Spider Web

Kurapika Lucilfer - A Spider

Kurapika tied her long hair into a ponytail and then braided it for good measure. She wore black leggings under a black and gray checkered school skirt and a black bow around the collar of her white buttoned up shirt. She wore black sneakers and then she was good to go. She could pass as a normal high school girl with really long hair. She was about to leave open the front door when she sensed the spider head at the top of the staircase.

"What?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Say, before you leave, do you want a prediction?"

She was about to retort but then she kept her voice in and instead said "Sure."

Chrollo smirked to himself. He was glad that the girl is trying to make their conversations as peaceful as possible. He handed her a paper and a pen. "Write your full name, date of birth and blood type."

She gave him a suspicious look while doing what he asked. "Are you going to use the ability you stole from Nostrade's daughter?" She handed him the paper back.

"When did you suspect?" he asked instead.

"I had suspicions, when you did not attack the ambulance that was for Neon" She glared at him. "What else should I expect from a thief?"

"You think too low of me." it wasn't a question.

"Says the man who wiped out a clan for the Eyes." Kurapika's scarlet eyes glinted like rubies.

"Personally, I wouldn't use the word 'wiped out' if there's a survivor right here."

"Go to hell."

"Been there. Somebody down there was scared I would snatch the throne." the man chuckled at his own joke.

"Fuck you." she spat.

The man hummed. "Those flowery words does not suit you, Princess."

Kurapika frowned. "You are not in the position to say what does or does not suit me, Chrollo Lucilfer."

The raven-haired man chose not to answer. Onyx eyes moved to read the details on the paper "Oh" he looked at her with slight amusement. "Kurapika isn't your name after all."

"What gave me away?"

"It was strange to name the princess after the late chief."

Kurapika growled "How much do you know?"

"I wonder." Chrollo replied as he sat on the couch, smiling with mischief in his eyes and summoned his Skill Book. The princess watched as his onyx eyes turned blank and unseeing while he wrote word after word on the paper. After a few seconds his eyes went back to their normal calculating state and handed her the paper. She read it over with her quick eyes and gave him a look. "Before you ask, no I don't know what I wrote there."

"I wasn't going to ask that." she admitted, she already knew that very detail after working under the Nostrades. "Are you going to wait for my arrival?"

He was silent before answering "Yes." and then he asked "May I see it?"

"May I leave?"

"Yes."

"Then, yes." Kurapika shoved the paper to his hands before leaving.

"Bye, Princess. . ."

She jumped from branch to branch. Her light weight is advantageous in this situations. She had long changed her mind about not dropping by the Nostrade Mansion. She desperately needs her things. Her friends will definitely not believe her that she is Kurapika, their friend if she did not have evidence and right now, she thinks that her earring and tribal clothes as well as her other belongings will prove the fact. Or at least, 'will help'. She knew how wild her friends' imaginations are.

Hours later, she reached the mansion of her previous employer. She sat on a branch of a high tree that had a good view of the parking lot of the manor. It was sundown; expensive cars and limousines arrived one by one or by twos. There must be a party. She sneaked her way into the mansion in her perfect Zetsu, her knowledge about the place and security pattern (being the previous Head Bodyguard and all) greatly helped. She shook her head at Nostrade's stupidity on not changing the 'pattern', laser and camera positions. The Gyos of the Nen-bodyguards that she did not recognize looked so imperfect that she was itching to bonk their heads at their blind spots.

She sat on the roof, hiding behind the chimney that blocked her from the CCTV camera's view. She calmed her breathing and her Nen. And then her eyes burned scarlet as she kissed her fingers, blowing a kiss on the other chimney opposite to where she hid. And then that very same chimney burst into flames. The fire alarm sounded and she took the distraction to jump in the chimney she was hiding on and then reached the interior of the manor quietly after having soot all over her body. She grimaced.

She is now in Neon Nostrade's respective chamber.

