Trouble

In the Spiders' Quarters at night...

A note appeared on the floor.

'Boss, we got something new.' said Shizuku, picking the note up and looked at it. 'Ah!'

'What's it say?' Chrollo asked her.

'She said dinner will be a bit late due to recent developments.' said Shizuku. 'The bodyguard of the 8th queen offered to teach Nen to all princes so she'll confirm something.'

'Something?' Feitan frowned.

'The bodyguard is Kurapika.' the others turned their heads towards Shizuku so fast. 'But she hasn't seen Kurapika yet so she has doubts if this Kurapika and our Kurapika are the same so she'll sneak here and have us confirm for her by changing her looks.'

'Is that right...ain't that neat boss?' Nobunaga looked murderous as did the whole troupe bar the Zoldycks. 'If he really IS here...its two birds in one stone.'

'Be patient Nobunaga.' said Chrollo with a chilly smile that promised murder. 'For now, Hisoka is easier to access as both Kurapika and Naruko are playing tango with Nen Beasts. One wrong move, its over for them both. If he lived longer after we're done with Hisoka, we can then kill him too. For now we have Naruko focus on her survival, not the Chain Guy or we're toast without her. We'll deal with him ourselves.'

'Roger that~'

xxx

Day 2, 9 am...

Naruko is in the 14th Prince Chambers with other bodyguards.

This is a two week gig.

But there's already a murderous intent in the room.

Two other maids with her. Along with normal humans and a handful of Nen Users.

Most likely its the 1st Prince.

She'll aid Kurapika for now because while everyone can go die for all she cared, she would put her foot down on a baby's death. Infants are still innocent, unstained by the ugliness of the world and has the chance to grow up good if done right. She pulled out a paper from her maid kimono and slowly pulled out a paper, written in black marker pen that got Kurapika's and Bill's attention.

The 1st Prince's retinue are all Nen Users.
Murderous intent in room.
Exercise caution. Use Gyo for concealed Nen.
Pretend I can't use Nen.
1st Prince Retinue have poor aura control
and low aura reserves but mastered abilities
as compensation.

For Kurapika to see her note, he got his guard up before she hid her note back into her uniform.

Kurapika knows he has an ally in the 3rd Prince and a potential in the 5th if he played his cards right. And as the 10th and 11th are twins, the key would be Naruko who knows the 1st Prince's retinue could use Nen and even to the level of their abilities. Self-learned people tend to teach self-learned skills be it right or wrong method of teaching. That was one advantage they have being powerful users who gained the knowledge of Hunter's Association. The question was, if Naruko is powerful or not.

He has to do politics real well.

"So far, he's teaching us in front of the Queen's Quarters, leaving no openings whatsoever." Naruko thought. "Not bad. Then again, with a baby onboard...these guys are willing to kill even an infant just to get a promotion." she thought in disgust.

'First things first,' said Kurapika, 'I would ask all of you not to cross the line under any circumstances.' said Kurapika. 'Anyone that violates this security precaution may be asked to leave.'

"That would include me no doubt." Naruko thought. "Even if I move for defense, not attack."

'...and depending on the situation, I may use force without warning.'

Someone just dared to start some shit, Muhan who deliberately crossed the line with his foot with a snarky comment, and Kurapika was a sharp-tongued man who insulted his prince nearly provoking a fight.

It would give Kurapika an excuse to kill a bodyguard through the rules. Not bad. After that, they had to introduce themselves.

These two weeks ought to be interesting.

Kurapika, when she used Gyo to watch her surroundings, has a gentle, barely-there flow on the rest of his body but the Ten on his right hand is strong. Chain User...huh?

On his right hand are chains. The boss and senpais thought he's a Manipulator but he's in fact, a Conjurer.

From what the senpais told him, he can force Zetsu with his middle chain finger= boss' experience, and force conditions with his little finger chain. If not fulfilled they die= Uvogin and Pakunoda's experience. Boss was the only one to survive that because of Abengane.

She has to watch out for those two.

She also saw an In-concealed doll. What can it do?

15 of them here.

He then asked a question.

'...I will be teaching Nen to 15 of you here. However, during this process there will be differences in the rate at which you individually gain control of it.' Kurapika told them while his mind is coming up with ways to make sure he can disseminate information in a way the right people gets it. The last thing he wants, is the 1st and 4th Prince getting the right intel.

