(A/N) Decided it was about time I did a multi-chapter for this pairing. It's sort of a what-if fic that I cooked up one sleepless night. So if you enjoy the pairing, please enjoy this fic. *bows* Featured characters include but are not limited to Kurapika, Melody, Hisoka, Chrollo and Leorio. No Gon, and no Killua. I love them, but they hog the spotlight often enough. ;)

Two of my previous KuraxMelody oneshots, "How I Was" and "How She Was," are indirectly referenced in this fic. I'd love it if you'd hop over and take a look-see at those, but it's by no means necessary. ^^

This story is dedicated to Bai-Feng333 who's done some awesome KuraxSen fanart as XRed-EyeX on DeviantArt! Everybody should head on over there and check it out!

My plan is to get this updated almost daily. It'll be about five or six chapters. Also, this first chapter is a rather boring intro. I apologize.

I do not own Hunter x Hunter or any characters featured here. Just this wacky what-if idea. And some plotbunnies. So many plotbunnies...

… … …

Of course it had entered my mind. I knew the wonders of nen, so of course it had crossed my mind. Gon had told me about Greed Island, and about Angel's Breath and other such miracles, so of course it had crossed my mind.

However, I had never thought it might come into reach.

And so, I had never stopped to consider what it might cost.

… … …

Melody smiled knowingly over at me as I tried in vain to keep my frustration from boiling over. I was not easily angered; I could put up with a lot, if I could keep my goal in sight. However, there were limits to even Kami's patience, and I was by no means on par with Kami.

"What do you think, Kura-chan?" the girl chirped, holding up two nearly-identical dresses. "Which one do you like better?"

I dragged in some air through gritted teeth. "Ne… on…" At the last minute, I let out the pent up breath, forcing my anger out. "Neon-sama, get them both."

"Oh, goody!" my boss squeaked. "That's exactly what I was thinking!"

As the girl pranced back to her girlfriends, Melody shot me a thumbs up with a humorously serious face, and I smiled ruefully back. I supposed that I should be grateful that my problems, in that moment, were so small; such moments of petty frustrations were rare in such tormented lives as ours. As though she could read my thoughts, the woman I called a friend slipped up to my side, her hand coming to rest against mine.

Perhaps it was horrid of me, but the sight of her always made me feel grateful for my own lot. While I tried to regain the eyes of my clan, Melody had already lost everything, even her own body. And she couldn't regain that; all she could do was strive to make sure it didn't happen to anyone else.

"You're looking tired," she said critically, though not unkindly. I was about to object, but a yawn interrupted me. The small woman laughed aloud, and I narrowed my eyes in mock annoyance.

"No need to point it out," I said. "I'm trying to ignore it."

"We'll handle things here, if you want to head home," she offered, but I shook my head.

"I wouldn't wish this one Chrollo," I said, although I'd wish Hell on that man. "I'll stick it out with you."

… … …

We were halfway back to the Nostrade mansion when they attacked. Melody, as always, gave the first warning; there were six of them, surrounding the car. Basho stepped on the gas, our objective not to fight the attackers but to keep our charge safe; in the backseat, Melody and I pressed into the startled Neon to keep her in her seat.

"They're keeping up," the girl whispered, and I nodded tersely.

"Yes." Poking my head into the front seat, I called briskly, "Basho! Keep on course! I'll deal with our tail!"

"What are you talking about?" Melody, reaching around Neon to grasp my shoulder, demanded. "We'll deal with the tail, Kurapika, we will!"

"You'll stay here!" I insisted. "Look after Neon!" And with that I had unhooked my seatbelt and wrenched my door open.

The wind nearly took me as the car zipped by at nearly 60mph, but I leaped out gracefully, rolling across the asphalt and springing up between roaring vehicles. As Basho and Neon sped off, however, I made out the small woman on the other side of the street.

"Melody!" I called, trying to decide whether I was more touched or angry. "Melody, what are you doing?"

"I won't sit by!" she called back, straightening. "I'm with you, Kurapika!"

