Who are you now?
Are you still the same
Or did you change somehow?
What do you do At this very moment
when I think of you?
And when I'm looking back
How we were young and stupid
Do you remember that?
"Phinks, don't fucking joke about this!" Feitan shouted at the grinning Phinks.
"You know Danchou will kill you if he heard what did you just said!!" Machi added.
"It's true. Well, that's explains everything." Shalnark interrupted the deniability protests.
"Talk." Paku commanded.
"I won't, it's his private life!" Shal happily declined and heard growls from everyone, including Phinks.
"I always knew that fucking brat was up to something."
"Nobu, shut up." Franklin was annoyed.
"When can we see him?" Uvo asked with enthusiasm.
"Tomorrow if you want, he said he'll open the bar only for us," Phinks answered, sharing the same enthusiasm.
"Wait, what about Danchou? Does he know we're going?" Shizuku noticed, as always.
"Yeah, about that.." Phinks started awkwardly.
"Yeah, why is Danchou angry with him? I thought they loved each other?" Bonolenov asked. He was having a very bad memory.
"..He kinda doesn't want to see Danchou." Phinks finished awkwardly.
"Can you blame him?" Machi commented.
"He must be still angry." Paku added.
"Very angry. Guys, you wouldn't believe it when you see him, I hardly recognized him." Phinks said remembering the way Kurapika talked and dressed. He was different and he knew that's why Danchou was angry.
"Okay, that's it, tomorrow night we're going to see that brat and teach him another lesson," Nobunaga promised as he stormed his way out of the hall.
"Dammit, even Nobu is happy to see him," Feitan remarked, amused.
Kurapika was just having a nice time inhaling the cold breeze of winter, taking the little splashes of water falling from the sky, holding a cigarette in hand. He took another inhale, this one from the cigarette.
He was taking a break from the bar-work, he stepped outside, from the back door, there was a small alley, and the nice thing it was empty, so he just started to expand the relaxing little time he had, even though he's closing the bar tonight, but he's always tired thanks to the job itself. The blond was having another inhale and exhale from his cigarette when a loud noise came from the inside. He threw the cigarette and smashed the remaining after sighing tiredly.
It wasn't unusual really, this bar witnessed a good number of fights per day, so he wasn't shocked to hear another one, it's not like he won't be changing the chairs and tables again! But he was frowning while walking back inside on which gang didn't listen and decided to show up tonight. For that, Kurapika was really going to give them a piece of his mind.
But he was shocked at the sight he saw once he was inside the bar again.
A giant man holding Matt -his employee- up from his shirt collar, screaming at him with something like. "Where is he?" And of course, behind him standing the Spiders.
"What the..!! Uvo, put the man down!!" Kurapika yelled.
Everyone turned to look at him, some surprised, others happy, one snorting -samurai like- but with a glint in his eyes. However, his mind was captured by another scream from the giant man.
"Chain bastard!! you son of.." Shalnark elbowed him. "Dammit kid, I didn't recognize you at first, what the hell You've been doing ha?"
Kurapika had all the intention of his heart to answer that question, with a hiss, a yell, maybe normally, but only after throwing something on Uvogin's head. However, the next moment which he was considering this, he was suffocating by the said man embrace, another moment and he was being up in the air, flying.
"Uvogin!! Put me down now!" He managed to scream so the happy giant could hear him, and apparently he did. Because next, he was on the ground. Surrounded by all of the Spiders.
"Thank you," he murmured after a moment of catching a breath and turned to the horrified Matt in the corner. "Matt, you can leave tonight, don't worry, I've got this." He said with an assuring smile. Where the other only nodded and left hurriedly.
He turned his gaze back to the deafen Spiders. "Now being quiet?" He asked amusingly. A few moments passed before he regrets what he said.
"Kurapika, what the hell?"
"Owning a bar? Seriously dude?"
"Look at you man, so terrifying. Ooh!"
"Wearing all black, you look hot."
"No wonder Danchou was angry!"
"Dude, you have a nice tattoo!"
"What kind of drinks do you serve in here? Please say you have bluemoon." -??-
"Man, I knew it, you were that bad from the start, but no one believed me."
"Finally, I can teach you some techniques about torture."
Okay this was too much!
"Guys guys!! I can't hear you all speaking in one time!"
"Dammit kid, let me hug you!" Franklin stepped forward and did as he asked -demanded-, soon, everyone followed.
Kurapika laughed, he was really happy at that moment, not seeing those troublemakers for five years really did it on him. Which is why, and for a moment, a tiny moment, he felt like himself before..
They all hugged him, except for one hotheaded samurai. When the Spiders turned to look at him with glares. He only snorted and waved his hand at Kurapika. "What's up brat?"
Kurapika felt like teasing the man like old days, "Seriously Nobunaga? Did years soften you or you just got older?" He said the last word very slowly, waering a mocking smile.
"I fucking told you he was mean and evil, you see!!" Nobunaga yelled at the group and they just ignored him.
"Grow up, Nobu."
"So, what's up guys, how's everything?" Kurapika asked as he gestured for them to set on the makeshift tables to hold all of them. Though before he sat next to Shalnark he glanced at the door one last time, then averted his stare back with a slight frown. No one noticed that except for Pakunoda.
"What's up with you man? What is all this, blondie?" Feitan asked.
"What's what Fei?" He asked back, knowing the answer to both questions.
"Playing dangerous Kurapika? Really?" Machi specified.
"I'm not, it's just life." He answered in a low tone.
