Chapter 4: Chapter 4


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Twisted

What happened was only between the two of them, yet fate had different plans. To hate the monster that killed her whole family was the acceptable thing. But to undeniably fall for him was nothing sort of traitorous. It's twisted.

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chapter four

Liecasto was no more. He was- or rather what was left of his unrecognizable flesh was thrown across the round table, attach to what nature previously designed as a foot was the same message that was left on her grandfather's corpse.We reject no one. So take nothing from us.

Kurapika rolled her eyes heavenward, she did not want to look at that reminder and the slight dramatics of everything. It made her imagine just how hard her family fought, struggled and lost. It wasn't an easy death either. But unlike her tribesmen, Liecasto deserved to suffer for all the atrocities he made the girls go through. Though they were all young, they all showed signs of deep trauma and hardships. Some girls shook violently while some stared blankly into space like empty vessels and their sanity gone from their grasps. The girls flinched when Kurapika tried to reach out to them. Perhaps not trusting a stranger was a characteristic of Ryuuseigei children but their eyes showed how abnormal their fear for outsiders was... Because of Liecasto. Kurapika would never admit it to anybody else but whatever Kuroro Lucifer did to that monster, he deserved it. The bastard.

Kuroro entered the small room where the girls were kept. He looked around it like how he looked at everything else with detachment and little interest. The responsive children immediately recognized him by the distinct cross on his forehead, at first they slowly stood up and after a few steps made a dash to him. But they didn't dare make any physical contact, they felt the unwritten rule of no touching. When Franklin stepped inside the room he frowned at the poor state of it. He mentally compared the furnishings of the posh meeting room outside to the barely furnished rat hole where they kept the children. This little prison could have been furnished better, Franklin thought.

Kuroro and Franklin headed out while the girls followed them wordlessly. Some of the girls pushed against each other, fighting to be the one closest to their saviors. The little girls nudged and helped each other get up when their fights got rough. Kurapika purposely stayed behind and waited until the last of the children were out. She observed them one by one and frowned every time she saw a bruise or a limp. Two little girls walked slower than the rest. At closer inspection, Kurapika saw the younger girl sporting a bad limp and the other girl was trying her best to assist.

"Let me carry you." Kurapika stood in front of the limping girl and waited for her permission. Both girls looked at her with distrust etched on their faces. The older girl looked aggressive but did not say anything, she was snarling and looked extremely displeased. The younger girl gave a very small nod, which Kurapika took as an approval. She carried the little girl and was not at all dismayed to find her very light for her age, she had expected that much. The older girl did not take her eyes off Kurapika and watched her every move with suspicious slanted accusing eyes.

"I'm not going to eat you, you know." Kurapika gently said but the underlying message was clear enough.Stop it.

"That's what they said." The girl barked back. She stopped walking and clenched her fists to her side until they were white. Kurapika did not understand a word the girl said.

"What?" Kurapika also stopped and looked at the girl curiously.

"Amaya tripped and theysaid 'let me carry you'," the little girl was still not making any sense but Kurapika reigned her patience in check, stopped her eyebrows from furrowing together and looked at the girl with as much calmness as she could muster. "That's what they said when they took us in."

Ah, she finally understood. Kurapika could only ruffle the girl's hair and start walking again. She couldn't offer any reassurance or words of comfort that it would be alright. Look at her, she had promised herself she would get strong and kill the Genei Ryodan. But what happened? She did become stronger but she was part of the spider. A limb. Everything is not alright, it would never be.. At least... not until she had her chains back and had wiped out the spiders.

The three of them caught up with the rest of the Genei Ryodan right at the very core of the house. The children were unfazed by the gore and fire surrounding the area that Kurapika deduced they were probably used to it already. At one corner, Shizuku was 'cleaning up' while at another area the fun fun cloth was laid down on a corner and all types of treasuries were being piled carelessly. They kept on throwing priceless artifacts like they were nothing but pillows.