Kurapika heard voices as she approached Neon's 'closet' slash dressing room. It was Eliza and someone she did not recognize. They seemed to be convincing someone who she predicted as Neon because this is the brat's chamber after all. Kurapika removed her soot-covered sweater and wiped her face with the inside-part of it, removing soot on her forehead, chin, nose and cheeks. She then leaned on the wall next to the closet's door and opened it a crack. Peeking through it, she saw Eliza and a new woman, both in dark coloured kimonos and Neon sitting on front of a large mirror. Her feet, hands, face and hair are seriously attended in effort to transform her into an elegant young lady.

"That was a false alarm." Eliza said "Marisol has contacted us. There is no serious damage and the party is still on."

"Hmpf! I don't wanna go to the stupid party! Dad will just introduce me to those pervert looking guys who looks like pedophiles!"

"But you like it when they give you presents." Eliza said, trying to sound not sarcastic and disrespectful. When she said 'presents' she referred to yachts, diamond necklaces, cars and others.

"That's right. but~" Neon whined.

"Let's just get you ready for the party." the woman who was wearing the same kimono as Eliza said.

When Kurapika saw them walk towards the door, she jumped to the chandelier, hiding low. Hoping that the two attendants wont look up. Since the room if practically filled with lights and bright things (Neon is scared of the dark), Kurapika's shadow wasn't noticeable. When they are out of the brat's quarters Kurapika jumped down. Slightly thankful that the carpet was so dark that her soot-footprints weren't seen, she walked to the door and opened it.

The sound made Neon blink on the mirror she is facing. Unaware that it was Kurapika not her trusted attendants. "That was fast. I didn't - " Neon froze when she saw the intruder's reflection. She immediately stood up and faced Kurapika.

Even if she was covered in soot and dirt, Kurapika was more beautiful than Neon who was showered with cosmetics and perfume. The Nostrade heiress is wearing a pale pink party gown with layers and diamond embroideries here and there. "K-Kurapika?" She stuttered.

"So I see that you like my earring very much." Kurapika said as she stepped closer to the blue-haired brat.

"S-stop. Don't come closer!" Neon nearly screamed when the blond pretended not to hear her. The heiress reached for the alarm button on her dresser but Kurapika turned her around with so much force that her breath hitched. The blonde reached towards her earring pulling it the same manner as Neon did that fateful day in her father's office. The action caused the brat to scream and inch away from Kurapika's space, covering her bleeding ear with her hands, red liquid seeping between her fingers. She screamed and screamed, but too bad for the brat, her own chamber is soundproofed. Sending the person who the chamber was supposed to protect, into danger. . .the Kurutanian princess scoffed, this girl. This selfish spoilt brat sent her into Genei Ryodan. If only this girl did not pull her earring. If only Kurapika had fought then . . . . If only. . .then she wouldn't be in Chrollo Lucilfer's control.

Kurapika Kuruta takes vengeance seriously. And it was Neon Nostrade's misfortune, that she bumped with the wrong person.

When he bid 'goodbye' to the princess, he did not receive a reply, nor was he expecting one. She left Chrollo's mansion with confusion evident in her eyes. The spider head was left alone in his living room, holding a paper that had his prediction for Kurapika.

You will point your own sword to your neck,

Trapping yourself at the vortex of the spider web.

And a man with St. Peter's cross will shower you with blood,

Using the absolute control you gave him.

Chrollo hummed. The 'own sword' that was written must be Kurapika's Judgment Chain and 'the vortex of the spider web' must be his gang. Obviously, Chrollo is the 'man with St. Peter's cross' and 'shower you with blood' must be the gang's activities. He smirked, because the prediction was hell right.

Even so, you will remain proud.

You still your treasured 'friends' after all,

And you will pay them a visit, leaving scarlet tears in your wake

While the denizen of darkness collects them.

Isolation is what you love, it may be your only ally.

But never fear the denizen of death

Because he will pick up your shattered self

And put you back together again.

Now he understood why she was so confused. The prediction didn't make any sense. If he, himself is the denizen of death, why would he 'fix her up'?. He sighed and tucked the prediction away. It was no use on dwelling on something you don't understand. He'll just get a headache and he hated, headaches. Hours passed and as he relaxed, his Skill book suddenly appeared without being summoned, Chrollo opened it and at a certain blank page he arched an eyebrow. But then he smiled in amusement and mild surprise. He did not expect this action from the girl. The Lovely Ghostwriter ability is gone from his book. And that meant only one thing.