"Life won't bring you to those low assholes who call themselves gangsters!" To Kurapika's and the Troupe's surprise, that was Nobunaga shouting, in worry.
Kurapika only gave him a look, but no one seemed to know the meaning behind it. He sounded like he understood Nobunaga's concerns but it's also like that it didn't matter right now.
"So, chain bastard, where's the hot lady with tattoos who works here?" Phinks asked, looking around, changing the subject.
"Who? Vicky? I dismissed her already. And I told you to never call me that again!"
"Well, it's not our problem if you spent your teenage years obsessed with chains." Shalnark reminded him.
Kurapika flushed crimson at the embarrassing memories, snorting at the tech guy, and turning his head away. Which got everyone to laugh at the sight.
"Oh, come on don't blush, Danchou loved your chains." Shizuku -as always-.
Kurapika only smiled but Shalnark who was sitting next to him, felt the younger blond stiffened at the mention of his Ex lover, their Danchou. Which reminded him.
"Hey Kurapika, I like your tattoo,"
Kurapika looked at the happy Shalnark and smiled in return before muttering in response as he looked at his tattoo. "Thanks, it means a lot to me."
"Yeah I can see, so do you have others? Like any kind of tattoos, anywhere?"
Kurapika narrowed his eyes at the weird question before saying, "No, just this one.." just as he felt Shalnark relax a bit which only made him more confused.
So he continued for the rest of the troupe, "I was saving another spot for a tattoo I was promised years ago, you know some Spider shape with a number crafted on it.. I think it was number Four, I'm not so sure anymore." He ended his statement with a laugh at the sight of the Troupe members staring at the table in guilt. "Come on guys, I'm just messing with you."
"You're not funny anymore," Fei commented.
"Well, life's a bitch." He said as getting up to go and fetch more drinks for Uvo and Nobunaga.
"Wow! Kurapika, language!!" That was Paku.
"See! I told you he wasn't behaving!" Phinks shouted while pointing a finger to Kurapika.
"Hey! I'm not a kid anymore!!" Kurapika protested.
"Yes, you are!" Everyone replied.
"I really hate you sometimes." Even though he said those words, he was smiling with a warm look on his visage, one he hadn't been showing for many years.
"So, Kurapika. Why's the bar empty? I wanted to have some training with those gangs." Uvo asked with a pouted face like a child who just got denied from his favorite toy.
"Which is why I spread the word that the bar is closed tonight, I didn't want anyone to see you guys in my bar, because it happens that I like it and planning to keep it for a while. So for the Phantom Troupe to hang out in my bar, won't do it any good."
"Hey, if anyone bothered you, you know you have to tell us and we'll take care of them," Machi assured.
"Oh come on Machi, I've been all by myself for five years now, I can take care of some little gangs." He promised with an annoying look to be treated like a kid.
"By yourself? Why? Where are your parents?" Paku asked in confusion.
Kurapika was shocked for a bit, looking at their confused faces, they didn't know! Of course, they didn't, Kuroro didn't know either.
"What? Kuroro didn't tell you?" He asked back trying to hold his voice at a normal rate.
"Tell us what?" Franklin asked.
After long moments of hesitation, thinking whether he should tell them or it'd only bring more misery to their, now improving, situation. Kurapika decided that they should know the truth.
"A week after you've left, they had a car accident, and they... They passed away." Kurapika answered him without looking to any of their faces.
"What!!!" Nobunaga yelled.
Paku swallowed hard, she cursed after understanding everything her Danchou must've felt like as he apparently knew of this terrible fact.
"What the fuck! A fucking week!!! Why didn't you tell us! Why didn't we know about this!!" Uvo was angry, looking back at his fellow mates.
Kurapika was speechless, he didn't know what to say, he didn't know how to answer them, they weren't Kuroro, who he could take out all of his anger at, and the man would accept it happily. He didn't know how to deal with this, it's not their fault that they didn't know, it was Kuroro's for taking them away from him, but.. But Kuroro didn't know either. Would that make a difference? No, it won't.
"It's alright guys, you couldn't have known." He finally reached his shaky voice.
"We're sorry Kurapika, you know if we knew if Danchou knew, we'd have come to you!" Paku told him. Worried about the two in her mind. For how time and circumstances just fucked them up over and over again.
"We're sorry man."
"Yeah, sorry we didn't know."
He heard all of them, including Nobunaga, share their condolences.
"Thank you all, it means a lot to me really." He smiled at them warmly. "And come on, let's just drink and have fun, it's not like I'll be seeing you guys later, or anytime soon." He forced a laugh to cover the sadness in his heart for this bitter fact. Kuroro won't let them near him again, he probably didn't even know that they were coming tonight.
"Don't worry about that," Paku told him with a confident smile, and saw Machi gives him the same gesture as well.
Could it be? No, he won't dream of it...
"So, Pika. Why the bar?" Shizuku-being-Shizuku.
Kurapika didn't want to answer that question, so he decided to focus on the other matter.
"Dammit guys, why do you like to keep calling me names!"
"It was Danchou's favorite name of you." She replied.
"That, and Kura and Blondie and..." Phinks and Feitan went on trying to remember every name Kuroro ever called his Ex lover.
"Well, I don't like it. Or any other name." He lied. "Kurapika is fine."
"What about the Red Demon? I hear you called yourself that to get those poor assholes to be scared of you." Fei was amused, and proud. Still, poorly covering his laugh.
Kurapika flushed of anger or embarrassment or both.
"I definitely did not call myself that, some fucking ass did, and I don't like it." He was really angry.
Feitan and Phinks along with Nobu and Uvo burst out laughing like there was no tomorrow at the blond's reaction.