The troupe went on as usual and paid no heed to the wide-eyed children whose futures have not yet been planned. In the little trip Kurapika made, she found out that Amaya and Keiya were sisters and orphans. Or at least have no adults who claim to be their parents. The house was still burning badly and the flames started getting heavier and heavier.

The smoke started to make the hard children of Ryuuseigei cough while the adults continued on, uncaring even when their coughs became violent. When at last the last of the treasures have been placed on the fun fun cloth, Kuroro faced the children and pondered what to do with them exactly.

He had not expected the children to be this many. At most he had only imagined three. With five more, the children would pose as a problem in traveling with them. He had not been joking when he taunted the Kuruta about the transportation cloth being gone.

He eyed the fun fun cloth and decided the children would fit right in along with the treasures. They wouldn't pose as a problem when it came to the robbed treasures. No idiot would even dare such a move and Ryuuseigai children knew better than anybody else the consequence of thieving from the Geneiryodan.

"Danchou what about the kids?" Phinks inquired. He had never handled children before and the thought of them, the spiders, holding and carrying children did not settle so well with the big man.

"Put them along with the treasures." Kuroro said casually. All of the children would fit well in the cloth, and it would be less troublesome carrying them all in his pocket where they would all be under his watch.

"No, you won't!" Kurapika protested, she eyed the said cloth in disdain before looking at him. Kuroro looked impassively at the girl, already expecting a violent reaction from her. She gripped the child in her arms tighter. He rolled his eyes at her naïve protest and impracticality. He saw his other spiders narrow their eyes and look murderously at their newest limb, still the girl remained unfazed and continued to talk. "That would be inhumane. Can't you just carry them?"

Kuroro gave her a charming smile, one that would be sure to infuriate the girl further before replying. "Easier said than done, Kuruta."

"Fine then. I'll take care of them all." Kurapika then proceeded to the children. Her anger continued to grow as she saw how the spiders valued the treasures more than the children. But she shouldn't have expected any less from scums like them. She spat, "I shouldn't have expected anything less."

"You know you aren't doing anybody any favors by cuddling them." Kuroro informed her. He must have seen the worried motherly look on her face every time she looked at the children. Kurapika raised an eyebrow at him and sneered.

"Like youwould know." Kurapika remarked sarcastically. She rolled her eyes heavenward before returning her attention to the children, thinking about how to lead them away without losing any of them.

"Contrary to what you think. You are making them weak."

Kurapika twisted her head sharply and gave him another one of her glares. "Oh, do I?!"

Kuroro smirked at her ignorance. Outsiders would never understand how delicate the upbringing in Ryuuseigai was. The children need to be hardened in order to survive to adulthood, showing kindness now would only break down the walls they have built around themselves and Kuroro knew, the girl would not be there for the children all the time. A moment's kindness does more bad than good. Only a few people could understand that. He thought it useless to tell the girl that. She would only bombard him with her idealistic thinking that would never apply in real life. He smiled as Kurapika herded the girls closer to her.

Kurapika eyed them every now and then, making sure nobody got lost. They were walking in the city towards the warehouse, some passersby gave the odd group, composed of a blonde woman and eight scarily malnourished girls covered in bruises all queer looks but a glare from Kurapika made them snap back to what they were doing and let the group be. She had the girls form a parallel line. One lane composed of the limp children while the others where composed of the well ones.

So far the children were well organized. They were slow in comparison to the other spiders who must have already reached the warehouse after the first hour. They made several stops along the way and twice, Kurapika bought some sweetened ice as treats to the wide-eyed but extremely delighted children. They consumed the treat with so much vigor to the point where Kurapika thought they might get sick from eating it so fast.

With the children, it took her more than a good three hours before finally reaching the warehouse. When they arrived some of the spiders were crouching down on the floor playing cards. Kurapika gave her characteristic scowl which the spiders returned. They commented about how long it took for her to get back to the warehouse.