Neon Nostrade is dead.

Instead of feeling slightly down for losing an ability from his precious book, Chrollo felt . . . .proud. Genei Ryodan definitely is a bad influence to the Kurutanian survivor.

"What is in your mind, Princess?" he asked to no one exactly.

Kurapika immediately went in Neon's spacious bathroom and cleaned herself from all the blood and dirt. She let her hair down and stole a black party dress from the brat's closet and a mask. The party downstairs is masquerade so she wouldn't be that suspicious. Putting her dirty clothes in the empty bathtub, she breathed fire to burn everything that her skin had contact with or anything that may reveal her DNA and trace in the room but then that is highly impossible because the Kurutanians are highly private and she doubted if the 'outside' world knew anything about her tribe except for their Scarlet eyes. She then went to the Bodyguard's headquarters and when she got what she needed, she left without even receiving a suspicious second glance from the bodyguards out of the manor. Only when she reached the small forest did the alarm of the mansion ring caused by whoever the discoverer of Neon Nostrade's corpse.

Kurapika sighed. Her priority is her friends. But she did not see Senritsu or Bashou there. Were they away? Nevertheless, she hoped to see them soon. Dressed in a party gown, she received odd looks when she entered a mall. She went into a clothing shop and looked for clothes. Only then did someone question her appearance and strange luggage. She then pretended that she is an heiress who was lost and abandoned by her driver and she is in need of clothing. When she showed the staff Chrollo's credit card(she did not want to use it but if she used her bank account it would cause difficulties for her situation), she received special service. Turns out that the entire mall and this very shop itself is owned by Charles Weinberg. She cursed Chrollo Lucilfer in her mind.

How can a rich man like him, be a thief? Not that she cared though.

Kurapika has changed into a black and white horizontal striped long-sleeved shirt, a leather black trench coat, black leggings and laced boots. Her hair is now clean and shiny as if it wasn't bloodstained or soot-covered earlier, and was pulled into a high ponytail and loose braid. Her belongings as the Hunter Kurapika Kuruta is in her new backpack. She walked on the streets, amongst the crowds and acted as if she really belonged there. As she concentrated on her En to feel if anyone is following her or tracking her, or if her friends are nearby, she did not notice the uneven surface of the pavement so she tripped, but with her reflexes, she managed to not fall on the ground by supporting her weight with her other foot and an arm to the wall of a building.

"You should be more careful Princess."

Kurapika blinked and looked around if she heard that right beside or inside her head. As she saw that no one was suspiciously close to her, everyone was minding their businesses as if she's not there, it was definitely the latter. She wondered whose voice that was. A deep but surprisingly gentle voice. . .she has heard of it before, she doesn't only remember when or where.

As she tried to remember whatever there is to remember she noticed something moving towards her with her En. She followed her instincts and jumped out of the way, landing on the wall of the building, holding her weight with her feet and one hand. She used Gyo with her eyes and looked around to see who attacked her. Her position has caught too many eyes. Some are amazed and whispering 'a ninja?' or something else. Kurapika blinked when she saw a whoosh of white somewhere.

Killua?

She knew it. They must be thinking that she was someone else. A Spider. Technically she is not a member. But if they have seen that video of the latest Genei Ryodan attack they will think that she's a member. Anyone would assume. She sighed and she expanded her En. And with that, she realized that two of her friends are on the rooftop, a few buildings from where she is hanging on. Knowing her friends, she knew that they will chase her. If they are thinking that she is a Spider. She knew how they think - well not always but considering their 'first encounter with the Ryodan' her friends will demand answers from a member to get information for Kurapika.

How ironic.

Kurapika decided to lead them somewhere to talk. So she jumped from building wall to another, attracting more attention than she already has. A beautiful long-haired blonde girl, jumping from wall to wall, not slipping as if she has sticky shoes to keep her upright. Of course she'll get attention.

"She's moving!" Gon exclaimed as he broke into chase. Killua followed a few paces behind as he dialled Leorio's number and the latter answered on the first ring.

"We'll call you if we catch her!" He barked.

"Are you crazy! That girl can - !