"I like it, I think it's cool." Kortopi finally speaking his mind. It's seemed the alcohol broke the spell for him.
Kurapika just smiled at the small figure Spider, gently laughing with him.
They spend hours drinking and eating, Kurapika and Nobunaga fighting every five minutes. The blond glancing at the door every now and then, waiting for something or someone to walk through. No, he was just worried that a gangster would show up and try to get in. He had to convince himself of that reason. Not the first one.
Having only Pakunoda was observing him.
After the night was over, they said their goodbyes and Kurapika had to hold himself and his voice to not betray him in front of them. He thought as waving for them, that at least he saw them one last time before disappearing again.
The Troupe members got back to their base, everyone went directly to his room, definitely avoiding their Danchou because if he asked them where they were, no one could lie to his face, and he definitely won't like the real answer.
Little did they know, that their Danchou knows everything, he was a bit surprised at the sight of his Spiders in Kurapika's bar drinking and having a good time. For Kuroro was coming to see the blond and expected the bar to be filled with criminals of low ranks, and not as high as his Spiders. He watched them from the window for a good while, staring only at Kurapika's face, smiling, laughing. Throwing chips at Uvogin, Making jokes about Nobunaga.. Of course, they still fight like kids. He smiled at the scene in front of him, sincerely wished that he would give anything to be in there, with his family and Kurapika. But the blond hates him now, and he can't blame him for that, even if it doesn't hurt less, but at least he doesn't hate the Spiders.
He saw the blond glance at the door for moments before going back to throw more chips on Uvogin's head. He wondered what will happen if he walked through the door, what will Kurapika do? Kuroro decided that the answer was obvious so he didn't feel to proven it, and made his way down the street after giving a last look at the beautiful sight of Kurapika's smile.
Kuroro was starting at the ceiling above him, all dark but he clearly can see Kurapika's angelic face from earlier. For the blond and the Troupe sight together to be the last in his memory before drifting off to sleep, had him to have another memory-dream of Kurapika's first meeting with them.
"Alright Kurapika, we're here, you remember what I told you earlier right?" Kuroro asked the young blond standing next to him.
They were standing in front of a huge building in Kurapika's eyes -the base- that's what Kuroro called it. He was hanging out with Kuroro nearly every day now for three months. They mostly meet in the same yard they met for the first time. Sometimes they go to the library to read, or they walk the streets just talking and observing. He and Kuroro had this little game to guess a job or a hobby of the person they observed. Kuroro was always right. Kurapika was almost near the true answer. They found out either by following the person or Kuroro snapping their wallets to check their ID, of course always returning it after sensing glares on his back from a certain blond. Anyway, after begging the older guy to let him come and meet the Spiders -Kuroro's family- he finally agreed, on condition, not to tell anyone else about them or their place.
He didn't know why they were being so secretive but he knew that they were hiding from the police and bad people because they were doing things for their hometown and everyone didn't like their actions. Kurapika didn't actually care what everyone thought of Kuroro. He knew him and trusted him, so whatever Kuroro was doing, Kurapika was sure that it won't change the way how he feels about the man. Also, he was more excited to be around dangerous guys. The boys was bored with his everyday routine. Especially when his parents were traveling all the time for his father's job, and being alone was suffocating.
"Yes, I remember, not tell anyone about you or your place."
Kuroro smiled at him. "Maybe, one day it will be your place as well."
Kurapika's smile only widened.
They made their way inside and headed directly to a big room -more like a hall- and he saw elven person scattered around the place. They were busy with whatever in their hands, cellphones, books, swords, guns.
He tugged at Kuroro's coat and the other bent down a little to his speaking level to hear him whispering, "I thought you said there were twelve spiders and you're the head."
Kuroro smiled to him, "We've lost number four recently, and I'm saving the spot for someone better." He finished as he tugged Kurapika's nose and the other only blushed at the gesture.
"Everyone," Kuroro started to get the troupe attention, "This is Kurapika, please welcome him."
They all looked at him for a quite some time, studying him and what his connection to their Danchou might be, it's not like Kuroro brought kids to their hideout every day. This one must be special to Danchou.
"Hey kid, what's up." Uvo was the first to greet.
"I'm not a kid, Giant." Kurapika glared at him.
The big man laughed before screaming, "Danchou! I think I like him."
"I thought you may say that," Kuroro said grinning for his spider already embracing Kurapika.
"How old are you, boy?" Phinks asked, if he had an eyebrow he'd have lifted it for using such a questioning tone.
"I'm twelve years old, and I'm not a boy I'm a man just like you, and where are your eyebrows? Eaten by a mouse or you just forgot and shaved them off because your mind couldn't process the information from the description?" Kurapika asked mockingly. Hearing that everyone laughed, including Kuroro.
"Dammit man, Danchou, can we keep him please!" Phinks begged.
"Hey! I'm not a thing to be kept." Kurapika was irritated.
"Shit, he's just so sweet." Phinks kept going.
Kuroro put a hand on Kurapika's shoulder and pulled him closer to him. "Hands off." He firmly said to Phinks. Kurapika blushed again at the gesture. Hardly kept it hidden from surfacing out to be seen by anyone else.
Kuroro didn't know why he did this, but he felt like he had to show his Spiders that Kurapika was off limits, even if they just wanted to play with him and tease him. He just felt like he had to do it.
"Kuroro, I thought the Spiders were cool, but it seems that you're the only one cool in here," Kurapika said and Kuroro heard the tease in his tone which got him to smile widely.
