Hey guys, this is my next HXHBB! This one is slightly different from the previous one that I made in that it is in parts, this one being only the first part. It also, for that reason, shorter than my last one. In addition, I have not yet started the next part, but I do plan on making it, so I hope you enjoy what I have here for now, and thank you for reading Grudge Rule~!
Part I
The Time Before the Storm
"Kurapika, just be careful okay?"
"Mom, I'm going into the city, not some mafia headquarters."
"I know, but still." Anahita said, patting him on the shoulder, glancing at the red clock ticking down on the back of his hand. "You only have six hours left."
"Yeah."
"Are you taking the bus?"
"Probably." he shrugged, pulling a jacket on. "It'll be quicker that way after all."
"Okay. Come back as soon as you're done, dinner should be ready by then."
"Of course." he said, heading out of the house.
It only took a few minutes for a bus to pick him up and head towards Soasis City. He glanced down at the circle clock glowing over his skin, the second hand ticking as the analog numbers in the center gave specifics on how much time was remaining.
He sighed, trying to recall the last time he had been so upset over something. Was it that one time when his friend Pairo was hit by some kids at school? Or was it that one time when he was unfairly accused of cheating for knowing words above his grade level? As far as he knew, both times the clock had appeared above his skin, indicating how much time he had left to settle his grudge against his opponent. In both instances he ended up in the principal's office, but was ultimately forgiven due to the Grudge Rule.
The bus jerked to a stop, and Kurapika left his thoughts in the back corner seat as he made his way to his destination. He had a mission to do now.
He walked around the city, not really knowing where he was supposed to go exactly, but knew the general direction of by people vaguely pointing in the direction of his target's apartment complex. He took his time despite the clock ticking down to almost four hours by the time he reached the address he needed.
Kurapika stood at the top of metal stairs, staring at the numbers 213 on a black painted door. He wasn't sure what he was really waiting for, after all, he still wanted to get back home on time, but he was starting to have doubts about his seemingly silly quest. All he did was insult his family, right? Why had he waited so long to finish off his grudge? Just as he was about to turn and walk away the door opened, revealing a man with black short hair that looked weirdly fluffy and an odd cross tattoo right in the middle of his forehead.
At first Kurapika was sure he had the wrong house; there was no way this man was the same as the one he had encountered the other day, but then he spotted the green bulbous earrings on the other's ears and knew immediately this was the culprit.
Without so much as an introduction, Kurapika punched the man in the face.
The man reacted comically, the force of the punch making him stagger back, having him stumble into a fish tank behind him which he corrected back onto its stand only to run into the couch next to it and fall over it's back, his legs sticking up as he stopped halfway through his tumble.
"That's for insulting my family." Kurapika told him for good measure, and was about to turn and leave until he heard a strangled "wait!" He stopped and turned to look at the other man as he clambered to right himself on the couch, looking still rather surprised.
"What's your name?" he asked out of breath, pulling himself up to rest his arms on the back of the couch.
The blonde allowed a pause to pass between them, still trying to determine if he should just leave without further conversation or not. Then he sighed, turning back to the other man.
"Kurapika."
"Ah, that was about yesterday wasn't it?" he asked, rubbing at his cheek.
"It was." Kurapika confirmed, raising an eyebrow at him. "Do you not remember, or is that all?"
"Sort of… well, actually not… It's all sort of blurry; I think I drank too much."
"Too bad for you then, huh?" Kurapika said with a less than sympathetic tone. "Are we done here? Or can I go back home now?" he asked, glancing at the back of his hand, glad to see that the clock had disappeared.
"Not yet. How did you find me?"
"You told me your address."
"I did?"
"Yup." Kurapika answered boredly, though he couldn't deny that it was slightly entertaining to see the other looks so confused. "You told me all of your information while you were drunk."
"Aw man…"
"Everything except for your name, oddly enough." Kurapika continued, looking away from the other man to study the fish in the tank he had righted earlier. "All you kept saying in response to my question of what your name was with 'Who do you think I am?' and then promptly drank another shot afterwards."
"What the fuck."
"That's what I said."
"Well… I'm Chrollo. Chrollo Lucilfer."
"Duly noted."
"...Well then..." Chrollo coughed into his hand uncomfortably. "It's no wonder my head hurt when I woke up this afternoon… wait, then how did I-?"
"I took you back here." Kurapika said, finally looking up from the fish tank and up at Chrollo. "It took quite some effort. And money. But honestly I would have felt bad had I left you there."
"Was this before I insulted your family?"
"Yup."
"Makes sense... If you don't mind me asking, on a scale of one to ten, how bad was it?"
"Enough to where the clock registered it as a grudge." Kurapika said as he tapped the back of his hand. Chrollo gaped at him.
"Shit, I'm sorry."
"All is forgiven; it's gone now isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Then don't worry about it." the blonde said, waving at Chrollo's still concerned face. "Seriously, I got my revenge already, so it's not like I'm going to do it again, right?"
"Unless I say something else equally stupid." Chrollo said impulsively, though he looked contemplative as he did. "Wonder what could be worse…?"
"You should probably stop that train of thought right there." Kurapika warned, mostly for his own benefit more than Chrollo's. He just really didn't want to have to come back and punch him; his hand was already throbbing from the first time.
"In fact, I should probably just leave now," Kurapika continued. "I have to be home for dinner anyway, so-"
"Wait, could I… could I possibly get your number?" Chrollo asked, and Kurapika had to pause in his turn to look back at the other man, questioning if he was hearing right.
"...My what now?"
"Your phone number."
"...For what?"
"To properly apologize later. I can't do that if I can't get in contact with you."
Kurapika had to stare at Chrollo for a few seconds longer, wondering if this was a really weird dream or not. He shook his head to rid himself of the fuzziness in his brain.
"Fine, just put in your information quickly, and I'll send you a text later." the blonde said, handing his phone over. Chrollo smiled and nodded as he took it.
When Chrollo was about to hand the phone back over, it pinged from getting a message.
"Ah, your mom is asking if you're okay." Chrollo announced as Kurapika took the phone away from him.
"Thanks. I'll see you later then… you're not too bad of a person Lucilfer." Kurapika said as he turned to answer his mother's text.
"Thanks, you're not too bad of a gal yourself."
Kurapika didn't even get a chance to fully comprehend what Chrollo had said when he saw the timer return, hovering above the back of his hand as the analog countdown started at 24:00:00, slowly ticking down second by second. It got to 23:59:38 before the blonde responded to Chrollo.
"I'm. A. Boy."
"...What? Oh fuck, I- I am so sorry-"
"It's fine, just," Kurapika inhaled as much air as he could before forcing himself to breathe out slowly. "Make sure you're here tomorrow."
"...You're going to punch me again, aren't you?"
"If you keep talking, that won't be the only thing I do."
Chrollo was silent after that, and not like he would've said anything again after that, because Kurapika's phone started ringing, leaving them to listen to it chime until the blonde walked out of Chrollo's place and slammed the door behind him. It rang once more before Kurapika answered, slowly making his way down the stairs.
"Kurapika, are you alright? Did you get rid of the timer?"
"Yes and no." Kurapika huffed out, looking at the reset clock with disdain. "I'll explain when I get home."
"Okay, I'll wait then; be safe on your way home."
"Right. See you then."
The call ended, leaving Kurapika to hold the phone to his ear as the dial tone continued in mockery of his new position. He wanted to sneer, but instead he frowned.
"Next time, he'll be out cold."