Kurapika sat at her usual corner in the warehouse, the children have been given enough clean water and bread by Shalnark. After a few hours of doing nothing and just looking at the Geneiryodan as if they were memorizing every detail, the girls contentedly fell asleep on the cardboard covered floor. Amaya and her sister were sleeping not too far from Kurapika.

Far from the sleeping children, Kuroro started to brief the group about their plans on the next assignment. Kurapika did not bother participating in the discussion.

They have planned to rob an auction and a newly opened museum. But unlike the Yorkshin Auction that happened some time ago, the Genei Ryodan planned to only steal a couple of select items. Only the rarest artifacts and the whole collection of lost (but now found) ancient Egyptian texts the auction had ceremoniously bragged about the past months would be their target. For the museum, they had some displays about another line of ancient texts that greatly intrigued Kuroro. Kurapika rolled her eyes. Trust the man to commit a large-scale crime just to satisfy a stupid whim and hobby.

She observed them and compared them to the criminals she had encountered as a blacklist hunter. The Geneiryodan worked in finesse and such teamwork. Kurapika had to wonder how degenerate criminals like them could follow their 'Danchou's order without question and with iron-like obedience. There seemed to be no attempt at usurping Kuroro's position as the head.

Order in the world's most notorious criminal group, Kurapika sneered at the irony of it all.

As she observed them more, she had taken note how none of them were like the other sloppy criminals she had hunted down in the past. They were still rowdy judging from how they argued with each other about how somebody cheated in the card game but none of them had the 'low class' criminal aura that resulted in stupid fight to the death fist-fights. When things started to get heated, somebody would pull out a coin and flip it. That must be their way of settling inner disputes.

For the group's next agenda, Kurapika was relieved to sit that one out. Although she was bored to death doing nothing but seating around all day, she was glad not to take part in any more useless death and killings. Along with her, Kuroro stayed behind the warehouse and went on his usual reading. It was ridiculously dark with only a burning candle for light yet the man continued to read. All the while, he sported the same passive look and thin smile on his face.

The children were gone by then, sent back to Ryuuseigai. Shalnark had been given that mission. Kurapika would have volunteered but she could never bring herself to ask for any job concerning the Ryuuseigai, it might give them the impression that she had accepted being one of them. And she doubt Kuroro would even allow her to go do the job. She sighed heavily and stood up wanting for a breath of fresh air.

"Where are you going?" Kuroro asked without moving his head from the book. The hair on Kurapika's back prickled because of him. He was probably the biggest freak to roam the Earth.

"None of your business." Kurapika said, she continued walking towards the exit when she heard an exasperated sigh and a book closing with a light thud.

"You are breaking our agreement, Kuruta." Kuroro told her. Kurapika was slightly happy to note the strained sound in his voice, at least she knew she was causing some trouble for them and not at all making this an easy flight especially for him. Though childish and a little selfish, she found satisfaction in that.

"No, I am not." Kurapika spat. She turned around at the same time Kuroro materialized her chain jail. He was threatening to use the thing against her. Her eyes turned to their brilliant red hues the moment she saw them. She wasn't used... or will never get used to seeing her chain used by somebody else especially if it was used against her. She looked at the tips of her chain down to the trail leading to its new wielder. "You low, motherfucking, scum bastard."

"I asked you a question, Kuruta." Kuroro willed the chain to dance like the waves in the ocean. It had been the first time he actually used it against a spider, his mouth twisted in a satisfied line as he saw the raging Kuruta. The chains felt like an extension of him, the power behind it was stronger than what he had originally guessed. He didn't bother telling her off about her language anymore, the Kuruta could cuss and swear all she want. The truth remains that she is a spider, willingly made or not. Although his members loved to cuss at every opportunity, Kuroro never fashioned himself to do so but that didn't mean he wasn't used to it. Cussing and criminal life came hand in hand after all, and no matter how much class they possess it was an unwritten rule that to be a criminal you have to have cussed. "I suggest you answer."