"Hey kid! Call him Danchou or I'll kick your ass!" Feitan snorted dangerously.
"It's alright Fei.." Kuroro was having so much fun with this blond playing around with his fearless Troupe.
"I can call him whatever I want, he's my friend, not my boss! And don't call me kid! Or didn't you take a look in the mirror? Seriously how old are you? Ten?" Kurapika asked the many teasing questions with a mocking smile, but still shifting closer to Kuroro, just in case someone got really angry and decided to attack him, of course, Kuroro won't let them, but he still felt safer in being closer to the Spider Head. Which, the latter seemed to notice his intention, because he as well, put his arm around Kurapika's shoulder, daring anyone to come near the young blond.
After seeing his Danchou circling the boy in a protective way, Feitan only hissed and averted his gaze away.
Kurapika introduced himself to the rest of the Troupe and the others seemed polite, especially the females. But when he saw the last male to talk to him, he frowned slightly at the look he got from the samurai-like, and he clearly felt Kuroro's hold tightened on his shoulder. "Nobu." Kuroro only said but his tone spoke differently, it was deep, ordering, but assuring.
"Hey." Nobunaga muttered before pushing himself up and heading toward the door to leave the place.
Kuroro sighed and shook his head before murmuring. "Always too protective."
"Did I do something to upset him? I didn't mean.. I was only kidding with the others..."
"Don't worry Pika, you did nothing wrong and the others like you, Nobunaga is just being himself. He'll come around." He smiled while patting Kurapika's head.
"Don't call me that." Kurapika was flushing at the name and mostly at the gestures, Kuroro kept doing to him all day long.
"What? You don't like it? How about Kura?" Kuroro asked teasingly.
"Or that, Kurapika is fine." He was still flushing hard, he didn't know what got into him to be so embarrassed all the sudden, or for Kuroro to provoke him even more as he noticed the way Kurapika was reacting.
Kuroro only laughed. "Come on blondie, I brought you something new to read, let's go check it out." He took Kurapika's hand and walked to his room, taking the blond with him.
Once inside the room, he settled himself on the bed pulling Kurapika to sit next to him, after doing so he reached for the nightstand and took a book from inside the drawer. And brought it back to Kurapika's hands.
"This one is one of my favorites and I think you'd like it." He smiled warmly at the blond. Before he leaned back on the headboard, still looking at Kurapika examining the book in hands.
"Can we read it together?" The blond asked, eyes shining with excitement.
"Of course Pika." He pulled the Kuruta to lean back as well and opened the book for him but before starting to read. He heard the blond.
"Thank you Kuroro, for being so nice to me." His words came in a low tone, like he was thinking of something, deep, or painful. Something inside that nobody knows about.
He pulled him against his chest and said, "You don't ever have to thank me for anything, but Kurapika I want you to promise me one thing.."
"What?" Kurapika asked him with the same low tone.
"If anyone ever hurt you or even bully you, if anyone said something bad to you and tried to lay their hands on you, I want you to tell me! You understand? And if I wasn't there, then I want you to tell the Spiders, they're no different from me. They'll care about you same as I do, and we'll take care of it, alright?" Kuroro promised with a serious tone in his voice and an assuring look on his eyes.
"I promise.." Kurapika leaned more to his embrace and he felt safe, safer than he could remember being. Especially with spending almost all of his time alone and outside, getting harassed by strangers or even older boys from the school, because as they say he looked too pretty to be a boy, he hated all of them and he hated that he looked like that. But since meeting Kuroro, he never felt that way toward the man, maybe because he was nice to him, or maybe because Kuroro looked beautiful as well, even with this odd tattoo on his forehead. He just felt happy around him and now, feeling safer than ever, for whenever his parents had to travel like always, he was extra cautious about his surroundings. But now as he was safe, so he let go.
He didn't know if that feeling came after Kuroro's words to him, or because he hugged him for the first time.
I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken..
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete..
He just texted Shalnark to meet him in Kurapika's bar. Before taking a moment to imagine the look on the blond spider's features when he'd read 'one hour, Kurapika's bar'. They really can't hide anything from him.
It was already late that night, perfect timing for gangsters and other criminals to hang out in the place, which means his target would be there as well.
He walked through the door and headed directly to the bar, where his other target of the night would be, the one who he actually cared to see.
"Can I get a beer?" He asked politely and saw the blond stiffened when he heard his voice. Which got him to smile for that.
"Kuroro, " Kurapika almost snapped, "five years of hiding, now you can't keep your distance away from me. I'm flattered." The blond said sarcastically.
"You always knew me better than I knew myself, Pika."
You have no idea how true what you said.
"What do you want?" He ignored his words with a cold tone. Something Kuroro thought that he should get used to hearing from now on.
"Right now, just beer." the older man only gave him his well known charming smile. Which got Kurapika to tense and look away hurriedly.
Moments passed, and his drink was served.
"I'm working tonight, so please mind your business and don't bother me." The blond turned to walk away but stopped on his tracks as he heard Kuroro's voice calling for him.
"Kurapika, I should tell you something.." Kuroro waited for the Kuruta to turn back around, once he did and gave an annoyed questioning look. "I'm not going anywhere this time, even after finishing my business, I'm staying.." He said calmly with a confident tone and a serious look in his eyes.
Kuroro decided that this time, everything will be different. Whether the blond hated him or not. He's not going anywhere. He's fucking staying.
Kurapika sucked a breath once he heard those words, the same words he hoped and wished to hear years ago, the same words he dreamed of hearing every single night before crying himself to sleep after Kuroro had to leave him, the same words that he was willing to give everything to hear...
