3.5.15


Part I

"Pursuit."

Arc 1

"Prophetic Quatrains."


'Once in a plight,

where Mystical Beasts and captivating superstition existed alongside,

a particular little boy and a particular little girl met in a very particular little way, and set alight.'


001. Arise

Melody, the stocky lady with no eyebrows, has a sharp instinct that worries me. She was hired along with Kurapika and the rest of the new bodyguards and yet she had me, I who was hired months ago, figured out from square one.

There was one reason my boss needed a new team of bodyguards. He needed people who'd risk their lives and travel to another continent protecting their hirer's spoiled flesh-collecting daughter without his current bodyguards leaving the Mansion… considering that they themselves had something to protect for a period of time, something of value, something of great import, something dangerous. They had to stay behind thus was born the current circumstance.

Of course, Melody didn't know me only after she got back from Yorkshin yesterday. I on the other hand knew each and every one of them. Months of tailing paid off, I suppose.

I fidgeted in my stance, looking around. The Nostrade family's Mansion was surreal and nightmarish in a sense but so was my juvenescence. One floor was entirely for Neon and I presumed it would be finely decorated with her body part collection. That, I couldn't wait to see when I get the chance. But the object of me standing, impotently waiting in a room among all these Hunters in the Mansion was because of a particular eighteen-years-old boy.

Melody stood right next to the boy in question. She was the latest person he befriended. A few people managed to butt into his icy heart and I swore upon myself to be next.

He left her side and I made my move.

She was easy to approach and talk to; unlike Mr. I'm too badass and complicated for you. She was welcoming, so kind to me, even when she sensed my intentions. She knew why I was trying to get close to her, to get him. But she sensed something else that was way deep down I couldn't sense myself.

"How long have you known Kurapika?" I asked.

"We met the day we applied for the job, here in the Mansion."

"He seems hard to approach," I waited for something, an advice perhaps.

"He just has a lot on his mind," and yet he managed to make four new friends this year, I thought to myself.

And I'm going to be the fifth and final one.

I stared at the cold and distant boy, counting the milliseconds before he starts recognizing me.

I made quite a first impression when we first met a while ago…

He just parted with his friends just close by near the Kukuroo Mountain, the Zoldycks' colossal property, and I followed him. He hasn't gotten the chance to learn Nen yet and I was in the midst of perfecting my Hatsu. Of course, tailing him wasn't particularly difficult when the opposing side is a non-Nen user. And yet I had to be extra careful from the one-ear pierced boy.

He headed somewhere and I slowly pursued him. He reached an empty town where paper bags were its only residents. A sign read with letters I could not comprehend. I stood a few meters behind him, "Excuse me Sir," Kurapika turned to face me, the anonymous speaker, "Are you a resident here? Do you know where's everyone?"

"No. I just got here." His soothing tone paralleling the wind.

"Damn it, this is a deserted town,"

"It's not, it was recently abandoned,"

"How do I know?" I squinted against the sunlight and a created a headgear made out of my fingers to shadow my face.

"I looked it up before I came here," He looked up to the sign, "Yesterday Town."

"What language is that?"

"Pirttish,"

"Oh. I've only been taught the Global Language."

He didn't say anything and started walking away; didn't even bother to say goodbye, "W-wait, where are you going?"

"Away," I pouted at his back.

"Can I keep you company?"

"I don't necessarily mind, but don't expect me to help you if you're only going to hold me back."

I grabbed an apple from my brown backpack and took a bite, "You needn't worry about that."

We reached the outskirts and I asked, "How many languages do you know?"

He hesitated, "Five."

"Suu-ggeh! I only know one, the Global—"

"You said that already," he almost sighed but decided he didn't want to seem rude at the last minute.

"Oh." I smiled to myself wondering if my fake naïveness agitated him.

"I'm Nina, by the way."

"Kurapika."

"Nice to meet you, K-kun."

"It's Kurapi—"

"Interesting attire you're wearing,"

"Thanks."

I decided it was time to shake things up, "You're a Kurta…" he turned his head to me the exact moment I uttered Kurta, before I finished my sentence even, "…right?"

His eyes shifted. "How did—"

"Look! The woods. My destination is just a few miles away."

A breeze whiffed on by and my naked shoulder skin goose bumped.

I gazed up to the sky and spotted a few birds flying, fluttering their wings beyond the bushiness of the trees' branches. There was something off.

Kurapika spoke, "Look, Nina, is it? I have to go somewhere. I would be very grateful if you—"

"Shh." I raised my hand gesturing, "there's someone –no, not just one."

Something came out of the bushes and suddenly we were surrounded by a wild pack of hungry farmers! Old residents of the town it seems. The humans resembling wolves came at us.

"Stand back." I said to Kurapika and his face read 'excuse me?' all over it.

Naturally, I kicked the living out of them without having to use my Nen. Then turned to Kurapika who seemed he just got hit by lightning and said, "I'm a Culture Hunter, you can say cultures are my thing," with all bits of pride in me.

