Prologue:
Before the Moon Shines
In the vast sea of human imagination lies an island known as Togashi Yoshihiro Island. Though relatively small, this island has two major theme parks that have attracted million fans like you and me. Toward the East is the older Yu Yu Hakusho Park where the beauty of Kurama and the coolness of Hiei captured the hearts of many fan girls. However, the story that I am about to tell occurs in the newer park in the West --- the land of the "hunters".
* * * 11 April --- 09:00 * * *
Kurapika was sitting by the large French window of his room, listening to the CD his friend Senritsu gave him a week earlier, on his birthday. Considering his rather tragic life that was haunted with the thoughts of revenge for his friends and family, he could never believe those stacks of presents he got from his fans in different parts of the world. A majority of them were from Japan but there were also some from China, the Philippines, Europe, and the Americas. It took him a whole week just to browse through his presents. Taking a break from his "work", he leaned against the window and tilted his head upward, letting some of his elegant, blonde hair dance with the gentle breeze. His large, lovely brown eyes gradually turned crimson red as he caught sight of a spider crawling along the ceiling that was decorated with the scenery of heaven. In less than a second, the once lively body of the spider became motionless. Like an angel with broken wings, it dived from "heaven" and fell straight into "hell", which was really a black waste paper basket. And then, there was nothing but silence again.
* * * 11 April --- 12:00 * * *
Kurapika's quiet and peaceful world was shattered by the sudden uproar of the ringing doorbell. This was followed by the grand entry of man in a black suit, and two cute, younger boys.
"Kurapika, you've got a letter!" the boy in green shouted. He was Gon, an innocent looking boy who could not be much older than 12, with hair pointing straight into the sky.
"A letter? Not another one of those I hope," Kurapika pointed to the pile of fan letters sitting on the table in the center of the room.
"We don't know," the man in the black suit, by the name of Leorio, responded, "there's neither name nor address."
Kurapika took over the sky blue envelope from his friends and carefully opened it. Inside the envelope was a single sheet of paper yellow paper covered with a rather generic form of handwriting and four tickets. The letter read:
Dear Mr. Kurapika
The request I am about to make in this letter may appear to be a little demanding given we are not even acquainted. However, I believe you are the only person in this world who can help me. This is because you share with me the pain of witnessing our family and friends dying in front of our eyes, and in the hands of the Genei Ryodan.
I shall be waiting for you tonight on the 21 o'clock Hunter's Moonlight Express.
Mizuno Hitomi
"What are you going to do, Kurapika?" Gon asked, "Are you planning to go?"
"I cannot forego any information of the Ryodan," Kurapika said.
"But Kurapika, this could be a trap!" Leorio said.
"Even then, it's better than waiting here, clueless" Kurapika answered with a disappointed tone.
"If Kurapika is going," Gon said, "I shall go too!"
"But Gon, this can be very dangerous. You have already helped me several times before, I don't think you should risk your life for me anymore."
"What are you saying, Kurapika? I cannot let you face the whole gang of the Ryodan alone. Besides, I have always wanted to see the famous Moonlight Express that takes us hunters to Yu Yu land. I really wish to get the signature of that Yusuke, whom many people say I'm similar to."
"Gon…," Killua sighed, knowing it's hopeless to stop the enthusiastic boy at this time. Besides, he also wanted to meet the legendary Hiei whom many people said he was a complete look alike.
"I also wanted to meet that Kuwabara in Yu Yu land and beat him up," Leorio said.
"Why?" Gon, Killua, and Kurapika all exclaimed simultaneously.
"Because that fool played the role of an idiot too well! Since many people think I'm like him, now they all overlook my good looks and gentlemanlike manners and treat me like that idiot!"
"But you're really an idiot", Killua silently thought.
"Most important of all," Gon suddenly said in a more serious manner, this Mizuno Hitomi has sent you not one but four tickets, meaning she knows about us. In that case, it is in our interest to know if this is truly an ally or a new enemy.
Upon hearing Gon's words, Kurapika wore a melancholic expression on his face because he did not want to get his friends involved in any more danger for his sake. As if reading Kurapika's mind, Leorio attempted to cheer him up by saying, "Since we've decided, why don't we get ourselves ready? After all, we're going on a trip!"
"That's a good idea! Gon, let's go to town to get ourselves some new clothes!" Killua suggested and the two boys rushed off to town.
"Kurapika, you should get some rest too, we have a long journey ahead!" Leorio said gently and Kurapika nodded.
In a far away place, not known by Gon and his friends, a girl is watching. As if speaking to herself, she wickedly murmured: "Good luck to you, Kurapika, and your friends. May I wish you a pleasant trip to Yu Yu land, that is if you can survive the Moonlight Express"!