"Don't fucking play with me." But he didn't believe him, the great trust he had in Kuroro was broken, shattered to pieces.
"You know I'm not. You know me too well, Pika."
"Why now ha? Why show up from nowhere and decided that you want to fucking stay with me and then what? Leave again! How's that different from the first time? What is so different from the first time, Kuroro?" He hissed at him, voice filled with venom.
"Because the first time, your parents were there, and I couldn't take you away from them, and I couldn't focus on them as well. But now I have you, and I won't let you go again.." Kuroro spoke those words slowly to make sure the blond gets every word properly.
"You don't have me Kuroro, not anymore," Kurapika said before turning around and leaving for the other side, then between the tables, collecting empty glasses, avoiding Kuroro completely.
How dare he come after all this time and claim him like that! How dare he to say such things without any warnings.
Kurapika didn't like the sound that his heart was making, he didn't like the feeling in his guts for hearing Kuroro swearing that he'd stay. Even though he dreamed of that for endless nights, of Kuroro coming back, but he still felt anger and despair. Kuroro left because he said that Kurapika would be in danger around him with so many enemies on his back, the blond didn't care.. But Kuroro had so many other reasons to leave, he knew them but he didn't care, he loved him and he was naïve for believing that love will beat everything. He was stupid back then, but not anymore, he learned this in a hard way.
Kurapika felt that he was indeed a hypocrite.
Even though Kurapika owned a bar and he was very good at his job, thanks for being working in another one years ago after faking an ID with his friends' help after so many promises to not endanger himself. But right now, there was nothing harder to do than his regular job, all thanks to Kuroro's gaze lingering on him, watching every move. Kurapika couldn't just lift his head and look him in the eyes, but he felt that the stares Kuroro gave, was something odd, something made him shiver, and he was sure that shiver was not from hatred or anger.
Suddenly a voice, he didn't want to hear, came cutting through his thoughts, and he cursed this night over again.
"Where is my favorite blondie? Ah, here he is. Working hard like ever."
He lifted his eyes and forced a fake smile, one he didn't even pretend to make it look real.
"Hisoka." His face went back to look bored. "The fuck do you want?"
"Oh, blondie is bored, you know I can take you to some other places where we can have some nice time and fun." the jester gave him a dirty wink.
Kurapika felt disgusted and wanted to vomit as an answer to him, but that feeling didn't last long when it turns into a panic at the sight of Hisoka suddenly flying to the other side thanks to the strong punch he got from a certain dark-haired angry man.
"Kuroro! What the fuck..." though he was silenced the moment he saw the dark look on Kuroro's face, with a killing aura leaking from him, making everyone around the man to take five steps back.
His breath hitched in his throat as he witnessed the jealous, angry look at the raven-haired man, and he saw another look beneath his eyes, it was a worry, self-blame, and regret. Something inside Kurapika's shifted at the sight, something he buried deep, long ago.
"Umm, boyfriend?" Hisoka's sultry, disgusting voice came louder as he walked back to stand in a close distance but far enough to avoid another punch if necessary. Still rubbing his nose after the hit.
"NO."
"YES."
Came two voices and Hisoka grinned widely.
"Delicious." He commented, eyeing Kuroro. Where the other only gave a blank, dark looking return before moving a bit to hide the blond behind him. Like he always did whenever he felt possessive over the Kuruta.
"I'll be seeing you around, blondie," Hisoka said, waving his hand as he walked away out of the bar.
"Who the fuck is that, Kurapika?" Kuroro hissed at the blond after turning around and eyeing him dangerously.
"Not your damn business, Kuroro!" He hissed back, same cold tone. Then turned around to leave but Kuroro's hand grabbed his own and pulled him back.
"Why are you doing all of this?" Kuroro asked in a calmer voice, using his usual smoothly tone.
Even though Kurapika was angry at him, he couldn't help but to shiver when he felt Kuroro's warm and gentle hand on his, strong enough to keep him in place and not break away -he felt like he didn't want to after so many years of coldness- but he had to before he slipped and forget everything. He gave Kuroro a long stare in the eyes, one he hoped the older man would understand like he always did in seeing through Kurapika, where the blond won't be needing to say a word. But he had to say something. He had to tell him something. "Make things right."
He indeed felt like a hypocrite.
There, for the first time since seeing the blond after five years, Kuroro finally saw Kurapika's lips curled up for a moment before going back to his now brooding, grimacing visage and slipping away from his grasp.
Kuroro's heart was hammering in his chest at the small quick smile he got from the blond that he forgot about his state and stalled there for a while not moving. Although, he only came back to his senses when he heard another voice talk to him.
"That was a hell of a punch."
He turned around and smiled. "Shal."
"Danchou, what's up?" The blond spider greeted his leader.
"You just saw the war I'm apparently having." He smiled at the thought of keeping everyone off Kurapika. "Come, let's sit." the leader gestured tthis Spider and tve blond followed him and sat next to his Danchou.
"So, you knew.." Shalnark started but swallowed the rest, eyes flaming with guilt.
Kuroro laughed, "Of course I knew, I saw you all together."
Shalnark was a bit shocked to hear that, he thought that Paku told him, not seeing it by himself.
"I wished you were with us."
"I wished the same." He smiled. "But this is not why I told you to meet me here, we still have a mission and a target to locate." He turned serious.
"Yeah, about that Danchou, when we were with Kurapika last night, I asked him if he had another tattoo, just to make sure.."
Kuroro tensed. "And??" His voice was urgent.
