Answers for reviews I couldn't reply by PM:

Guest: Thank you for loving it! I'll try my best to update fast :D (There are 2 reviews from Guest so I don't know if you're the same person, but still, thank you!)

macama: Last time Kurapika separated with Gon and friends, I consider her age as 17-18. So now she's around 23-24 :) For that question, you'll find out in this chapter XD Thank you!

maichiro: Iyaa dia pasti sekarang makin biutipul, hihihi. Hah, kok udah main hamil dan melahirkan aja? Ntar dulu, sih! Baca chapter yg ini dulu yak XD Thank you!

Aaand... Sorry for the wait! I planned to update every week, on Saturday or Sunday. But yeah. Real life got in the way, haha :| This story is a long one! Sorry for the inconsistency of each chapter's length ._.v

Disclaimer: I don't own Hunter x Hunter nor making money with this. All belongs to Togashi-sama m(_ _)m Except some original characters and places, of course :D

Note: Gon and Killua still don't know about Kurapika's past, so to avoid confusion I'll address Kurapika as 'he' in their conversation until everything is clear for them :) For Kurapika's voice, please imagine Sawashiro Miyuki's normal voice :3 Not the cute one like Uta no Prince-sama's Haruka, but the actual normal one :D (Accidentally found it on YouTube when she was in an anime expo then I got all worked up, hahaha!)

Chapter 4
The Flashback (2)

Leorio kept staring at the person in front of him. Even after he was welcomed and had a sit and was served with a cup of warm tea, he just couldn't stop gaping with wide eyes.

"Ehm..." Leorio tried starting a conversation. "Are you... really Kurapika?"

The woman sitting just across the table raised one of her eyebrows.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"B-But, WHY? Why do you... dress like this? Explain to me, Kurapika!"

But she replied him with a light chuckle.

"Oi! What's so funny?"

"No, it's just... It's been a while since we met, Leorio. I was really surprised to see you here."

Even her voice differed from the last time he had seen her. It was a bit lighter, more like a woman voice than before.

"Do you think I wasn't as surprised as you? We haven't met for 4 years, and now I find you looking like a drag!"

"How rude!" Kurapika snapped, making Leorio cringed. "I'm an actual woman!"

"S-So you really are?" Leorio was taken back. "I thought you were just cross-dressing!"

"Funny," she snorted. "Well... Can't really blame you."

"Right? Say, why were you pretending to be a guy? Why couldn't I contact you? Why are you here now? How about your work? Why―"

"Okay, okay! I got it, Leorio. I'll explain everything," she sighed to herself. "But before that... How did you find me here?"

And then Leorio told her from the beginning of why he came to that island, to his idea of following Senritsu with a spy.

"I see," Kurapika drank her tea. "So our meeting is more of a coincidence."

"I didn't think I would really find you here."

"Congratulation for being a doctor, Leorio. I'm so glad your dream comes true," she said with a warm smile.

"Thank you," Leorio's cheeks a bit tinted with pink blush. "Say, Kurapika. It feels strange to be with you here now."

"Strange?"

"Last time I saw you, you looked more intimidating. Your eyes were full of determination. I could say that you were kinda scary. But now... Rather than intimidating, you're more like... soothing. Your voice is softer. Even your gaze is so gentle. You've... changed a lot."

"Really? I don't realize that," she chuckled again. "But you seem not really change, Leorio. Except for owning a doctor license."

"What's that?!" Leorio protested as Kurapika was laughing. "Hmph! Still annoying as ever."

After her laugh stopped, they were back to serious mode again.

"So... ready to tell me your story?"

Kurapika stared at her half-empty cup of tea, both hands were holding the ceramic. She paused for a moment before began speaking.

"Since my childhood, I was a tomboy. I hated my mom when she made me wearing girl clothings. I always kept my hair short. My best friend was a boy," her eyes got a bit darkened. "After that massacre has happened, I determined to get my revenge. I learned that women in outside community are mostly difficult to be accepted in many conditions and are often underestimated. To prevent that to happen, I decided to live my remaining life as a man. Hiding my growing curves, changing my voice lower, learning male's behaviours... Along side with training myself to prepare for the hunter exam."

Leorio listened to her story carefully, sometimes nodding in acknowledgment.

"Sorry for lying to you before, Leorio."

"It's okay. You had your own condition..." he replied with a grin. "I always thought that as a guy you were too feminine. But I didn't ask you further because I knew you would get angry and then beat me up."

Leorio's humor comforted her and encouraged her to continue.