'But in order for the lessons to go smoothly...I ask of you one thing and please answer honestly.' said Kurapika strictly. 'Is there anyone of you who can already use Nen? Raise your hands.'

Verelainte did and so did Hurikov.

Naturally, Naruko didn't raise her hand, having warned Kurapika beforehand.

'Jeez, if two of them can use it, why did they come?' Loveely wondered.

'Who knows?' Yuuri remarked.

Somehow, by body language, Loveely saw something. She's not a Nen-User so she's clearly possessed.

Logically speaking, she, a kid should have been an ideal target. She even pretended to be a civilian through deliberate leaking through her head. Or maybe its because she's so obvious a target they chose another dummy?

In which case, using Loveely as the distraction worked TOO well...she screamed about the presence in the room...and there's a casualty. 13th Prince Bodyguard Barigen. He was attacked by white snakes.

"They mostly came out of that doll." Naruko thought. But Kurapika didn't show any signs of panic and such. Rather, he was cool throughout and left no opening. "Jeez, cool as a cucumber...then again, murders will happen any time any day during this farce of a voyage...what a pain."

So Kurapika separated them all to make sure stealthy attacks don't happen again, while Loveely was arrested on suspicion for murder of Barigen. One less maid.

For now, she needs an In. She'll use an excuse to be taken in somehow.

On meditation training...she deliberately messed up, remembering what her first days were like. Including injuring herself and making it look accidental.

'Kyaah!' cue waterworks!

'Be careful.' Kurapika gently told her as Naruko was clearly bleeding from the palms of her hands. 'Losing concentration will understandably cause injury. Bill!' Kurapika called out. 'Body-check Naruko and have her hands treated. You will try again tomorrow.' Bill came out of the Queen's quarters to take away the crying maid.

But he wondered what her game was, as Bill took Naruko into the chambers after doing body-check. He was risking things here...she's a Nen User. She may want information after playing dumb while sharing behind the scenes or Assassinate the Queen and her Prince but for now, benefit of the doubt, but a price he's willing to pay.

After lessons ended...

'You did that on purpose.' Kurapika stated as Naruko sat on a chair provided, sitting near the door away from the queen. 'Deliberately injuring yourself with your own aura, so I responded in kind.'

His words alarmed Bill and the Queen.

'What?!'

'You know about Nen and even warned me about the 1st Prince's retinues.' said Kurapika. 'But I would like to hear your side as well. Please come with us.'

'Alright.' thus Naruko faced with the other bodyguards. 3rd Prince's Sakata and 9th Prince's Yurihai and Cejour.

'Before the others talk, we would start with Naruko first.' said Kurapika. 'Naruko, you can already use Nen so why are you a maid and not a bodyguard? And information Prince Fuugetsu is willing to give. In return we will share information as well.'

'Alright.' said Naruko. 'This whole voyage for greener pastures is a farce as you already know.' she said darkly. 'This trip is just an elaborate excuse to hide the Succession Ceremony from the public. All the Princes have adoring fans, can you just imagine how Kakin will react if they get wind the King forced all his children to murder each other for the throne? Public Relations will instantly shatter and cause an uproar, and uprising to depose the King. Civil War will then ensue. People banding together for a prince they favor to be on the throne. Kakin's as good as a goner by self-implosion. But due to Nen Beasts involved and various conditions and restrictions they possess...everyone on this ship are sacrifices.' Kurapika, Sakata, Cejour and Yurihai stiffened.

'Moreover, given the Seed Urn Ceremony, there are those whose eggs did not hatch.' Naruko continued. 'Before we left the royal palace, its easy to count who hasn't had a Nen Beast yet. Perhaps its due to their desire to be King, as well as taking their character into account that makes them grow after birth. I'm sure you saw the beasts earlier when they went to scope out competition.'

'Who can forget that?' Bill snarked. 'It was crazy hours ago.'

'But some eggs didn't hatch?' Sakata frowned.

