AN: Here I go again… starting another story when I'm not supposed to. But I have this huge writers block that I would like to overcome and I think writing this story while it's still fresh in my mind will help. So here we are with the prologue… Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Hunter x Hunter!

P.S. Sorry for any mistakes I may have missed.

Chapter 1: A Promise to Keep

This place doesn't deserve to be underneath the diamond sky. Nothing about this area with it's non-existing lives and trashy plains is worthy for such a beautiful clear night. Anybody living here should be considered lucky to gaze upon it, and try to count the stars that are burning millions of miles away instead of fretting over nothing in this dump of a place they call home.

Meteor City… this is his home.

Home where the forgotten, abandoned, and outcasts come to thrive among the garbage that is their shelters, playground, and thrones for sanity. Home where people have no other choice to live if they run away or if they're merely born here without an option. A junkyard full of diverse people and many personalities. A community that is excluded from the rest of the world.

This is his home, and it has always been his home for as long as he can remember.

Taking a ripped cloth and setting it down a hill top of junk that's easy on his back, a young boy with midnight hair laid on the sheet with a content smile plastered across his lips as he gazed at the starry night. Dressed in tattered clothes and worn shoes, Chrollo couldn't imagine a night any better to reflect on his luck in life.

Crossing his arms behind his head, "They don't know what they're missing." He whispered to himself. Life could be a lot harder for him in a wasteland like this, but it's not. He has his mother, his friends, he has everything he needs now except for the will to leave. Chrollo's fine with the way of life he's leading.

After all, he's just twelve years old… what is there more for him to do other than try to survive?

Continuing star gazing a little longer, the sound of shuffling came from his left side and already he had an idea of who it is. This is their special place where they come at least a couple of times a week at night. Nobody else even bothers showing up.

"Ah! There you are Chrollo, I've been looking all over for you." a young girl exclaimed, struggling in climbing up the hill of trash before finally sitting next to his lying form on the cover. "I haven't seen you all day, so I wasn't sure if we were doing this tonight."

Ignoring what she said as she settled down, he bluntly asked, "Why is one side of your hair short?" Chrollo studied her, ready to ridicule her like he usually did at any given moment now.

"Well, earlier I lost a bet fair and square. So I had to cut off one side of hair and wear it like this for the rest of the day." She answered unashamed, touching the shorter side of her hair that reached a little past her shoulders.

Staring at her as if she's the dumbest person he knows, "You're an idiot."

"Hey!"

"It's true... Why would you make a bet where you would look ridiculous if you lost?"

"That's because I felt confident I would win stupid." She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest out of annoyance. Her mouth cutely puckered into a pout and Chrollo couldn't help but smile at his best friend.

"And look where that confidence got you." he chuckled, reaching then touched the strands of her natural beautiful snowy-white hair. "It's a good thing hair grows back." He lightly commented and watched as a small pink blush dusted her cheeks.

Kira is her name, a girl whose one year older than him and has a heart of gold. Before she had it cut, her hair normally reached the small of her back, creating an illusion that her hair was a snow slope. She also has beautiful light-brown eyes that made her stand out even more in the crowd. And even though she's an unusual girl like her appearance, her personality was enough to capture his attention. Sure they're really good friends, but deep down inside there's a wave of feelings he keeps hidden from her.

For two years now he's had a crush on her, though too shy and embarrassed... he'll never tell her how and what he really thinks of her.

"Chrollo?"

"Huh?"

"What are you thinking about?" her head tilted to the side slightly. "You're giving me that creepy blank stare of yours." Kira giggled, laying down close to her best friend.

"Ehh... it's nothing important." he said brushing her off and turned away to fixate his sight on the stars again. "Do you still plan on leaving Meteor City?"

Quickly answering, "Of course I do! Don't you want to leave this dump?" she took a peek at his impassive expression, landing her sight on his now distant his eyes. "You don't plan on living in this wasteland for the rest of your life do you?"

"I don't know." he answered truthfully. "I don't even know what I would want to do if I ever leave." He said closing his eyes, imagining all the possibilities he could do but came up with none that sufficed. He doesn't have dreams about his future here or anywhere else because can't see himself with one.

"Well, how we figure that out together."

"What do you mean?" He asked, looking back at the girl next to him who had eyes full of determination and life inside.

"You and I can leave… we can figure out what we're born for outside of this place." her smile intoxicatingly brightened and sent his heart in small flutters. "What do you think? Can you promise me that one day we'll leave this place together?"

Too focused on chewing through her words, she caught him by surprise when she held out a pinky to him.

"Promise me we'll be together."

Unconsciously smiling, Chrollo wrapped his pinky around hers firmly.

"I promise."

The two friends shared a sweet smile before letting go pinky's and returning to look at the starry night. They were two people who became best friends in the slumps. Out of the odds, they found happiness with each other despite the sad life they're living.

But little did they know that their lives will lead them in different directions.

One in crime and the other in despair.

AN: I doubt this will be as long as my other HxH fanfic (What Lies Beyond) but it's a start. I've been rewatching Hunter x Hunter and I guess that's why I wanted to finally do a backstory for Chrollo before the Phantom Troupe. I hope it's going to be good and hopefully this prologue somewhat grabbed your attention. Feel free to let me know what you think, comment, ask questions, review, etc. Until next time!

Thatsoneperson