"Now you must be wondering why I come back to my nature, that is being a woman."

"You tell."

She paused again. This time her expression showed pain. As if the memories that was going to be told was hurting her.

"Kurapika?" Leorio got worried. "Are you okay?"

"Actually... not really."

"If you don't feel like it, you can stop here."

"No, it's fine," Kurapika exhaled, trying to hide her sorrow by smiling. "I feel like I should really tell you. I should share this to you. To... lessen this burden even for a bit. Is it okay for you, Leorio?"

"Kurapika..." his friend has gone through horrible experiences again, just like Leorio has thought. "Go on. You can tell me everything. I'll be more than willing to help you."

"Thank you..." she smiled again, then continued her story. "Four years ago... Remember that we captured Genei Ryodan's leader?"

"That Kuroro? Of course," he nodded.

"Remember that I put my Judgment Chain on his heart?"

He nodded again. "Un."

"Apparently... He managed to remove it, only a few months after we've separated."

"What?" this news shocked him. Kurapika's chain technique was so strong and flawless. There was no way Kuroro could escape from it. "Wasn't it impossible?"

"I thought. But he found an Exorcist to remove my curse..."

"An Exorcist?" Well, it was true that Exorcists could remove Nen curses on himself or on other users. "But to think that he found an Exorcist that fast..."

Leorio gritted his teeth, frustrated.

"I already knew that there was a way to remove my Nen curse. But... The thing still being a mystery to me is that... I didn't realize it at all. I should have known, I should have felt it if my curse is removed. But I didn't. Instead, Kuroro told that to me by himself."

"What did you say? K-Kuroro met you again and told you that?"

Kurapika nodded as Leorio was gaping.

"If you met him again when he had his power back, then... Did you fight with him? Did he hurt you?"

"It was..." she turned her head down. "...worse."

Worse. Leorio couldn't imagine something worse than being badly injured or permanently impaired if you survived from fighting with Ryodan's leader.

"What did he do to you, Kurapika...?"

She gripped the table's sheet, biting her own lips.

"He... He broke me. Crushed me, destroyed me. H-He..." hands were shaking, "...changed my life."

"Changed your... life?"

"I prefer him killing me at that moment," her hand was palming her own face.

"Kurapika... What exactly has he done―"

Before he finished his question, there was a sound from the other room. It was like little steps, approaching the small living room he and Kurapika were in as it was getting louder.

There is still another person? I thought Kurapika was living only with Senritsu. Leorio wondered to himself.

He was answered with someone showing his small head on the door. Small head... Yes, it was a little boy. A cute, black-haired boy with still sleepy eyes.

"Ah, you're awake?" Leorio glanced to Kurapika when she greeted the child.

The child nodded then walked to her direction, rubbing his eyes. "Got a bad dream."

"Again?" Kurapika put him on her lap after he has reached her.

The child nodded again, this time pouting. "I and Sen-chan were chased by a huuuge spider, then it ate her. I was so scared! It entered our house, searching for you. But I woke up when it almost ate you."

"Spider...?"

"Why?" the child turned his head, looking up to her face when he felt her tone changed.

"Nothing," she smiled, ruffling his smooth black hair. "Thank goodness it was just a dream."

"Un..." he leaned his back to her, seeking for comfort. Then he saw a stranger with teashade sunglasses sitting across him and Kurapika.

"Who's that ossan, Mommy?"

What shocked Leorio wasn't that he was called ossan, but that the child called Kurapika with Mommy.

"Don't call him ossan, Kuraito (1). He's a bit sensitive when people address him with that," she laughed. "He is Mommy's friend. Would you greet him?"

That child named Kuraito got off from her lap, then approached Leorio. "Good afternoon. My name's Kuraito. Nice to meet you." He bowed politely.

Leorio was taken back. He couldn't reply for a moment. Kuraito was staring at him in wonder.

"I, um... I'm Leorio. Nice to meet you, Kuraito," he finally greeted the child back after regaining his mind back. "How old are you?"

"Three years old!"

"Only three? You're really smart for your age..." Leorio ruffled Kuraito's hair, impressed by how the child could talk smoothly like older children.

Kuraito blushed, grinning widely. "Mommy and Sen-chan taught me! I also can read books. Mommy's books are difficult, but she always tells me the meaning of difficult terms when I find them."

"Impressive," Leorio was stunned how that child was also a prodigy, just like his mother.

Kuraito went back to his mother's side. "Where's Sen-chan?"

"She went to buy something for a while. Kuraito, could you go back to our room for a moment? I need to talk to Leorio-san alone," Kurapika asked her son to leave.