'Yes.' said Naruko. 'Fugetsu-sama has yet to have hers as does Kacho-sama's. I don't see Woble-sama's beast either. And one thing to worry about...what happens if some wants out of this big joke? What will the beast do to a Prince unwilling to fight for the throne? And what will this Ceremony do to a Prince who flees when this shindig is bound with Oaths and Contracts called 'Be King or Else'.' indeed, that's a cause for concern. 'That question is a wild card...a deadly one.' she stated. 'Either the beast will never hatch or kill their prince, or the ceremony itself will do the killing, no idea.'

'Its also possible that there are rules we don't know about.' said Kurapika. 'The beasts and our circumstances...this is Kodoku.'

'Kodoku?' Cejour questioned.

'Its a form of Japponese Curse. Put insects in a vessel. Then bury them under the ground. The hungry insects will eat each other until one remains. The fluids of the insect that survived would be used to poison an individual with a curse that would control them, cause them misfortune, or kill them. The remaining insect could also be used as a sort of luck charm granting the one who performed the ritual great wealth. In return the owner is supposed to feed the bug. Neglecting to do so would enrage the insect, if the owner does not equivalently repay the insect by placing all his or her riches beside a road, plus interest in gold and silver, the insect would devour the home owner. Therefore, this ritual could also be used as a death curse by giving the riches to an ignorant individual.' Kurapika explained.

'That's messed up!' Cejour cried. 'The vessel is the ship. The ground in this case is the ocean. The hungry insects are the princes...and the last one standing will gain great power.'

'Exactly. But what concerns me is that 'the owner is supposed to feed the bug or else'.' said Sakata.

'What if...other princes aside, the King must die as well?' Naruko piped out, causing great alarm. '14 souls are sacrifices. 14 princes yet only one can live so 13 should die for that prince. What if the 14th is the King himself?' that was a cause for alarm. 'After the death of 13 of his children, the King will sacrifice himself as a form of 'the owner feeding the bug' in return for the prosperity of the next King? And the cycle continues because nobody wants to know what happens if you didn't feed the bug?'

'That's also possible.' said Kurapika. 'Naruko, Prince Fuugetsu wants an out so she is not a threat to Queen Oito or anybody. What of Prince Kacho?'

'No idea. That's what we're trying to work on right now as Fugetsu-sama wants to save her sister and herself so right now we'll study what happens if they plan to leave.' Naruko shrugged. 'With my ability, I can sneak around but Nen Users will sense me and the 1st Prince's spies on all of us are Nen Users...These Nen Beast thingies aren't in my lessons when I learned Nen years ago. This in itself is a wild card fatal for all of us. But we have a little comfort after this.'

'Comfort.' Cejour deadpanned in utter dismay.

'Yes. Because Nen Beasts cannot attack each other for their prince, they can only kill outsiders. However, they can't do squat if hungry. I heard that's how Prince Momoze was killed as an enemy bodyguard who's also a Nen User figured that out.' yup, that was big news. 'She ran out of energy enabling outsiders to kill her when normally, the Princes must do the deed themselves. However, its an assassin who killed Prince Momoze not a Prince. Whoever he works for, will not get power by 'devouring' her. She thus might not count even if she's dead, but we have no way of proving that. This would mean the condition of devouring 14 souls not fulfilled but its speculation till proven fact and we know we only have one opportunity to confirm that but what if stuff happens that we didn't see as it happened elsewhere and its a rule we didn't know? That's a missed opportunity then.'

'We have to consider that too.' said Kurapika. 'If Prince Fuugetsu is willing to ally with us, we can work together as long as her goals are met.'
'That's if we miraculously get off somehow.' Naruko deadpanned. 'I don't see a lifeboat-' OK, that is a hair-raising danger. '-when I checked this stupid ship the night before the voyage, further reinforcing the fact that sacrifices will be made so I hope the Hunters prepared some getaway boats we can use while those who still wants to fight can go kill each other for all we care. I'll talk to Fugetsu-sama about your offer.'

'Who else wants to ask something?' Kurapika asked the other bodyguards.

'...9th Prince Halkenburg wishes to end this Succession War as well.' said Yuhirai, showing his left fist, and there's a feather tattooed on his skin. 'In order for this discussion to go amicably, he wants information on Nen Beasts.'

'Ah, he's also on the 'I'm outta here' faction isn't he?' Naruko blinked. Yurihai and Cejour nodded.