Before the Moon Shines
In the vast sea of human imagination lies an island known as Togashi Yoshihiro Island. Though relatively small, this island has two major theme parks that have attracted million fans like you and me. Toward the East is the older Yu Yu Hakusho Park where the beauty of Kurama and the coolness of Hiei captured the hearts of many fan girls. However, the story that I am about to tell occurs in the newer park in the West --- the land of the "hunters".
* * * 11 April --- 09:00 * * *
Kurapika was sitting by the large French window of his room, listening to the CD his friend Senritsu gave him a week earlier, on his birthday. Considering his rather tragic life that was haunted with the thoughts of revenge for his friends and family, he could never believe those stacks of presents he got from his fans in different parts of the world. A majority of them were from Japan but there were also some from China, the Philippines, Europe, and the Americas. It took him a whole week just to browse through his presents. Taking a break from his "work", he leaned against the window and tilted his head upward, letting some of his elegant, blonde hair dance with the gentle breeze. His large, lovely brown eyes gradually turned crimson red as he caught sight of a spider crawling along the ceiling that was decorated with the scenery of heaven. In less than a second, the once lively body of the spider became motionless. Like an angel with broken wings, it dived from "heaven" and fell straight into "hell", which was really a black waste paper basket. And then, there was nothing but silence again.
* * * 11 April --- 12:00 * * *
Kurapika's quiet and peaceful world was shattered by the sudden uproar of the ringing doorbell. This was followed by the grand entry of man in a black suit, and two cute, younger boys.
"Kurapika, you've got a letter!" the boy in green shouted. He was Gon, an innocent looking boy who could not be much older than 12, with hair pointing straight into the sky.
"A letter? Not another one of those I hope," Kurapika pointed to the pile of fan letters sitting on the table in the center of the room.
"We don't know," the man in the black suit, by the name of Leorio, responded, "there's neither name nor address."
Kurapika took over the sky blue envelope from his friends and carefully opened it. Inside the envelope was a single sheet of paper yellow paper covered with a rather generic form of handwriting and four tickets. The letter read:
Dear Mr. Kurapika
The request I am about to make in this letter may appear to be a little demanding given we are not even acquainted. However, I believe you are the only person in this world who can help me. This is because you share with me the pain of witnessing our family and friends dying in front of our eyes, and in the hands of the Genei Ryodan.
I shall be waiting for you tonight on the 21 o'clock Hunter's Moonlight Express.
Mizuno Hitomi
"What are you going to do, Kurapika?" Gon asked, "Are you planning to go?"
"I cannot forego any information of the Ryodan," Kurapika said.
"But Kurapika, this could be a trap!" Leorio said.
"Even then, it's better than waiting here, clueless" Kurapika answered with a disappointed tone.
"If Kurapika is going," Gon said, "I shall go too!"
"But Gon, this can be very dangerous. You have already helped me several times before, I don't think you should risk your life for me anymore."
"What are you saying, Kurapika? I cannot let you face the whole gang of the Ryodan alone. Besides, I have always wanted to see the famous Moonlight Express that takes us hunters to Yu Yu land. I really wish to get the signature of that Yusuke, whom many people say I'm similar to."
"Gon…," Killua sighed, knowing it's hopeless to stop the enthusiastic boy at this time. Besides, he also wanted to meet the legendary Hiei whom many people said he was a complete look alike.
"I also wanted to meet that Kuwabara in Yu Yu land and beat him up," Leorio said.
"Why?" Gon, Killua, and Kurapika all exclaimed simultaneously.
"Because that fool played the role of an idiot too well! Since many people think I'm like him, now they all overlook my good looks and gentlemanlike manners and treat me like that idiot!"
"But you're really an idiot", Killua silently thought.
"Most important of all," Gon suddenly said in a more serious manner, this Mizuno Hitomi has sent you not one but four tickets, meaning she knows about us. In that case, it is in our interest to know if this is truly an ally or a new enemy.
Upon hearing Gon's words, Kurapika wore a melancholic expression on his face because he did not want to get his friends involved in any more danger for his sake. As if reading Kurapika's mind, Leorio attempted to cheer him up by saying, "Since we've decided, why don't we get ourselves ready? After all, we're going on a trip!"
"That's a good idea! Gon, let's go to town to get ourselves some new clothes!" Killua suggested and the two boys rushed off to town.
"Kurapika, you should get some rest too, we have a long journey ahead!" Leorio said gently and Kurapika nodded.
In a far away place, not known by Gon and his friends, a girl is watching. As if speaking to herself, she wickedly murmured: "Good luck to you, Kurapika, and your friends. May I wish you a pleasant trip to Yu Yu land, that is if you can survive the Moonlight Express"!