easier to deal with, though it still wasn't pleasant. A girl her age, close to Kurapika's own, upset and confused didn't bode well. It wasn't uncommon for employers to gain more intimate interests with their subordinates, but it was something Kurapika chose to stay away from as far as possible.

Her advances didn't go unnoticed, yet Kurapika was clueless as to what to do about them. She wasn't like Baise, a grown woman who Kurapika had no problem shutting down. One wrong word and she could throw a fit. It was like walking on eggshells which were atop thin ice.

A knock from the door sounded in the small room.

"Kurapika? It's me." Melody said.

"Come in."

The short woman entered quietly and closed the door behind her.

"Yes?" Kurapika prompted.

Melody looked up then to the floor. "It's Neon. I'm worried about her mental state."

Kurapika scoffed. "Yeah? And I'm worried about the sanity of everyone."

Sighing, Melody continued.

"Yes. However, she's been getting desperate. I doubt she's even seen Mr. Nostrade ever since they got back. You know what their relationship is like. Without a way to get her nen back, she may very well be discarded like one of the other employees."

"Hmm. I don't doubt it. She's been acting as frantic as Mr. Nostrade at times. If she runs away, who knows what could happen."

Melody nodded. "Mr. Nostrade's drinking has gotten worse. I can hear him in the morning sometimes. It's sad. We need to act fast before either of them falls apart. My music can calm the girl, but that's about it. She talks about you, you know."

Kurapika groaned and rested his head in a palm.

"I'm not doubting that as well. She's at a troublesome age."

"Oh?" Melody giggled. "You sound like an older parent, not a teen yourself."

Said teen cast her a sideways glance. "I don't let petty things get in my way. You know why we're both here. Coaxing teen girls wasn't in our job description."

"Right… well I suppose we just have to act faster."

Kurapika looked back to the monitor.

"Yeah, only, I just don't like doing these kinds of things. I said I'd gain their trust, but I don't feel right buying drug houses or brothels. It's immoral, and sick."

Melody clasped her hands and gave her best comforting smile. "I know, but at this point you're the only one Mr. Nostrade really trusts. Had you not been here, things would have ended for everyone back in York New."

Leaning back, the blonde closed the computer and ran a hand through his hair.

"You're right. Though it still doesn't mean I have to like it."