'Yes. He wants a way out as he does not wish to kill his siblings for the throne.' said Yuhirai. 'But including the prince, we all had this mark on the back of our hands. No matter how much we wash off, it wouldn't come off. According to Prince Halkenburg, when he saw us pass out, he too, lost consciousness. When we all woke up, we already had them. What's strange is that we have no memory of when or how we lost consciousness and the fact we didn't think it strange that he was awake outside his bedtime.'

'This is common with memory revision from a Manipulator's attacks.' Kurapika stated. 'Erasing memories of being attacked and instilling panic by making a mark appear. This is common with Request-Type Manipulators.'

'Request-Type?'

'Users who still give their target freedom of choice but in the end, suckered into what the manipulator wants.' Naruko quipped and Kurapika nodded.

'A mark in the real world has the same effect it would have in the world of Nen.' Kurapika explained. 'Yurihai, according to records, messages, discriminations, signatures and the like, how would you believe the prince would believe this mark?'

Yurihai then looked thoughtful in deep thought. After a few minutes, he began speaking again.

'I would think it was a declaration of our resolve or unity...something like that.' he said.

They talked a bit more, before ending the meeting.

'We need a way to pass messages with each other somehow.' said Kurapika. 'Naruko's shadow ability is the key to pass notes between our groups.' he decided. 'That, and spying on the whole 1st Tier for us about the actions of the other princes without having their beasts attack her.'

'We got a problem though.' said Naruko, linked to her many clones. 'Prince Camilla decided to be an idiot just now, attacking Prince Benjamin with just a six shot revolver.'

'WHAT?!'

'That's suicide!' Cejour cried.

"She has other means of obtaining information? How?!" Kurapika's head reeled from it all.

'Prince Camilla has two Nen Beasts...or its safe to say, she is also a Nen-User as her Royal Nen Beast is a weird jellyfish thingy. But when she was killed, a giant cat came out, killed the soldier who shot her by squeezing him to death, and let what looks like liquid from its tube-like tail flow onto her lips.' Naruko piped up. 'Then her fatal gunshot wounds healed and she's back to life.'

'A Counterattack-Type Post-Mortem Nen and she has her own Nen Beast before this ceremony even began?!' Kurapika and Bill cried in alarm.

'Anything else?' Sakata demanded.

'An idiot to the end.' said Naruko flatly. 'She failed to take into account the security to her brother's suite, enabling them to figure her out so she's now in Prison. They can't kill her due to her power but they could contain her. She has no fighting ability other than that cat. She gave away her trump card so early in the game out of overconfidence.'

'...that really is stupid.' Kurapika stated in helpless deadpan. 'Safe to say she's officially out of the way unless she knows how to actually use Nen as using Nen on your body you can temporarily augment your strength to pry the bars open. She clearly cannot fight other than shoot a gun and her own authority as Prince. But she'll be able to evade arrest if no proof is obtained but will be under surveillance later. So she's one to watch out for. Anything else Naruko?'

'Prince Halkenburg's trying to get an audience with the King.' Naruko spoke up. 'And Prince Kacho is distracting herself with schoolwork. Other than that, no other different movements from the other Princes.'

'Eh?' Sakata wanted her to make it clearer as Naruko twitched.

'His Royal 8th Slobbiness is having a wild sex party and his bedroom's a mess,' the men went pink, 'Prince Benjamin is plotting with his loyal soldiers. His little brother's learning Nen from his own bodyguard yet they sent two representatives to us, and he has a foul-looking Water Divination result. Its black and greenish that bubbles with the consistency of sludge and stinks like hell. He also learns Nen quickly which is bad news...'

'Oh hell...' Kurapika swore darkly. 'Out of the Princes who can use Nen are 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 11th confirmed, everyone else can't or has yet to play their cards.'

'What about that Nen result that got you on edge?' Sakata frowned.

'The feel of aura...of Nen depends on its wielder.' said Naruko. 'Their true self can be reflected in Water Divination and its results. While its difficult to tell the type of personality one has for types Kyouka, Henka, Houshutsu, Gugenka and Sousa, its very obvious in Tokushitsu. 4th Prince having a Water Divination Result like that speaks well of his...personality.' Naruko drawled. 'And look at his Nen Beast!' and she transformed into...a horse with traits that shows how he sees and treats women.