"Okay, Mommy," he complied, returning to another room. Kurapika waited until the door on the other side closed before turning to Leorio.

The man just stared at the woman. He expected more explanation.

"As you just saw. He's my son," Kurapika drank her tea again.

"I see... So you built your own family, which started 4 years ago, no?"

"Not quite."

"Sen-chan is Senritsu-san (2)?"

"Yes."

"And your husband? Where is he?"

"Husband, huh?" she snorted, as if it was an unusual thing. "I don't have any. I never get married."

Leorio's sunglasses slided down for a bit.

"This is connected to what Kuroro has done to me."

His eyes widened, getting a conclusion. "Don't tell me..."

Kurapika played with her cup.

"Kuraito is Kuroro's child."

"...Oh Lord," Leorio couldn't believe his own ears. "How...?"

Her elbow was put on the table to support her arm holding her forehead.

"Four years ago, Kuroro caught me, telling me that my curse on him has been removed. He got me defenseless by tying me with Nen chain, blocking my own Nen. Then... That sexually frustrated bastard... raped me with no mercy. A few months later I found out that I was pregnant with his child."

She said the two last sentences with almost a whisper. Leorio run out of any comment.

They didn't say a word for some minutes. Leorio was still trying to absorb the new facts he just heard, while Kurapika was calming herself down to continue their talk.

"I... can't believe Kuroro would do that. I thought he was the type who would banish everyone who has distressed him," Leorio was the one who broke the ice.

"If he killed me right away, then it would finish fast. What he has done to me was much worse than killing... He wanted to break me, making me suffer and feel chagrined for the rest of my life."

"You bearing his child was part of his plan, too?"

"I'm not sure if impregnating me was included," Kurapika was staring at her now-empty cup. "But he succeeded to make me feel disgusted with myself."

"You're not!"

"I know," she looked at him, lifting her lips up. "It was in the past. Now I feel a lot better. Though I'm still wondering why horrible fate always comes to me."

Kurapika's dry laugh inevitably made him do the same.

"Damn, no wonder I felt that he looks like someone... Didn't think it was Kuroro. Now that you've mentioned it, Kuraito indeed looks like an exact copy of him."

"Hmph. At least my son has my grey eyes and my small nose," she looked annoyed.

"You're right... Sorry," Of course Kurapika would hate it if he said her son looked exactly the same with her archenemy. He regretted himself for bringing it up. "Does he possess Scarlet Eyes?"

"I don't know. He's only three. Besides, he never really throw tantrum or get emotionally distracted, so I can't find it out yet."

"Does he know about his father?"

"I said that his father was a fisherman, but got killed in an accident when he was still in my belly."

"Hmm..."

Kurapika looked at him again. "Got any more questions?"

He nodded. "I know this might be the stupidest thing to ask, but I can't hold myself not to bring it up."

"What is it?"

"Despite of everything that has happened, do you... love your son?"

She closed her eyes.

"You have no idea how much hatred is residing my heart. It's all for The Spiders. Especially for my son's scumbag father."

Leorio was still waiting for her unfinished answer.

"But for Kuraito, I... I can't bring myself to hate him. I did, at my first months of pregnancy. I felt really disgusted by bearing Kuroro's child. I've tried some methods of abortions, but it all failed. After several more months, I began to grow fond of the baby inside me. Then, the moment he was born and was put in my arms... I swore to myself that I will do everything to protect him, no matter what happens," her expression was so gentle right then. "I love my son so much."

Kurapika really has changed, Leorio thought. Secretly he was glad that she got a child, because it has changed her. She got a new life; she looked so much happier. It made Leorio smile so sincerely.

"So... about your previous goals..." he was talking about her goal to defeat The Spiders and to collect all of Kurta people's eyes.

"Ah, that? I gave up on them," she shrugged it off. "I still hate The Spiders, of course, but I got nothing to do with revenge anymore. That's why now I dress like this and live here. Though I still feel sorry for Senritsu because she had to quit our job with me. She did it just to follow me and to make sure I didn't harm myself during my pregnancy."

"Senritsu-san did?"

"If it wasn't because of her encouragement, I would really fall into a pit of depression and end up killing myself. Even after Kuraito has born, Senritsu has been helping me raising him until now."

"Thank goodness... I'm so glad you choose this new better life, Kurapika. I'll always pray for your happiness."

"Thank you... Thank you so much for listening, Leorio."

"I will always come to you if you need me. Just contact me whenever you want," he gave her his new phone number, which she received gladly.