"Since when do I answer to you?!" Kurapika yelled at him. Her eyes burned even brighter. The candle light run down its course and the only light came from the moon pouring from the broken windows. It embraced them like a blanket and Kurapika's golden hair was tinted with silver along with Kuroro's black ones. The dark background only enhanced the scarlet eyes, complimenting it in its glory.

"Since the night you got that tattoo." Kuroro answered her. His tone was mocking but he wasn't done with his taunts, "Is one not enough? Should I add another one?"

"Brand me all you want. I will never be one of you!" It was a good thing they were alone in the warehouse. Had the rescued children been there they would have woken up from all the noise and hostility surrounding them.

"Don't make it harder for yourself. Yield, Kuruta."You already lost, he added mentally. He saw how she shook when she got her initiation tattoo. That tattoo was no doubt traumatic for her and he saw beyond her strong facade. A scared little girl, disgusted by the spider tattoo on her chest especially with what is happening to her life. She masked her fear with anger and indifference, no doubt classifying what happened as a another reason to add to her growing list of reasons to hate their group. But it was still there. He could see it flow from the Kuruta. That tattoo served more than a punishment but a reminder how she failed in her little vendetta. She wouldn't be able to take another tattoo, much less the whole troupe numbers until it stuck in her head that she was one of them now.

"I won't ever. I gave you my word, now let go of me." Kuroro did not notice the chain wrap itself around Kurapika. He raised his eyebrow in wonder. So the chain can respond to the inner thoughts of its wielder?, Kuroro smiled at his discovery. He dematerialized the nen chains. "But someday, I will satisfy my clan with your blood."

Kuroro gave her a welcoming smile, as if to say 'Go ahead and try.'

"I will ask you again, don't you feel any remorse killing innocent people who never did anything to you?" Kurapika hissed. Her clan had been peaceful, they had avoided contact from the outside world and only a few select people trusted by the council were allowed to go out to buy only the necessities. They were a peace loving tribe, didn't they feel any remorse killing them one by one? "Innocent lives just for the sake of money. You disgust me."

"Naive little girl. You won't ever understand." Kuroro chuckled at her. She was mortified when he had laughed at the crime they did. Her eyes blazed again and with her enhanced strength aimed her fist at Kuroro's jaw, much like how she punched him in the car. Kuroro caught her fist midair and gripped it tight. The bones on her arm cracked as his hand gripped it tighter. "We reject no one so take nothing from us."

"I should kill you now and be done with it." Kuroro only looked at her and Senritsu's voice played back in her head, the man who had already accepted death.

"You can't ever do that, Kuruta." Kurapika broke her arm free from his grip, crushing the bones on her arm in the process. She swung a leg at him which he caught as well. This time though, Kuroro did not allow her to break free from his grip. He threatened to break the bone but Kurapika was not scared. He was not the only one who can accept death.

"I don't fear death." She told him. "I can die a thousand times as long as I take you down with me."

"Then you have a problem. You are strong." Kuroro snapped her bone and let go of it. Kurapika immediately stumbled down without support from her leg. It was broken and had started to swell. But the pain can not compare to the hurt and humiliation Kurapika felt ran around her body. "But I am stronger."

Kuroro walked back to his seat but continued to look at her, "Heal yourself."

Kurapika refused to put out her chain and Kuroro gave her a knowing smirk. "Scared that I will steal it from you?"

Kurapika did not answer. She summoned it and her bone quickly set itself right. She fixed her arm as well. She didn't look back at her greatest tormentor as she stomped away from the main warehouse and climbed one of the roofs. She laid down on the cold roof and looked up the twinkling stars. She laid there and what her Master Mizuken pleaded played back in her head.