It was a simple encounter. He may not remember me for some time but it was not possible he'd forget me perpetually.

I created a chance for us to meet and walla! He now knows my name and I know his, officially at least. And a while from now we shall meet again. Secured plan. Everything's peachy.

But unexpected things happened and time shall tell for it's the only revealer.


A butler asked us to follow him, to take us to the room where Xavier-san awaited. We left the front room, walking in the hallway in groups. I perused the boy from afar.

The eleven bodyguards—Hunters—came inside where X-san was and I was the twelfth to.

Months ago I grasped the last opportunity to get hired to be a part of the old team of bodyguards; I was dead last.

Xavier-san, our boss, was sitting in a fat armchair. He welcomed us.

The old bodyguards stood together with the newbies: Basho, Melody and Kurapika. The Mansion's staff stood at the back near the doors and silence fell upon us. The room's atmosphere was heavy and burdened. The bodyguards, the staff, the entirety of people in the room were expecting bad news and after what happened in Yorkshin, they should, the vibes were not quite energetic.

Huh! He still hasn't recognized me. How infuriating. I realize I'm not the most unforgettable person one meet but still, I'm hard to forget. I stick to the memory like glue. Even with my intentionally mundane looks that screams average person existing.

I unlocked my violet-cherry strands of hair assuming he didn't recognize me because of how I looked, but my locks came out too curly for my taste after being tied in a fishtail braid for so long. Now he's never going to recognize me, peachy.

My eyes were fixated on the boss but my mind was somewhere else. Kurapika's dark gray eyes still haven't laid on me. How arrogant and self-centered of him not to notice me?

Soon the bastard will have to look and remember.

"I presume you all know why you're here," he cleared his throat, "I'm here to talk about Light-san's situation. He's going through a difficult time, to everyone's knowledge, Neon lost her ability. It's a very critical situation in our careers as employees." Xavier kept on about the critical situation we're in and my mind kept on about wanting to interact with Kurapika.

"To the bodyguards who just got back from Yorkshin, I'm Xavier, the head of the Mansion under Light-san," he stood up and started walking with his hands behind him, clutched. He expressed his sorrow and grief to 'our' fallen comrades, "Dalzollene was like a son to me, he worked here for eleven years," He stopped walking, "Kurapika, come here." Kurapika strode to where Xavier-san was standing and his drop earring dangled and swung from front to back, parallel to his body movement, hardly detectable among his yellow hairs.

Poiuy, who was Dalzollene's right hand and the direct superior when he wasn't around, was restless. I who was seven bodyguards away from him in the front line felt his aura.

This isn't good. Good luck with that Kurapika!

"I've had a talk with Kurapika yesterday, it seems Light-san himself promoted him and I came to the decision that he should continue being Dalzollene's successor. I see great potential in him." He patted his shoulder, "Now, on to the introductions."

I sensed Poiuy's aura intensifying but so was mine, I was infuriated he got promoted before I did. Nina, you need to get your shit together.

X-san introduced the old team first, when he got to me, our eyes met. And I knew Kurapika recognized me. But he wasn't going to say anything.

After the introductions, X-san dismissed the staff.

"To tell you the truth, I doubt half of you will make it after conducting the mass layoff in the Mansion due to… the current circumstances. But necessary action will be taken with time. And I've made it my responsibility to determine who will stay. Everyone take a partner."

My initial target was Kurapika but as always; luck wasn't on my side. Eventually, I stayed with Rashe.

"Didn't work?"

"I'll get him next time."

Rashe was a tall, cold, gorgeous-looking woman and a complete asshole; we instantly became friends. When I was in Yorkshin for a while, tailing Kurapika, she caught me red-handedly and I had to explain what the hell was I doing. Eventually I had to tell her I have business with Kurapika… but he doesn't know it yet. I was confused of what she might do. I attempted to threaten her but in that moment she burst into laughter and I blinked at her multiple times, surprised, "Each to his own," she waved her hand in the air dismissively, "I knew there was something up with you the moment I met you in February."

We became much closer since then, without any of us wanting it.

Xavier continued, "In a month from now, I'll put you in groups, the best bodyguards to the worst, you may stay with us for now but when the time comes I'll have to let you go. Understood?"

"Yes sir!" our voices echoed in the large high-ceiled room.

"We'll start the examinations tomorrow morning. Come to my office for your scheduling. You're dismissed."

Stagnancy has taken over after the action filled body guarding that impended in Yorkshin and the mission the old team handled here. There wasn't much us bodyguards can do. But each bodyguard had their own aim that keeps them busy and I happened to know one of them.

I wonder how Xavier-san would feel if I told him the reason Kurapika works for him.

I wonder how Kurapika would feel if I told him I'm going to tell on him.

But mostly, I wonder how he would feel if I told him what kind of mission the old bodyguards stayed for...

I smiled.

I didn't know plotting schemes when the person is right in front of you could be way more fun than in a dark room in a suffocating island.

