Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Hunter X Hunter.
Kiriki found the person she was looking for seated at the window sill, his hand clutching his cellular phone.
Shalnark turned his head, already knowing the blond was there. "Ah, Kiri, is there something you need?" he inquired.
She looked down. "Ubo-kun's supposed to be back by now… right?" Her tone was quiet, which was most unusual of her.
Shalnark noticed. He knew she was right. Nonetheless, he smiled at her, doing his best to give her the reassurance she needed. "Don't worry, he probably made a side stop. That's all."
She didn't reply.
He stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Kiri-chan, this is Ubo we're talking about. Surely, he won't be easily defeated by anyone" he said assuredly. "Alright?"
She met his eyes. "I'm worried…" she murmured.
"That won't do good" he told her. "Go back to Danchou and wait patiently. He'll be here soon."
She nodded and walked away.
Only when she was out of sight did he let a frown appear on his face. I'm just as worried as you, Kiri… Ubo is taking much too long…
ooooo
Kurapika felt the blood hit his face and his eyes widened. He took back his hand from Ubogin's stomach.
The big man coughed up blood.
"What an unpleasant situation. The feel of remnants on my hands. The sound of pain in my ears. And the stench of blood. It shocks my entire body… How could you have no thoughts?! No feelings?! How could you kill all those people?! Answer me!" he demanded.
Ubougin raised his head slowly. "Kill me" he hissed.
Angered at his answer, Kurapika thrust out his fifth finger and a chain pressed itself inside Ubougin's chest and gripped his heart.
"This is your last chance. I've already locked the chain into your heart with the restriction. As soon as I drop the restriction, the chain will utilize Nen to crush your heart into pieces. My restriction is, you have to answer all my questions honestly. If you obey this, then I'll allow you to live a while longer. Where are the rest of your comrades?"
However, the Spider member merely grinned as blood slid from his mouth. "You can go to hell, idiot."
The chain tightened at once and…
ooooo
Kiriki gasped.
Kuroro looked at her. "Kiri?"
She couldn't answer. Her widened eyes began to fill. "Ubo-kun…" she whispered.
The other members of the Ryodan present turned to the blond girl's direction. It was at that moment Shalnark entered. He noticed where everyone was looking at and realized his prediction was right.
The Spider had just lost one of its legs.
ooooo
Kurapika had returned to the hotel, clothes torn and blood on his face. Without a word to his comrades, he entered his room and sat on the bed, muttering.
"Sun in the sky, trees on the ground
Our bodies created from earth
Our souls from the heavens…"
Memories flooded back to him.
"The sun and the moon shine on our limbs
And the ground moistens our bodies
Giving this body to the wind that blows…"
Her laughter. Her smile. Her eyes. The way she moved. The way she danced. The way she looked at him. He could remember them all clearly…
"Thank God for the miracle
And the Kurutabou territories
Wishing ever lasting peace in our souls…"
As if they hadn't been separated for five years… As if she wasn't dead…
"I desire to share happiness with my people
And desire to share their sadness
God, please praise eternally…"
He touched the blue orb on his left ear. It was the only thing she had left for him. Her last gift…
"The Kurutabou people
Let us use our Scarlet Eyes…"
How he wished he could see his little sister again.
ooooo
Meanwhile, unknown to him, in another part of the city, the same thing was being recited by a small blond female figure.
"The Kurutabou people…Let us use our Scarlet Eyes…"
Kuroro found Kiriki seated on one corner, knees folded with her arms wrapped around her legs.
"Is that a prayer? I've never heard of it before" he stated.
"I don't know how I know it…" she replied, her eyes on the floor, her tone soft. "It's just there."
"I see." The Spider's head was not worried. He had not lied to her about anything she questioned of him, and that included her past. Thus, she knew she was part of the Kuruta clan. She knew her people had been massacred and that she was the sole survivor. What she did not know was who had done it. But, she never once asked. So, Kuroro never told her. He made his way across the room and bent down. "Kiriki."
"He promised…" she whispered hoarsely. "Ubo-kun promised he'd come back and… and…" She silenced.
Kuroro sighed. Resentment was not familiar to the ebony-haired man. He'd felt no sorrow over the death of his comrade, but only recognized the loss of a valuable asset who contributed to the group. This, however, could not be said for his adopted younger sister. Next to him and out of all the members of the infamous Genei Ryodan, Ubougin, together with the resident healer and hacker, was closest to her.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked.
Slowly, she raised her head and looked up at him with crimson red orbs. "Someone's going to pay…"
Kuroro nodded and straightened. "In that case, we better tell everyone about our change of plans."
Her eyes changed to its normal clear azure state and, as if nothing happened, she smiled. "Okay! Let's go!"