'Let go Kurapika, forget about this foolishness. Forget about revenge nothing good will come out of it.'That was the last thing he said to her, had it been de ja vu? Her teacher was right, her nen had been remarkably strong, the product of her sheer hard work but now she does not wield it anymore. What was the point of all those rough training?

Kurapika was frustrated. She sat up upright and undid two buttons of her top. Though it was dark with only the faint moonlight for company, Kurapika distinguished the shape of the spider with so much accuracy. The sharp limbs looked menacing and mocking. It glinted and for a moment Kurapika pretended it wasn't plastered on her skin.

Looking at it burned her eyes and she didn't notice herself crying until she realized the choking sounds she heard came from her mouth. She bit her lips to prevent herself from screaming out loud. She promised herself on the mounds of her fallen tribe, she would get their revenge and bring back their eyes.

Maybe the tattoo was a blessing in disguise, every time she would see it her anger would awaken. Yes, she was afraid. She felt fear. Fear from failure but not from death. She feared her rage would fade over time. But with a cruel reminder right on top of her chest, Kurapika knew it would burn until the end of time enough to fuel a life-long vendetta.

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The Kuruta went back to the main warehouse about the same time as the rest of his spiders. His spiders brought back with them the auctioned materials and each of them reeked of blood lust. They finished faster than the alloted time. Kuroro thought because they were still paranoid that their newest member might have had attempted to murder him. His spiders were looking for a reason to kill the girl. He could read it in their eyes.

Nobunaga above all, lusted for his own revenge. "I swear if that little shithead did any harm even to a single strand on Danchou's hair, spider or no I will butcher her."

Kurapika scowled at him but did not say anything back. She was past the point of caring what they thought. If whatever happened resulted in them fighting, she wouldn't think twice on extracting her own revenge.

"What are you looking at?! Don't think we accept you after all that you did!" Nobunaga spat.

"And don't think I even want to be accepted by you!" Kurapika yelled back. She balled her fists and her chain materialized, "That's the last thing that I'd want. Don't delude yourself."

Her coolheadedness left her, and instead replaced by her brash words. She remembered the time with her friends when they had argued over her not killing her opponent during the hunter exam in the trick tower. Leorio had been furious and started a yelling rampage yet she didn't yell back at him or even dared to raise her voice. But now, she was matching note for note.

"Nobunaga, Danchou could more than take care of himself." Machi broke the argument, her instinct have tingled for her to intercept. She eyed Danchou, who still looked his characteristic detachment but was slightly tinged with wariness. He, after all, was a man of solitude. Machi returned her gaze to the quarelling pair. The hostility in the air was a given and in fact understandable. The said samurai grumbled beneath his breath while still refusing to back down while the Kuruta returned to scowling.

"Let's settle this with a coin toss, like how we always do." Shizuku suggested. Her eyeglasses slipped down her nose and she pushed it back using her index finger. Kurapika assessed the girl when Shizuku faced her, she was one of the members added after her tribe's massacre, as what Hisoka told her. Kurapika felt something akin to hate towards her, yet the feeling was not as strong as to the other spiders who have butchered her tribe. Her hate sprung from when she had participated in other mass murders committed by the group. She remembered Vaise and Squala. "Danchou said spiders are forbidden to fight each other seriously."

"I refuse!" Kurapika yelled. She clenched her hands until they were white. Who knew such law among them existed? But it won't ever govern her. Shizuku stopped midway from getting the coin out of her pocket and looked at Kurapika quizzically.

"Pfft. As if I'll take her seriously." Nobunaga smirked at Kurapika. "She's practically impaired without her chai-"

Nobunaga wasn't able to finish what he was about to say when Kurapika's dowsing chain hit him square in the jaw. He stumbled back from the impact and blood dripped from his split lip. He spat saliva to the side and noted it had a bloody tooth with it. He scowled. Kurapika's bottled frustrations was placed in that punch.