"He doesn't. So we can relax." Kuroro did, he even sighed visibly. Though he received an amused but odd smile from the blond Spider. Still, Kuroro decided not to ask about it, he didn't want to talk more about himself.
"So, I managed to get some intel about our target from the mafia community, it's really one of the weirdest mission I've seen."
"Indeed." Kuroro agreed. "However, I still don't understand how do they have some specific information about the target's tattoo but at the same time don't know about their name or age or even gender."
"Maybe they got to know them from the tattoo? Perhaps from the shop where he got it?" Shalnark reasoned.
Kuroro wasn't convinced just yet, but he didn't find any other reasonable excuse.
"Doesn't matter, our job is to locate the target and eliminate them."
"Which brings me back to what I've found, it seems that the mafia family that wants our target dead, is one of the biggest and high rankings in the community, they say that one of their members is a Don, and it seems that the whole killing thing is based on personal revenge, which also means that the 'business thing' is out of the table. But I'm afraid that I don't know which family, yet."
"So, our target must be a high ranking in the mafia as well, and they must've wronged the Don personally and the latter wanted some payback. Seriously, I fucking hate those assholes and their ridiculous battles over place and name and power." Kuroro murmured the last part to himself, but the amusing Tech Spider heard him over well.
"There's only one way we can locate the said target." Shalnark gave him a thoughtful look.
"No, he won't accept." Kuroro refused the request.
"It's his bar, no one knows it better than him." Shalnark tried.
"I don't want to involve him in the mess."
"He's already involved, one way or another the mafia always stick their noses in everyone's business and Kurapika's bar is already on their radar."
"Fuck this. How can I convince him to do so when he won't even listen to anything I say?" Kuroro looked hopeless.
"Danchou, he's your lover. No one knows him better than you." Shalnark gave him a smile, telling him that he got this.
"Was, my lover. Not anymore." Kuroro swallowed bitterly.
"Oh, is he now?" Shalnark chuckled and Kuroro gave him a glare, right now he wasn't the fearless Danchou, he was just Kuroro talking with his friend.
However, he did agree with Shal on involving Kurapika, but how was he supposed to talk to the flaring angry Kuruta?
With no more complaining, he pushed himself up and headed toward the blond, hoping that he'd listen to him just this once.
Kurapika, who was watching Kuroro and Shalnark intensely from a distance, in every ten seconds taking a glance at them. Then telling himself he doesn't give a crap about Kuroro's business, although he was willing to go and greet Shalnark once he was alone. Of course, he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw him sitting with Kuroro in his bar, and he couldn't stop the thought of Kuroro's promise to him earlier, that he's not going anywhere. Seeing Shal with Kuroro in his bar might've given him a little hope that the promise could be believable. That he could be with the Spiders once again.
But those thoughts and feelings went to hammer in his chest at the sight of Kuroro walking directly towards him. He tried to make himself appear uninterested and cold like he acts around the Spider Head these days.
"Can I borrow you for five minutes?" Kuroro asked with a pleading look in his eyes, hoping the blond won't turn him down.
"And why would I do that?" Still using the cold tone.
"I know I don't deserve any moment of your time, and I know that I've earned everything I'm having right now, but please Pika I'm asking you for a one time talk. It won't be about us, I promise." Kuroro begged him.
Kurapika wanted to scream at him for keeping coming back again and again, where were you when I needed you. But he didn't like the sight of Kuroro to beg, not begging in this way at least. He loved this man before for his fearless personality and confidence, no matter what happened between them, he wouldn't want to take that away from him, he would never do that.
"Alright." He said in his usual warm voice and gestured to the dark-haired man to follow him. Which he did happily. For Kurapika, didn't know that this one simple and normal word got the man to finally breathe.
They went outside, the same alley Kurapika always takes his breaks there.
Once they were outside, Kurapika leaned his back against the wall near the door to his bar, and Kuroro stood in front of him, not far, but closer than Kurapika wanted him to be.
He ignored him and took a cigarette out placing it between his lips, but before reaching for the lighter. The Spider Head snatched it and threw it away. Giving him a look.
"Seriously? Is there anything you haven't done?" He asked while raising a brow.
The blond annoyingly huffed but said nothing back.
"What's so important?" Kurapika asked, still surprising Kuroro of his usual tone, warm and soft to the heart.
"As I told you before, the mafia wants one of your customers dead, Shalnark and I are working to locate the target, but having difficulties with that part."
"I see, and you need me to help you with that since it's my bar."
"Actually, yes. I wouldn't want you to get involved, but those bastards won't wait forever." Kurapika never stopped impressing him with his shrewdness.
Kurapika tensed at the mention of that, Kuroro didn't know exactly what got into him, was it the mafia thing or he and Shalnark getting into Kurapika's business? Or what?
However his wondering didn't last long.
"The mafia still had their hold on Meteor city." Kurapika said, tone a bit far, hardly coming out forming the words.
Kuroro's heart skipped a beat. "Pika I want you to understand..."
"I understand Kuroro, I really do.. But that doesn't make it any less hurting, you can say I'm selfish for loving you that way and never wanting us to part, even if it was for my own good, but I couldn't help to not be angry at you. Or the mafia."
Kuroro stepped forward, and he was a mere inch from Kurapika. The latter's heart went hammering at how close they were.
"I understand your reasons, and believe me when I say that I don't blame you, never did.. And never will." He took Kurapika's right arm with both of his hands, and Kurapika had to suppress a shiver at the warm touch.
