Unconditional Loyalty

Summary: Kurapika is a Kurutanian beauty but keeps it a secret for his and Pairo's safety, he's also the bookworm that doesn't fit in among the towns people, and Leorio is the cursed prince all thanks to his own attitude. Both are from different worlds, yet they suffer from the same feeling of isolation. A parody of Disney's Beauty & The Beast. Alternate Universe setting.

Disclaimer: I certainly do not own anything of the Disney franchise, and I don't even own Togashi sensei's wonderful works for the Hunter X Hunter anime and manga. This is purely for fan entertainment, and to fulfill my craving for writing a Leorio and Kurapika centered fanfic.

Pairings: Leorio and Kurapika, slight Pokkles and Ponzu.

Author's Note: I have been told that Kuroro was acting OOC in the previous chapter, and apologies for that. Gaston and Kuroro do have total opposite personalities after all, however out of all the characters in HxH Kuroro seemed to best suit being this story's antagonist. Maybe reading all of those Chain Pair/KuroPika fanfics from very talented authors had resulted in me being able to see Kuroro as someone who would hold interest towards things or people that are beautiful and of high caliber, and no doubt Kurapika fit all of those descriptions. Still I hope having him being an antique collector would retain some of his sophisticated and serious personality.

Italic font means the character's inner thoughts as usual.

Right after Kurapika stepped into the house that he shared with his life-long best friend, Pairo, an explosion could be heard, and it didn't take long before the whole living room was filled with thick smoke. Kurapika knew this meant Pairo had failed yet again in creating one of his inventions. Must be that large machine that is supposed to cut up logs and fire woods.

The blonde boy tried to get to his best friend while quickly open up all the windows in order for the smoke to dissipate. Then he spotted Pairo coughing while kneeling down in front of his latest wood cutter invention. It looked like a cooking stove that has an axe for a mouth, with a small pipe exhaust poking out at the top.

Unlike Kurapika's ambiguous and charming appearance coupled with his almost silk-like blonde tresses, Pairo just looked like any average boy his age, with brown colored short hair and eyes. However if one wasn't informed about his poor eyesight and weak legs, Pairo certainly looked as if he is normal.

''Pairo? Do you need help?''

''How on earth did that happen? Darn it! I must have twisted the wrong wire and…'' Pairo didn't bother to continue his sentence and proceeded with fixing the machine with odd looking tools that probably couldn't be bought anywhere.

Kurapika had to smile at Pairo and fondly replied ''You always say that and then you will not give up until that thing finally serves it purpose.''

''I'm about ready to give up on this hunk of junk, sigh. I'm tired of trying my best and things still don't go the way I wanted it.'' said Pairo, and Kurapika thought he saw his inventor friend almost wanted to punch the large machine.

''Yes, you will make it work. And you'll win first prize at the fair today. I only regretted not being able to accompany you since the tax collector will come to our house in a few hours and I need to be around to pay him. Not to mention someone has to look after our crops and farm animals. Pairo… are you sure you'll be fine traveling alone?''

Pairo gave him a meaningful smile, indicating that he appreciated Kurapika's concern and then turned back to look at his invention's faults. ''Having your support gives me the energy to work again, Kurapika.''

''Trust me, you'll be the world's best inventor. I haven't met anyone who's as determined and patient as you.''

''That's because it has always been only you and me ever since we moved in to this foreign town. And it's not like anyone in the Kuruta village would even thought of being an inventor.''

As Pairo gets busy with his newest invention, Kurapika pulls out a chair and sits in one corner, suddenly feeling isolated.

''Pairo, do you think I'm odd?''

''My best friend? Odd? Where do you get an idea like that?''

''Oh, I don't know. It's just, I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really talk to.''

''And you're sure that I had made new friends here? You are fine with just the way you are. It can't be helped that we both were brought up in a culture different from this place. Hence it's much better for us to hide our Scarlet Eyes from the townsfolk. Letting them know about our unique trait will isolate us even more from the rest of the world and we'll cease to live in peace.''

''You have no idea how difficult it gets sometimes, especially when someone just tests my patience with his ignorance and pride.''

''Kuroro-san made you upset again? But he's a smart and handsome fellow.''

Kurapika could feel his heart filled with sorrow. There are just too many things in this world that is ironic or unfair. Perhaps the memories of his dead parents and fellow Kurutanian tribesmen trigger it but he was sure that he is sad for Pairo too, right at this moment. You're complimenting him when he had just belittled you. If only you knew…

''He's handsome all right, and rude and conceited and... Oh Pairo, he's not for me.''

''Well, don't you worry, cause this invention's going to be the start of a new life for us. I think that's done it. Now, let's give it a try,'' Pairo replied and he steps away from the machine, pulls out a string that comes out at the machine's back in hopes that it could start working.

To both of their joy and excitement, the machine starts to make a whirling sound and the axe that had been at its front, started to swing vertically, so Pairo quickly placed a few logs under the axe, and it could chop up the logs in a clean cut.

''It works! Pairo! Oh, your dreams, our future! Everything will turn out better now!''

''It does? It does! I can't wait to see their faces when I show this wood cutter at the fair! Hitch up Birdie, Kurapika. I'm off to the fair!''

Kurapika immediately run towards their farm to get Birdie ready, their loyal giant hybrid bird that stood almost as tall as a horse. Birdie is actually a type of bird that is common for the Kurutanian people and they're tame and large enough to be used for rides. Birdie is the same giant bird that Kurapika and Pairo had rode on while they escaped from the group of mysterious criminals that killed everyone else in their birth village, so it had been staying in their new house's farm ever since.

Right after Pairo had finished packing, both he and his blonde best friend wrapped up the wood cutter machine with a rag cloth and loaded it on the carriage that was harnessed at Birdie's back. And Pairo is set to go.

''Good bye, Pairo! Good luck! Try to wear your glasses when you need to see the map.''

''Good bye, Kurapika, and take care while I'm gone!''

Little did they both know that Pairo is about to encounter a danger while he's on his journey. And the same danger will change both their lives, especially Kurapika's, forever.

And I'm still wondering whether I should write the town in a Japanese setting, or just have it mixed with various cultures like the HXH universe. If I made the town to reside in Japan that would explain why Menchi and Buhara sell sushis in the first chapter. However, it also means having Kurapika and Leorio dance while wearing Japanese robes or kimonos in the future chapters. But it might make the scene less romantic or classy, not saying that Japanese settings or background can't be as romantic as France, but perhaps I am used to the idea of Belle and the Beast dancing while wearing a ball gown and a suit jacket. Ouch, I should have thought of this earlier. X_X