"I won't let that pass you shit!" Nobunaga drew his sword and charged at Kurapika with his enhanced speed. He slashed to the left and right, his movements precise. Kurapika barely dodged them but managed to defend herself without getting shredded to ribbons. Her chains were effective offense and defense against his sword but not appropriate for attack.

Kurapika conjured her familiar twin sword blades and started blocking off Nobunaga's sword with her own. The training she had since when she was able to walk was perfect and she was able to keep up with the master swordsman. They were in a lock with both of them using their enhanced strength. All eyes were on them. Some of the other spiders were vividly watching the show while the others watched with less interest. Feitan only glanced once in a while, sometimes blurting out nonsense on how much Nobunaga was getting bit the shit out. Bonolenov and Coltopi, the silent members of the group tried to find something else to do and block out the battle cries. It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway. They knew Nobunaga had been baiting the girl to have a fight.

Kurapika expected him to fight dirty but he didn't. They were stopped when they both of them found themselves impaled on the walls by their sleeves. The spiders all looked away from the little show except for Feitan and Phinks who were still smirking.

Lucky for Kurapika who was not directly in front of Kuroro's vision, her left sleeved was the only part of her clothing impaled, her right hand was able to pluck herself free.

Kuroro did not say anything but only looked at them. His spiders got the message clearly and they scrambled away. Their Danchou never got pissed off with them even in their roughest rough housing. But everyone knew this was far from the usual brawls they have enjoyed over the years.

"Hey help me down!" Everybody ignored Nobunaga.

Kuroro started briefing them on what will happen for their last acitivity in their comeback, they were going to rob the the best Museum in the world. Nobunaga thought that if Uvogin was still alive he'd be ecstatic with all the promised fighting with the seasoned mafia. Nobunaga narrowed his eyes at the blonde head not too far from him. She was the reason Uvogin won't be able to experience the ecstasy of fighting. She robbed them of their family. And she robbed him his best friend.

He twisted his body and ripped his clothing. He didn't mind at all and he continued to glare at the little blonde. She was a good swordsman, but he was still better. Nobunaga assessed. Her actions were more governed by her emotions but if she- Nobunaga stopped his thoughts midway. He was not going to analyze the weakness and points for improvement of that bastard. He was half listening to their Danchou explain the mechanics of their mission while he grumbled about how he hated their newest addition.

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Kurapika had been purposely assigned seductive clothes to wear for their mission tonight. She would pose as a bodyguard for Kuroro and Shalnark along with Machi. She looked at the flmisy, sparkling garments quickly before refusing it with a temper. She had not given Shalnark who had just returned from Ryuuseigai time to even persuade her to wear the gown.

She had only accepted to go out when Shalnark offered to buy her a new set of tuxedo because she had refused to wear 'any of their damned clothes' when he had offered to lend her his best spare ones.

Kurapika finally cut her hair back to its comfortable length and tied it in a neat ponytail. She wore the familiar pair of black contact lenses before stepping out of the warehouse where her 'bosses' were waiting. She scowled at them.

She did not ask where they had gotten the sleek new looking limousine. She sat at the front of the car in the driver's seat and blocked everything out except for the soft humming of the stereo. Kurapika wanted to put as much distance as possible from Kuroro Lucifer lest she might strangle him, their last confrontation had added more fuel to her anger and resentment.

The girl, Machi, wore a decent looking gown as Kurapika observed at the corner of her eye. If Kurapika wore the gown previosuly meant for her she would have llooked like an easy fling complete with mocking looks from the spiders. Kurapika had scowled when they had given her a dress to put on. She was more comfortable wearing clothes like this, Kurapika tugged the sleeved of her new black coat. The material was soft to her touch and not itchy unlike the coat she had worn before under Nostrade.

The car stopped and Kurapika went out the limousine to grudgingly open the car door for her 'bosses' and help them get out of it. Her black contact lenses met with Kuroro's natural ones and she immediately scowled while he gave a small charming smile characteristic of the pampered arrogant pricks present in the grand unveiling of the texts.