After Xavier-san dismissed us he stood up and Kurapika approached him. People were leaving the room but my eyes followed him. After he was done talking, Kurapika went back to his spot, seemingly frustrated, and the room was nearly empty now.

I clearly mistook his vibes because the next I did was initiating, "Hey, what are you doing here?" I went smiley, cheery and puny-headed as ever.

But he didn't even look at me. He was too focused on pressing the buttons on his cellphone that I nearly pounded his head against the wall he stood next to.

Truthfully, there wasn't any way I could get him through the use of personalities, especially that I tried plenty on him the following two days. I might as well be myself.

Thus on the third day, and I'm usually more patient than this, I lost it.

"You know what, SCREW YOU! You are no gentleman. Stop acting like you're a sophisticated mannered person. Who ignores ladies when they carry heavy load and can't open the door? Who doesn't bloody offer a chair when a lady is standing and there're no more chairs?"

I didn't realize I was yelling at him in front of everyone until I heard the screeching silence in the room.

He looked startled. It was a first.

"I… I apologize."

One of the guys said, "Pfft, Kurapika you got no game."

"Apology unaccepted!" I left the room with his eyes wide-opened at my back.

It had to be through action. And name calling, but more on that later.

And so from that day on we started our hate relationship, me for the most part. I mean, I tried, I really did. But my scheme to get close to Kurapika got really, horribly, tremendously retrograded.

Or so my seventeen-year-old self thought.


The next few days passed normally after we all picked up the routine. In one of them, we were sitting in a long table with a business group Xavier-san requested to see, we were waiting for Xavier-san when a mustached man with a face of a douchebag started talking to Melody who was right across of him, "Hey, rat-face,"

Melody looked at him wondering what he wants, I however lost it, I turned around to his side of the table, and grabbed his hair, "What did you just say?"

Melody, worriedly, tried to stop me, "Nina, it's not worth it, forget about him, if the boss sees you—"

His friend interrupted Melody trying to calm me down after seeing my violent reaction, "hey, lady, lady, he didn't mean—"

I turned to him, "Shut it, I'm talking to him," then put my focus back to the douchebag, "I'm not hearing your apology? Speak." I hissed.

"I-I'm sorry," he looked afraid. As If I were the bad guy. As if I were the six-foot fiend that actually looks more horrible than him. As if I insulted Melody.

Thankfully Kurapika wasn't here. I cannot afford another public humiliation directed at/seen by him. And normally, I don't like violence that much.

"You people are insane," the guy ran out of the room with his group following him the moment the doors opened wide and Xavier-san along with Kurapika entered. And once again, everyone was staring at me.

Especially Xavier-san, he maneuvered with two fingers for me to follow him.

I followed in the hallway silently, cursing myself.

"Are you usually this stubborn and violent?" Kurapika said with a serious, quiet tone.

I turned my head to him, eying him and glared, "only when it's necessary,"

I almost said, 'why, you want to test me?' but he countered, "It's not doing your examination any good, at this point you have a lot of making up to do," I wasn't sure if he was sympathizing with me, actually advising me or pitting me in a very polite way so I kept my loyalty to silence.

Xavier-san entered his office and we stayed outside. His secretary, Mirna, came out and said, "Xavier-san will see you now," with a cold tone. Then turned to Kurapika and said in the flirtiest way possible, "Kurapika-san, you're up next~"

I opened my mouth to object but kept it shushed after realizing if I get fired today, Kurapika is going to be the first to know, and I did not like the idea.

I stepped into the small secretary's room, to my left there was a big extravagant door that led to my boss's office. I passes the doorway with lingering stops, wishing time would stop or rewind. I was not ready for the next menacing minutes.

"Yes, Xavier-san," was all I managed to say to the man sitting behind his desk, embarrassed after my rampage in the dining room.

Besides, this mouth of mine had gotten me into enough trouble today.


Author's Note: I'm trying to get a deeper glimpse of Kurapika's world. The language the Kurtas spoke, the reason behind their traditional attire and whether if all members had their ears pierced. So YES, this is mostly focused on Kurapika. If you're other-than-Kurapika fanatic, sorry, this's not your place. But do read if you're interested in twists and, ahem not to brag, fantastic plots. Back to the point, what I'm trying to achieve here is: open my dear dark and gloomy Kurapika's gorgeous eyes to the world, make him laugh and stir desires in him to want to live like a normal person –the same way Gon and Leorio achieved it– but with my OC.

I hope her hair color and that kicking ass in the woods scene didn't make me seem like one of those cheesy authors who try to make their OC so very special -don't say it... A MARY SUE! God damn it. Anyways, no, Nina is so full of flaws you'd be surprised. The plot required such a hair color. You'll understand. Plus, Nina wasn't created to be loved IMO.

Oh gosh, and that last scene, I didn't realize I was describing my high school's principle office haha!

Anyways, tell me what you think. Just type away your first impression. Don't worry if it's negative I have a tendency to embrace shitty things. So shit away. I mean review away.

Disclaimer: I do not own HUNTERxHUNTER. Sadly.


Until then