'...that says a lot actually.' Yuhirai gulped as the guards stared at the Nen Beast in horror. 'I pity the woman he falls for, she won't live long!'

Not only that, Naruko can change her appearance. She can be ANYBODY!

'You can judge what you can see by beasts alone.' Naruko shrugged. 'Wanna take notes?'

'Er, we can think on it ourselves.' Cejour shuddered, looking at the 4th Prince's beast.

'...what do the other princes' Nen Beast looks like?' Sakata asked Naruko. 'That should give us a gist of their personality as we guards are not allowed in the banquet rooms nor can we even see other princes'.'

'Well, I'll give you one minute to look at each beast and you decide what you make out of it. Well, 1st Prince...' looks like a weird green alien insect with large teeth. '2nd Prince...' looks like a tree jellyfish with a frilly skirt. '5th Prince...' resembles a giant toad or chameleon with spiked axle wheels for legs and has many pole like horns on it's back. '6th Prince...' a squinty eye ball that spawns black, er...things. '7th Prince...' looks like a big, sinister centipede with crooked, jagged teeth, big wide black eyes, small wing like extensions, antennae on either side of its head and a pincer at the end of its tail. '8th Prince...' like a confetti ball with multiple mouths on its body, which breathe out white smoke-like aura. 'And 13th Prince...' resembles a Chinese dragon, with three paired horns on its head, pelvic fins on each lower side of its body, and a pointy caudal fin for a tail.

'Naruko...what if the twin Princes and Prince Woble's Nen Beasts are formless until the time comes?' Kurapika theorized. 'Considering the King started this War, all of them must have hatched otherwise he wouldn't have started the journey. The only thing left is Formlessness until Drastically Needed.'

'Probably...it also might depend on their state of mind.' said Sakata. 'We have learned a lot today. But how come you have many abilities?'

'Unlike what most seems to believe, I don't limit myself to one ability.' Naruko snorted. 'As long as you're a quick learner with a strong will and perfect control of your aura, you can make as many abilities as you want within your Nen-Type. Your abilities and imagination are your only limit.' that is indeed possible even for Nen Users while Naruko can do just about anything due to her using Chakra.

'I see...the 4th Prince has that same potential, something we absolutely cannot allow him to know.' said Kurapika grimly. And he knows one guy who has TOO MANY to count as first evidence.

'We can agree on that matter.' said Sakata, quick to agree.

'I'll keep an eye on the dangerous ones for now as they are the threat to my charge.' said Naruko. 'Anything else you want me to do before next session?'

'Contact Verelainte, give him intel on what we have, as well. He will inform Hanzo and Biscuit as well. Then share a copy to Senritsu who guards Prince Kacho, Basho who guards Prince Luzurus and Izunavi who guards Prince Tyson. They are all Pro Hunters.' Kurapika instructed. 'And look for a man dressed in a Cow Print inspired outfit, he should be wandering the other decks. His name is Mizaistom. As a sign that Verelainte knows, tell him to give me a subtle thumbs-up the opposition will not see.'

'OK.' Naruko let herself fall into her shadows.

'Well, until we know more intel, let's keep these meetings a secret.' said Sakata as he, Yurihai and Cejour left the room.

'Phew...' Bill gasped out. 'We gained a lot.'

'I agree.' said Kurapika. 'Naruko is the centerpiece of our operations if only out of necessity.' he said. 'If only to protect her Prince.'

xxx

Naruko found herself overworked after physically returning to Fugetsu's suite.

As her colleagues split up to hunt for Hisoka, Chrollo telling her to focus on survival, anonymity and Kurapika, she had to make copies of everything. Good thing for clones, while the real her spoke to Fugetsu what went on.

'I see...so that's everyone's findings.' Fugetsu looked thoughtful. 'I'll have to wait what mine is though, and figure how mine works.'

'Yeah, you do that while training hard to get strong.' Naruko winked. 'That way you have a lot of gas to spare to keep it active.'

'Give a copy of information to Ka-chin too.' said Fugetsu. 'And learn Nen from Senritsu. Guard her while she reads the information, don't let it fall in the wrong hands.'

'OK. It'll take my clones a while to finish copying...' the ladies looked at the writing clones with a sweatdrop.

'Yeah, a really long while.' Ladiolus sighed. 'We better get cooking for lunch...'