After turning his arm up, and holding it with his left hand, He brushed his right hand's fingertips from Kurapika's inner wrist up without breaking contacts, very slowly reaching his heart-shaped tattoo, with all the chains around it and that pointy-end aiming directly into it.
"I do understand Kurapika," he pressed his thumb on the pointy-end, "I just wished that none of that happened, that you didn't have to suffer any of it. I'd gladly give my life to see you happy, Pika."
Kurapika was silent, he didn't know what to do or what to say, and Kuroro's hands around his, holding him and brushing his thumb on the blond's tattoo weren't helping Kurapika to think straight.
How much he had missed this, craved this sensation of Kuroro's touch, how badly he wanted to feel him again and again, those cold nights, his empty bed, his loneliness. All because Kuroro wasn't there, but now, he is here, giving him what he prayed for, for years.
The older man after noticing the silence between them growing and the blond to be lost in thoughts, he didn't want for Kurapika to panic once he returned to reality and saw how close they were standing. So he talked with a different tone.
"I have to say, even though this whole changing is out of your personality, it doesn't mean that I don't like it.." He leaned more and slowly whispered to Kurapika. "I love your tattoo." Then pulled back a little to give the blond a space to breathe.
Kurapika, who started to come back to his senses, put his free hand atop of Kuroro's and said. "I bet you do." Sarcastically, before removing the older man's hand from his.
Kuroro chuckled at the comment, and Kurapika didn't want to know why he sucked a breath at the sweet sound he heard from Kuroro.
He can't believe that he was still affected by Kuroro, in every way possible.
"You happened to have any other? Tattoos, I mean." He had to make sure, Kurapika was never able to lie to him without being caught by Kuroro. He could always see through him.
"Why do you keep asking me that? Shalnark asked as well." Kurapika narrowed his eyes, suspiciously.
Kuroro chuckled again to cover his lie better. "Oh, did he? I just happen to like tattoos, and I'd love to see if you had any other, anywhere beneath those sexy clothes of yours." He gave him a wink.
Kurapika looked away, thanking the poor lights for covering his flushed cheeks before saying, "Pervert. As always. I have nothing for your eyes." And stepped away from Kuroro.
"Can't help it." Kuroro amusingly said. Before continuing with a slightly nervous tone, "It's not like there's someone else, right?"
Kurapika, who was looking the other way, had an amusing smile on his face but kept his voice normal and a bit bored. "What if there was?" And turned around to see Kuroro's visage, galring.
Kuroro on the other hand, had his chest clutching painfully against his hammering heart, and he felt his throat dry, he was sure that his face looked paler than his usual color.
"What?" He managed to utter this one word.
"What? Did you expect me to wait for you forever?" Kurapika lied about the fact that he's with someone else, but he couldn't help himself to pay Kuroro back just a little harshly.
"Name!" The spider head tone became darker.
Alright, That was fun, but this bastard had to ruin it with his misguided jealousy and killing intent.
"Relax, I'm kidding with you. I'm not seeing anyone.. Too damaged to be noticeable." He smirked at Kuroro's features lightening up.
Besides, Kurapika won't tell Kuroro about some gangsters who harassed him over and over while working in the bar, the poor bastards didn't deserve to die for that.
"Won't be damaged for long.." Kuroro promised with a confident look on his face.
"Yeah, Whatever. Anyway, I'll help you with what I know, I just want this to be over with." Now he's back to his brooding face.
"I promise to end it as soon as possible." as for Kuroro, he already missed Kurapika's warm voice.
"Try to keep that one." The blond murmured as he was heading toward the door and slipping inside the bar once again, leaving Kuroro by himself in the alley.
"Guys, Danchou and Shalnark are back. Danchou called us to gather in the hall."
Kortopi announced to the Spiders who were hanging out in the kitchen trying to fix something to eat. But dropped whatever they made to go and see their leader.
Once they're all gathered in the hall, Kuroro sitting in the middle facing everyone.
"I know where you all went last night..." He started.
"Danchou, it was Phinks' idea."
"You fucking traitor."
"Danchou, we're sorry, we just wanted to see him."
"Danchou, he looks badass!"
"Danchou, I've always warned you about him, remember?"
"Will you be getting back together?"
"Danchou you have to let me teach him some special techniques this time."
"Danchou, we want to see him again."
Kuroro was interpreted with all of those screaming voice, all of them delighted to see him, one -as always- in denial.
He gave them his -Danchou glare- and all the voices went down. "And I'm not angry about it." He raised his hand to keep them quiet before bursting out again. "However, I want to ask you to do something for me, anyone who doesn't want to, can say so and I won't behold it on them."
When no one talked or raised a hand to be kept out. Kuroro smiled and said, "Good. But first, Shalnark, I need you to find me information about someone called Hisoka."
However, before Shalnark could reply, they all heard Machi scowled in disgust.
"Machi, you know him?" Kuroro asked.
"That pervert clown. He's a client of mine." Machi answered, still having the look on her features, which is a rare thing to see any expression on her poker face.
"Yeah, I figured the pervert part," Kuroro replied, narrowing his eyes at the memory of that ass hitting on his blond.
"But Danchou, he's dangerous," Machi warned her leader.
"I've noticed." He simply said, knowing that as well. "Shalnark, I want to know his connection to Kurapika and the mafia, perhaps he's our target."
"Wait, Hisoka is the one you punched earlier?" Shal shouted with excitement.
"Danchou did what!! Cool!" Phinks's eyes were watering with happiness.
"Why, what did he do?" Nobunaga asked.
"That pervert was hitting on Kurapika," Shal answered for Kuroro.
Suddenly, everyone's eyes darkened, especially Machi.