Kurapika and Machi walked two steps behind Kuroro and followed the man wordlessly until they reached one of the private waiting rooms, where they patiently waited for the others to arrive and give them the signal. Kurapika felt her rage boil up as she tried to dull everything out. Tonight, majority would die as what Kuroro had explained yesterday. The exhibit today was only open to the underground world, the spiders were given permission to eliminate all that stood in their way.

When the signal was given, a loud boom would be made by the giant Franklin's nen bullets and they would start to wreak havoc. The private waiting room where Kuroro had specifically requested was located near the center of the exhibit and can only be reserved by royalty. He had to pull many stunts to secure them the room and once again Kurapika did not want to know the process.

THHUUUUUUUUUUD

Shalnark had opened his phone, they heard gun shots and immediately one of the wall in their room collapsed and showed a group of burly men holding guns with a puppet expression on their faces standing in front of them. Shalnark continued pressing buttons on his phone and the men turned their backs and continued to walk and shoot the other men who got in their way. A bloody massacre was starting again and Kurapika refused to take any part of it.

Much like what happened at her first mission with them, they looked like strolling in the park as the men dropped dead one by one with bullets impaled in the flesh just between their eyes. The carpet was ruined with the blood stains but nobody gave a damn.

They reached the center easily and saw the yellowish parchment encased in a thick glass. Machi closed the door and was not fazed to see the room filled with more than fifty men pointing their guns at their direction. They also felt strong nen-users among their ranks.

"Stop whatever you are doing!" The commander of the group said and Shalnark closed his phone, the remaining bloodied men dropped to the ground, dead. The commander upon seeing the calm looks on their faces started to sweat. Kurapika knew what was going to happen, Kuroro had already planned it out and he was only waiting to deliver.

Kuroro walked towards the middle of the room and the commander with his shaking voice told him to stop. Kuroro continued walking and only stopped when he was in front of the crystallized display. He ran his hands at the glass case feeling the thickness of it at the same time admiring the object enclosed.

The light was illuminated in the glass case and for a moment it made the artifact more serene.

The commander who was beyond freaked out ordered his men to start shooting the intruders down. Machi cut the bullets with her nen strings, never missing one. Some of the firing squad had been too amazed with her skill for they stopped for a moment and admired the lady's skill. As the bullets never got any closer than four feet from her. The bullets dropped to the ground, sliced at its center.

Shalnark resumed manipulating the mafia like his personal toys, the nen-users were no exception. With the nen-users fighting each other, their enemies' number quickly dwindled down. Kurapika did not do anything aside from deflect the bullets hurled her way, he only thing on her best interest for the moment was staying alive and not run around doing errands for them. It wouldn't take long before the room would be filled corpses and they would be the only ones alive to inhibit the room... again.

Kuroro pulled out his benz knife and cut a clean square over the glass and pulled out the rolled text. It was tissue paper thin and with practiced fingers Kuroro gently stored the paper in a specialized tube. He looked at his spiders and noted that the mafia were all almost all dead. The few ones who were quite unlucky to still see the light after their raiding all twitched in pain. They had no more than five minutes to live and Kuroro left them to their peace. Kuroro lead the group to the other display they were going to loot.

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'Breaking news. The world is shaken once more as the notorious group called Geneiryodan thought to be disbanded and dead once again emer-'

The television died down as Leorio threw the remote down his couch. He was scowling at the now blank screen wishing he could do anything, anything to help his friend. He was returned more than two weeks ago to his small apartment by the spiders. He had contacted Gon and Killua and informed them of what had happened. They arrived some days later and had not honestly found fault on why Kurapika had been captured. When they started formulating a plan to help Kurapika escape they were reminded by Leorio that escaping would cause her to die by her own judgment chain.

"Ossan! What was that about, I was watching!" Killua cried irritatedly. He grabbed another bar of chocolate and attacked it with lots of fervor at the same time glaring at Leorio and not all minding his scowling face. "You look pretty stupid, BAKA!"