"Later!" Killua then concentrated to be by Gon's side whose eyes seemed to be fixed only on Chrollo's girlfriend. As they jumped from building to building to follow the girl, both of them noticed her peek over her shoulder. She knew they were following. Killua clucked his tongue in annoyance and Gon seemed challenged, determined to catch her. She must be leading them somewhere. Somewhere private. Killua knew they shouldn't be alone with her, considering that she is a Spider and an experienced one at that.

But Killua has Gon.

Both of them had matured in strength, they trained under Biscuit and are now being tutored by Killua's uncle. They are more than ready to face a Spider. They knew their skills after all, but this girl is different. She was someone new. Except for breathing out fire, they don't know any other skills of her, or the way she is thinking. And the affections that Chrollo gave her spoke millions. She must be someone valuable.

The blonde girl stopped in a clearing at the middle of a small forest outside the city. It was maybe after dinner, the moon illuminated the sky and served as their light. Gon and Killua stopped a few meters from her back, they stood casually, yet alert and ready. They were slightly suspicious as to why she let them face her back. She seemed to be thinking about something as she stared the moon, her hair glowed faintly into pale liquid gold.

And after a second or two, she faced them. She looked beautiful, and she was just wearing a dark pair of clothes that looked like an assassin costume. Her blue eyes looked watery and content at the sight of them. Why? Killua narrowed his eyes and when she took a step towards them, he and Gon crouched into a fighting stance.

"Don't move." Killua warned his companion. He knew Gon's attacks and decisions are ninety percent based on instincts. And now is not the time.

She blinked and frowned. And then she remembered that she does not look like 'Kurapika' to them anymore. She took a deep breath.

What do I do?

She stayed still as she tried to think about their situation. She can't believe she just decided to see her friends. True, her friends must know what's going on but then what? Drag them into her problem again? Bring their lives in danger of Genei Ryodan? True, she did use Judgment Chain on Chrollo not to order his members into harming her friends but what if the members did it without consulting Chrollo? It was a loophole that Kurapika did not find before she agreed into the 'Judgment Chain Agreement' she had with Chrollo in his limousine. She should have said 'if any of your Spiders harm my friends in any way, you will forfeit your life'. A large part of her mind wished that Chrollo will be occupied to her so he wouldn't see that loophole.

Everything has a price.

Her skills for Chrollo's and Ryodan's benefit in exchange of their cooperation on finding the eyes.

If she wanted to protect her friends. . . she had to sacrifice something.

Safety in exchange of pain. . .

Friendship. . .

She loved her friends like her siblings. Family.

Her friends are not cowards. Far from it. Threats will not work. Especially to Gon.

But. . . .She didn't want to lose another comrade.

Even if that meant. . . . Even if her friends turn against her.

If that meant they'd be safe. . .then. . .

She is, Nen-speaking, chained to Chrollo. Her friends must not chase her shadow. The weight of her 'Kurapika' belongings seemed to get heavier on her back. If she tell them the whole truth right now, they will stop her. Or at least try to. And that action will bring them into contact with the spiders and she can't have that. Never, if she can do something about it.

"Why did you follow me?" She asked. At first Killua and Gon thought that the question was directed to them but then her next word surprised them. "Chrollo" she added. As if by cue, Chrollo appeared out of thin air beside the girl.

"Was I not supposed to?" he asked and Kurapika did not speak.

"Who are you?" Gon asked

"Gon Freecs and Killua Zoldyck. . right?" She replied instead. Chrollo arched an eyebrow, again. His princess definitely is acting strange. Was this the new resolve that her prediction talked about?

"How do you know our names?" Killua hissed.

"Memories." Kurapika answered, and then she dug something from her pocket. Her bloodstained red earring. "Looks familiar?" she asked her friends. She could practically hear their brain gears moving. Gon gasped and Killua's eyes widened.

"K-Kurapika's - " Gon stuttered. And then with a fimer voice he asked again, but now accompanied with a glare and anger in his eyes. "What did you do to him?"

What this princess is doing is very entertaining in Chrollo's eyes. She tossed the earring to their direction as if she was swatting a bug and Killua caught it easily with one hand and carefully put it in his pocket as Gon watched his actions.