But then they heard running steps from the outside. The front door was opened in a rush, revealing someone with heavy breathing.

"Kurapika!"

She was the small woman, Senritsu. She looked really worried. And when she looked at Leorio, she gasped in shock.

"Yappari. I heard heartbeats that were like yours, Leorio-san. How did you manage to come up here without getting noticed by me?"

Leorio told her his technique previously.

"Sorry, Senritsu-san," Leorio bowed apologetically. "I noticed you were lying to me, so I tried to find out. Glad I found Kurapika here. She willingly told me everything."

"You did?" Senritsu turned to ask Kurapika. The blonde nodded.

"I see... Please also forgive me, Leorio-san, Kurapika. I didn't tell Leorio-san to protect Kurapika and Kuraito, and I didn't tell Kurapika about Leorio-san to not make her worry," Senritsu did the same thing like Leorio did.

"It's okay now. We can trust Leorio for this secret. Right, Leorio?" Kurapika turned to Leorio.

"Of course! You can leave it to me!" Leorio patted his own chest, but then he realized something. "...wait. Secret?"

"Yes. All of things I told you are secret."

"What about Gon and Killua? They're also worried about you!"

"Promise me not to tell them anything?" Kurapika asked him, holding both of his hands with hers. "I'll tell them by myself when the time is right."

"But..."

"Promise me, Leorio?"

Leorio gave up. It was her right, after all.

"...I promise."

End of flashback

Leorio sighed. He really really wanted to share to Gon and Killua, but of course he couldn't. To calm himself down, that night he decided to go back to sleep. On the next day he would find a way to stop his two best friends from finding out more about Kurapika.

The next day, they were in an internet cafe, searching for more data on Hunter website.

"Can we try to find Senritsu-san? She might be still with Kurapika now," Gon suggested to Killua, who was holding the PC.

"Roger that."

"Are you sure? Why would we search for her? Aren't we finding Kurapika?" Leorio made his comment.

"It doesn't hurt to try. Senritsu-san, as we've known, is his close friend. She got the highest possibility of knowing his whereabout now, since they left together six years ago," Killua answered, glancing at Leorio with suspicious eyes.

"O-Oh, I see," Leorio backed away, not interfering the other's effort any further. He had been being too obvious.

"Is it just my feeling, or Leorio looks like he doesn't really want to meet Kurapika?" Gon wondered, now staring at the doctor.

"So you got the same feeling? Yeah, I agree," Killua followed the spiky guy to stare at Leorio.

"W-What are you talking about? Of course I want to meet he― him, too!"

"Then why you―" Killua didn't finish his sentence as he heard another customer's comment on the news he was reading on his screen. Gon and Killua also turned their attention to him.

"The Scarlet Eyes were stolen, again? This is like the thirteenth time for these past five months!"

That person's friend also said something. "My, what's so great about Scarlet Eyes? True that they are pretty. But risking your life to steal it from Mafia and even Genei Ryodan? That thief must be insane."

"Did you say Scarlet Eyes?" Gon surprised those customers by asking them right in front of their noses.

"Y-Yes. It was on the home screen of Yorkshin News website," one of them showed it to Gon.

"Gon, could it be..." Killua trailed off.

"Yep, that thief could be Kurapika..." Gon speculated. "Who else would do crazy stuffs like that to retrieve a lot number of Scarlet Eyes in just a few months? He must feel really worked up now. Come on, let's find out more! We can start with who was the last person that got stolen!"

Gon dragged Killua back to their computer, typing and clicking things to find their wanted information.

On the other side, Leorio couldn't believe what he has heard. Quite large numbers of Scarlet Eyes were stolen in just a short time. He couldn't think of any person who was that ambitious to collect them all besides Kurapika.

But... Two years ago, Kurapika has said that she has given up that goal of hers. That she would live her new life in peace. Has she changed her mind now?

Madly curious, Leorio went to Killua's side, deciding to help his friends finding out about it. He just hoped it really wasn't Kurapika who has done it.

~To be continued~

Fuh! That was long. Tell me what you think, please! :D

Notes:

(1) Kuraito supposed to be written "Chryte", just like Kuroro's "Chrollo". But "Kuroro" was written like that, so for consistency I stick with "Kuraito". Hm? Lame naming? I'll keep this name, because somehow I like it :D And it still includes "Kura", hehehe.

(2) Kurapika called Senritsu without san, but I forgot how the other three addressed her. I'm sorry, I guess I'll stick with Senritsu-san :)