"Tche! Looking at their face makes my blood boil!" Leorio shouted back, he flopped down the other couch and munched on some of Killua's prized chocolate. He ignored Killua's protest and curses. For the past week he had done nothing but wondered about Kurapika, whether or not she was given enough food and suddenly he lost appetite and threw the barely eaten chocolate in the table. He knew her to be a person full of sometimes idiotic pride and he could see her starving herself.

"What's wrong, Leorio?" Gon, the naturally kind kid asked. Leorio told him what his thoughts were, unable to take them any longer, Gon only gave him a reassured smile. "Don't worry Leorio! I don't think they will mistreat Kurapika. But will try our best to contact her soon."

"Didn't you hear what I said?!" Leorio looked at the younger kid, "They are going to kill her if she escapes!"

"No, Leorio.. You don't understand. We'll just visit her." Gon beamed at him. Finding a very large loophole in Kuroro Lucifer's though shall not escape rule. "At times like this she needs us more!"

Leorio snorted.

"What?" Gon asked terribly confused by his optimistic friend's pessimism.

"At times like this Gon, what could we possibly do for Kurapika?" Leorio asked wryly. He had not been any help to Kurapika in their little mission. In fact, he caused her to lose her well worked for chains. If it hadn't been for him tagging along and pretending he was strong enough to take just one of the spiders, Kurapika would still be in hiding safe and protected. Not to mention if she had worked alone, she would have had no one to consider.

"Just be her friend." Gon answered with a smile.

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A/N. Big apologies for the last chapter. My mind must have been so messed up to leave so many mistakes here and there.

Big thank you once again to Nen for pointing out about the spider numbers! :D I read your review at around 6 in the morning and I was still groggy but when I read it I buried my face in the pillow out of pure embarrassment. XD thanks for pointing that out! I can't believe myself sometimes. :")

About the part where Kuroro could use the judgement chain even without the scarlet eyes is because of an ability he posseses which I will introduce in the coming chapters. I don't know what number yet but we will tackle that ability in the future. :D

For chocolander, I'm very sorry about the mixed up.:( I haven't written that part properly.T-T Kurapika did not use her chains in the previous chapter because the Kuroro's bandit's book abilities starts with him watching the ability in action, Kurapika had deduced that much (though I don't know if I wrote this part properly. please forgive my lack of refinement for last chapter.):D that's why she was reluctant to use her abilities, and she was probably traumatized by the ability stealing nen at that time. But when she does use her chain (dowsing) it was the time where her instincts kick in that she has to find out where the crying was coming from. :D I hope I explained it properly if you still have questions please feel free to ask and thank you very much for reading! *insert big heart*

I have learned my lesson... I shall not type stories while living solely on caffeine and chocolate. Not only did I mess up last chapter, I also messed up some college works. :( and I will never ever forget to bring an umbrella ever again.

Anyway, thank you so much for reading! For those who subscribed, favorited both this story and me thank you so much! And special thanks to the following who reviewed you guys made me smile! :D: LordOftheWest (He has XD), LunaNymph (thank you so much! :D), Alkira11 (Nope, you can't.. Wait.. I'll go check in my cue cards... I'll get back to that when I find them. Sorry, I'm such a clutter bunny. I'll really get back to you. But thanks for the review! :D), I'oOoMoOo (Thanks!), Kiheitai(Thanks!), MARYLOVER (yup and the things that they will do might wreak havoc but it would be nice to see them do whatever gigs they want. XD), Melonberry (I thought about that whether or not they should do the usual tattoo, but naaaah. Mihihi. Thanks! :D), that girl you will love (thank you!), . .ribbons (thank you!), rodessalorenzo (thank you!), nen (thank you!), HeyYou3 (thank you!), chocolander(thank you!), xxrhuuxx (thank you!).

edited. 12.11.13