"I'm a Spider." Kurapika herself shuddered mentally at her lie and proclamation. "What do you think did I do to him?"

"You killed him?!" Gon was about to attack when Killua stopped him and Chrollo instinctively blocked their view of the blond.

"Killed him and stole his ability." She rose a hand in front of her and showed them the back of her palm. Her eyes burned scarlet and chains materialized around her hands. "I wonder how would he feel about me using his ability on his own friends."

"Interesting indeed." Chrollo nodded by her side. It seems that the girl is pretending to be a bad guy - girl to keep her friends away from Genei Ryodan. He decided to have an experiment.

"If I die, so will your friend."

This is not what I want to tell you guys. . . .it's good that you are doing well. Take care.

Chrollo teleported them to his mansion's living room. Only to see his Spiders lounging at the couches. Apparently, his companion's foul mood meter just went into max. With her scarlet eyes activated in their burning glory, she stomped her way into her room upstairs, her hands itching to kill someone. Literally. Her footsteps seemed to be more like a giant's than a five-foot - three inches girl.

"Danchou, what's wrong with Kurapika?" Shalnark asked. Right now, it seemed that he was the first one to accept the girl. And with him calling the Chain-User by her first name spoke lots.

Chrollo was about to give an answer but then heard numerous crashing sounds and thuds and sounds of wood being cracked into pieces. Yup, the princess is in a very bad mood indeed. But she wasn't the only one who is in a bad mood. Nobunaga is, as well. For reasons such as 'ruining the peace with her tantrum that required crashes and destruction of certain noisy things' and 'killing his best friend Uvogin'. A few minutes later, the noises stopped and it was quiet again.

"I'm gonna go see what the bastard is up to." Nobunaga declared as he stood up, gripping the hilt of his katana as he did so.

Franklin, who occupied a couch that can fit three-to-four people, glanced at the 'January' of Genei Ryodan. "I don't think this is a right time, Nobunaga." he gave an advice. An advice that the samurai totally ignored. Shizuku who was leaning on Franklin's gigantic calves as she sat on the carpeted floor, her eyes would move from her book to Nobunaga then to the book then back to Nobunaga.

"Why are you so fired up, Nobunaga?" she inquired and Shalnark face-palmed. Trust Shizuku to be very forgetful at strange timings.

The cellphone-freak tried to explain to Shizuku before Nobunaga's bomb would explode. "Because Kurapika is the Chain-User. . ." Shalnark let that trail off. Not wanting to say 'killed Uvogin' which will totally drop the 'bomb'. He silently wished that the girl would get the message.

"Oh" Shizuku said, something in her eyes changed slightly and Shalnark mentally rejoiced. Which was short-lived when the girl inquired. "So? what's the point?"

The menbers of Genei Ryodan chose not to say anything more. It was a good idea because when Shizuku did not receive an answer after a few seconds she shrugged and continued her reading session. It was quiet now, so why not relish the moment?

A ear-splitting scream of frustration and a loud explosion followed by a moment of ground shaking interrupted the momentary peace of the manor. Chrollo mentally sighed.

It was so silent again. As if the scream or explosion did not occur at all.

"Danchou, should I go up to stop her before she wrecks the whole place?" Shalnark asked.

"No need" Chrollo said and headed up the stairs.

"Interesting indeed." Chrollo nodded by her side. It seems that the girl is pretending to be a bad guy - girl to keep her friends away from Genei Ryodan. He decided to have an experiment.

"If I die, so will your friend"

This is not what I want to tell you guys. . . .it's good that you are doing well. Take care.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Kurapika," Gon and Killua gritted their teeth at her 'name' "I steal abilities along with identities."

"Who are you really and what did you do to our Kurapika?"

"Will you stop following me if I told you?"

"No, that will only serve as our motive to trail you." Gon said honestly and the ex-assassin beside him hissed.

"Gon! What are you saying!"

"I repeat, who are you and what did you do to our Kurapika?"

Instead of answering, Kurapika held out a hand and materialized her chains. "How about I use this instead, in order for you to not follow me?" Judgement Chain danced in gentle waves but in threatening manner. "You do know what this is right?"