A shadow flickered in the corner of my vision, and I spun on the balls of my feet. Melody, too, sprang to the side of the road, and I followed somewhat reluctantly, chains rattling as I whipped up my Dousing Chain.

"Six. One with a sword, the rest with guns," Melody informed me shortly, and I nodded, suddenly glad she had insisted on coming along. I couldn't make out more than the six shadows flitting about, bouncing about over the buildings and cars. I blocked three bullets, kept two more from finding the girl beside me.

We have to get them to a secluded location, I thought. Melody, almost as though she had heard my though, took off, and I followed on silent feet. It wasn't half a minute, though, before she skidded to a halt, startling me, a heartbeat before the street burst up under our feet.

"Kuso…!" I spat, suddenly less pleased that she had insisted on coming along. Lurching forward, I caught hold of her shoulders, dragging her back onto more solid ground. She muttered a breathless thanks, and then we were back to back, surrounded by the shadowy shapes. I felt Melody, pressed into me, stiffen suddenly, and blinked. "What?"

"They… don't have heartbeats…" she said slowly, and then shivered. "They don't have heartbeats."

"You didn't hear them earlier?" I demanded, sure that she would have mentioned such an important matter before now. "You were listening to them earlier, were you not?"

"No, I wasn't!" she snapped. "I thought I was, but someone's transmitting the sound of six heartbeats! I can still hear it!"

That brought me up short. "Transmitting?"

"So that I didn't notice," she said briefly, and we both watched in stunned silence as our supposed attackers melted into little more than fog.

And then the ground gave out.

"Melody!" I called sharply, momentarily unable to pinpoint her. And then I did; it made my whole body go ridged, my lungs too stiff to draw breath.

For Chrollo Lucifer stood, upon a piece of debris, with the unconscious girl in his arms.

Of course he was there; I had felt him break the chains I had confined him with, and had known that he would show up sooner or later. But somehow the matter of the Spider's Head had slipped into the back of my mind, to be dealt with at a time I myself kept pushing back. But there he was, and I could no longer shove him, consciously or unconsciously, from my mind.

I was faced, in that instant, with a choice: 1) I could leap up to safety; I still wasn't too far from the surface of the road to make it, and that would simply sidestep the whole matter. 2) I could strike out at Chrollo Lucifer, who, with his hands full, would be unable to open his book and use nen, and likely hit him. Then, of course, I would risk hitting Melody. 3) I could pursue them, with my main objective being the retrieval my fellow bodyguard.

It took me a shockingly short moment to settle on the latter. There was, in fact, no debate whatsoever.

It wasn't hard for me to track Chrollo back to the Spider's Lair, where it lay beneath the city. Hewn into the rock itself, the structure looked impenetrable; it took me nearly half an hour to find my method of entry, an air duct barely as wide as my shoulders. Cursing at the cliché and indignity of it all, I removed the grate and squirmed inside, biting my lip to avoid grunting with the effort.

By the Eyes, I hope this widens, I thought, grimacing. If it narrows, I might well get stuck. Wouldn't that be fun? But the vent did, eventually, widen, and I could at least come comfortably to my hands and knees. Now… It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but it wasn't pitch dark inside the vents. Looking around, I found only monotonous metal walls. How exactly do I expect to find Melody…? I realized, too late, that I had not thought things through, an unusual occurrence for me. I was… in too much of a rush… to go after her…?

No! I snapped at myself angrily, clenching my fists. I was in too much of a hurry to go after him, to go after Chrollo. Melody… was an unfortunate coincidence. Crawling further into the tunnels, I considered pulling out my Dousing Chain to search for her. For him, I corrected myself, and then scowled. If I pulled out my chains to search for either of them, the Spiders might well detect me without my zetsu, and then I wouldn't be finding either of my targets.

The first one I find, I decided suddenly. I'll make the first one I find my priority. If I find Melody… or Chrollo. And that will be that. Foolishly satisfied with what I thought to be a compromise, I set off through the pipes, little more than a silent rat crawling about in the killers' den.

(A/N) The stage is set… What drama do I have in store for you, my lucky readers? Later chapters are more exciting, I promise. -_- Please, please review! It means the world to me!