"Danchou, let me do the honor," Uvo begged his leader.
"Uvo, he's mine." Feitan hissed.
"No, I'll do it." Everyone was shocked to hear Nobu speak those words. Except for Kuroro who knew that deep in his heart, Nobunaga cared for the blond. "I don't like pervert clowns to be near kids."
"It's alright Nobu, Fei, and Uvo, everyone. Don't worry, I've got this." Their Danchou assured them with a confident smile. Protecting Kurapika was his job, the least he could do after those years.
"Bono and Kortopi with Franklin, I want you to stay on the original mission and head for the location the mafia guards gave Feitan when he questioned them."
"Yes, sir." The three said.
"Danchou, can I have a word with you when we finish," Paku asked Kuroro.
"We're finished, for now, everyone you know what to do regarding Meteor city." They all nodded to him and left, he turned his eyes to the remaining female blonde.
"Yes, Paku?" He asked her.
"How's Kurapika?" She went directly to the point.
Kuroro smiled sadly "Still angry."
"Can't blame him."
"I'm not."
"I know."
"Then I should ask you about him since you were together last night, he's different around the Spiders, unlike me." Kuroro chuckled bitterly at the thought.
"Still angry." She repeated his answer. "But I believe that you still have a place in his heart."
"You believe that?" His question had a tone of disbelief, but hope.
"Of course, I know what people think by the look on their faces."
Kuroro only smiled at her.
"Once his anger is gone, he'll see you like before, maybe more." She assured him.
"That sounds like it'll take years." Kuroro was hopeless, Paku only chuckled before saying, "isn't that a huge part of the reason for our original mission?"
He smiled at her again and nodded.
"Good night, Danchou." She waved him as she was walked away.
"Good night." He said back to her, his mind still thinking of the Kuruta's blushed face when they were in that alley.
He pushed himself up and made his way towards his room to get some sleep. Of course, having the blond's warm voice as his lullaby.
Kurapika was still in his bathtub, having his routine bath before going to sleep, tonight was extra exhausted. All thanks to that bastard named Kuroro Lucifer. First coming and daring to say he's staying, then fighting with that fucking clown, then doing those things with his arm, and saying those perverse things. Damn him. Always doing that.
He was leaning his head back at the rim of the bathtub, enjoying the hot water relaxing his ache body. When he heard some voice from downstairs. Coming from the bar.
He snapped his eyes open and got out from the tub. Out to his room, taking his clothes off the bed and dressing quickly in his pants, leaving the shirt on the floor.
Then made his way down, quietly. Taking only his knife with him after removing it out from his leg straps.
It was dark downstairs, but he was sure that there's someone here. More than just one. His frown got deeper. Thinking about what this might be.
He moved a little further to take a glance from behind the bar and saw two individuals, all in black talking quietly. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but before being able to step forward and have a better access to their conversation. He felt something shifted behind him -someone- and turned his head quickly, but not fast enough to avoid the hit, and the next thing he saw after the stars, was darkness.
When he opened his eyes, there was the same darkness he last remembered, the same surroundings, he was still in his bar, it seems that his absence didn't take longer than a few minutes, but the only difference was -the three men- were now standing above him. Yes, he felt like something hard under his bare back, a table. They put him on a table, and now he was pinned down with a gun, by one of those men.
"Who are you?" He asked is his cold tone, yes, he could use it on someone other than Kuroro and Hisoka.
The man holding the gun on him grinned mischievously and said, "the fucking mafia."
"The fuck do you want?" He sounded bored with them, not affected by the man's proudly statement.
"We're looking for the 'Devil' they say he hangs out in this bar, so we wanted to ask questions, maybe put some cameras around the place." The mafia man informed him annoyingly.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm only the Red Demon." He smirked at the three mafia men. Ignoring the spying thing.
"You fucking with us? You know who we are?" The mafia man was angry now at Kurapika's brooding face.
"Yeah, about that, I actually don't give a shit. Sorry?" He said mockingly.
"Hold him." The angry mafia man commanded the two other men. Which they applied to by putting their hands on each of his arms. Holding him roughly.
The next thing he saw, again for this night, was the stars when he received a strong punch in the face from that angry man.
"Tell me where is he!" He shouted at him.
"Fuck yourself." Kurapika hissed.
Another punch.
"Who is the 'Devil'?" Still shouting.
"Go to hell and meet him." He smirked and felt something wet leaking from his lips -blood- Kuroro won't be happy when he sees this, if he sees me..
Another punch, and he spit blood.
"Who is he!!" The mafia man is furious now.
"Is this all you can do? Seriously?" Kurapika grinned, still spitting blood.
Dammit Kuroro, you promised!
Another punch, and another.
"You eager to die so fast ha?" The mafia man screamed at him, mocking him.
"Not before I end you." He said it in his cold tone.
Kuroro..
Another punch to his abdomen, another on his side, another on his ribs. Kurapika was dying to whine in pain but he'll actually die before giving them the satisfaction in making any sound.
Finally, the man had enough of making Kurapika his punchbag and decided to end things. He placed his gun on the side of Kurapika's forehead.
"I'll ask you one last time, and then I'm going to kill you and leave a message to whoever finds your dead body; that we're looking for some asshole called the Devil, of course, that'd be after I've fucked your corpse, whether he showed up or not, you're still dead." He pulled the trigger "So, where is the fucking Devil?"
Kurapika's eyes glint in amusement and he chuckled while saying,
"Fucking behind you."
I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do
Reminds me of you
And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor
And the smell just like you
I love the things that you do