Gon clenched his fists so hard that his entire body was shaking. "Where is Kurapika!?" he demanded. Eyes almost teary.

"He is safe." Chrollo finally decided to join the conversation and perform his experiment. How high would his princess' poker-face-ability be? "And to answer your question, my wife's name is Kurapika Lucilfer. The secret member of Genei Ryodan. She had made sure that your Kurapika is alive. Ryodan can't kill him because that would mean our member's death as well."

He wrapped an arm around her waist and used his Teleportation skill to leave not noticing Kurapika's tears fall as space swallowed them away.

". . . .my wife's name is Kurapika Lucilfer. The secret member of Genei Ryodan. ."

Kurapika let out a scream of frustration. Her scarlet eyes brimmed with tears of anger.

Kurapika LUCILFER.

Chrollo Lucilfer's wife. . .

WHAT THE HECK!

". . . Ryodan can't kill him because that would mean our member's death as well"

She had to admit, that sentence will definitely work to cut ties with her friends, they would not chase her anymore. But this wasn't how Kurapika wanted to reunite with her friends - cut ties with her friends. She had planned admitting everything to her friends but Chrollo had to ruin it. Damn him! If he did not appear in the scene it would be so much easier. Someone knocked her door twice and then it opened, revealing the very man who fueled her anger at the moment.

"What do you want?" she asked.

The man hummed at the sight of the unrecognizable room. No one would ever think that this room was once sky-themed. The walls had dents, there was an open wall that seemed to have been caused by the explosion, ashes and splinters of wood is scattered around the room. The only thing that was not destroyed was the special metal closet where the girl keeps the first pair she obtained from being 'with' Chrollo.

Instead of answering he gave her a paper. It contained the list of the countries where the other Eyes are located. Some had complete addresses but it did little to Kurapika's hatred to the man, but it did something to her mood. She calmed slightly as she read over the list. In her mind, she calculated the pairs.

33 pairs of eyes.

There are 36 pairs. One is with her, one pair was lost in the 'YorkShin incident'. Where was the remaining pair.

"The pair -

"I have the pair that you won in that auction from YorkShin" Chrollo said.

Kurapika did not question why he wasn't giving it to her right now, at least it wasn't lost. "And the last pair?"

"It's with Hisoka."

"Then we find Hisoka first." Kurapika said "The others can wait."

"Do you even know where he is?" Chrollo asked "Even Shalnark has no idea where to find him."

"I don't care if Shalnark can't find him! I know where he is!"

"Care tell?"

"Heavens Arena."

Chrollo hummed. "He does like to hang-out there." He remembered the last time he talked to Illumi asking where the jester was after the fake member's and his battle.

"So what do we do now?" Leorio asked

"We can always look for Kurapika." Gon said.

"How, though? If it's about Kurapika only the Ryodan and Hisoka are accurate leads." Killua pulled his own hair with both hands in frustration. "This is what I hate about Kurapika, always independent. He should learn to rely on us. We're his friends for God's sake!"

"Maybe that's why he doesn't." Gon said thoughtfully. "If I we're Kurapika, I wouldn't want to burden you guys about my problem as well. Not to mention, Kurapika is really independent, he has been by himself for four years. Think about it, he just wants to complete his goal for his clan with his own hands, like me wanting to find Ging without details or clues from his friends. I think it also has something to do with pride."

Killua wanted to protest. He really wanted to. But his friend had a point. This was so 'Kurapika'. Just like in the Genei Ryodan incident in YorkShin, he didn't want to rely on anyone. He just sighed. "You're right."

"So since we have no lead from Genei Ryodan, we go chase Hisoka."

"Where is that pervert anyway?" Killua asked. He still remembered the stare the clown has given him and Gon in Greed Island.

"Zushi said that Hisoka is in Heavens Arena."

"Ugh, we're going there again?"

"We can make money as we gather information." Gon encouraged. "They sell your favorite chocolate as well right?"

"Then Heavens Arena it is." Killua's sudden change of mood alerted Leorio.

"Oi oi."

Author's Note

Thank you for reading, please review!

Edited on January 3, 2016