"Leorio, are you okay?"
Primna wanted to roll her eyes, but she instead made a concerned glance at Leorio. He had just gotten back up and started running with everybody but Primna knew he wasn't in the best shape to be running for so long. Though that could just be her assumption.
"Sure! Just look at me. I realized that I can keep going if I don't worry about how stupid I look!" With that said, Leorio pushed even harder.
Interesting thought, Primna pondered. You can't focus on your appearance during the Hunter Exam. That will only get in the way.
Long hair will only get in the way.
Primna saw that Kurapika had followed his example, shedding off his blue garment and revealing a white garb underneath.
He wears both of those and he just took them off? Guys, nuts, Primna thought with an internal scoff.
"Leorio… I have a question," Kurapika said as he caught up with Leorio.
Primna pushed a bit harder to catch up with them.
"What? Is this too easy for you, Kurapika? Talking just wastes energy!"
He has a point, Primna mentally point out. But I doubt Kurapika would be talking right now if it wasn't important. He doesn't seem like the type to needlessly talk.
"Are you really trying to become a Hunter for the money?"
Becoming a Hunter for the money? Expected, but not Leorio. He's too kind to be like that.
Don't let your opinions cloud your thinking.
Primna felt a shiver go down her spine.
Of course not, Father, Primna thought bleakly.
"You aren't, right? We've only been together for a few days, but I know you better than that," Kurapika pointed out, his gaze set ahead of him. Leorio, however, looked away from Kurapika.
Hit the nail on the head, Primna thought as she studied Leorio.
"Sure, you have a nasty attitude, and you aren't very bright. But you're not shallow person. I've seen many who live for money. You're nothing like them," Kurapika said, finishing his speech.
"You and your logic…" Leorio muttered.
"But isn't he right?" Primna retorted, not even aware that she had said so out loud.
Both of them glanced at Primna, who had wondered why they glanced at her.
"Scarlet eyes…" Kurapika started.
What? Scarlet eyes? Primna thought. What does this have to do with the eyes?
"That's why the Kurta were targeted," Kurapika continued on, his eyes darkening as if he was reliving a tortuous nightmare.
Or perhaps a memory? Does he have connections with the clan? Why would he be so affected by it if not that? Primna thought, trying to predict why he would mention the Kurta Clan's massacre.
"We Kurta are known for our unique scarlet eyes."
'We Kurta'... oh. Kurapika is– I should introduce him to Kuriya, Primna thought with a smirk. She quickly wiped the smirk off her face, not wanting them to see something so out of character, and replaced it with a frown.
"When our emotions are heightened, our eyes turn scarlet, as though on fire. The eyes in that scarlet state are considered one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. The black market sell them for a high price," Kurapika finished.
So there's one more Kurta around. Kuriya definitely needs to know this. I saw her with that violet haired girl, but I don't know if I trust that girl to know this information. Mere acquaintances, or someone that Kuriya never mentioned?
"That's why the Phantom Troupe attacked you?" Leorio asked.
Yes, Primna thought. Yes, that's why. Money, and beauty. That's how the world operates these days...
"They took every single eye from my brethren's corpses. I can still hear their darkened eyes crying out in anguish…"
And you know what sucks even more? The fact that such a story has been told many, many times. I've heard many have similar pasts, and some even impossibly darker.
"I swear I will capture the Phantom Troupe!" Kurapika proclaimed.
Ah, maybe I shouldn't introduce Kuriya to him. If he were to find out about her connections, I'm sure he'd be the first to line up and attempt to kill her.
"And I will reclaim the eyes of my clan!"
"That's why you want to be a Hunter?" Leorio asked.
"Yeah, if I become a Hunter with rich clients, I'll gain access to black market information," Kurapika said.
Hmm, logical conclusions. But with rich clients comes great responsibility. Along the way you'll realize, even more than you already do, that power truly corrupts all.
"But you'll have to swallow your pride and become the kind of Hunter you despise!" Leorio said.
"The blow to my pride is nothing, measured against the suffering my clan endured," Kurapika explained.
Hmm, maybe I'll just warn Kuriya about Kurapika wanting to kill the Phantom Troupe before I introduce her to him. Then tell her that he's not after the Phantom Troupe just yet. She'll probably hold off on outright killing him, unless he somehow discovers that Kuriya has relations to the Phantom Troupe. That situation would get messy.
When Primna ended her mental musings, she realized that something had happened, specifically with Kurapika and Leorio.
Kurapika looks like he wants to murder him, Primna thought. She would say she was confused, but that would be an understatement.
"Take that back, Leorio! If you're insulting the Kurta, I won't forgive you."
"Why? I'm telling you the truth. If I'd had money, my friend wouldn't have died!"
...Oh. His friend died because he lacked money?
"An illness?" Kurapika asked quietly after a tense moment of silence.
"It was treatable…"
But he didn't have enough money to get treatment for his friend. And the doctor wasn't willing to accept any lower price. An often scenario, unfortunately.
"The problem was that the operation costs a fortune. I was naive! I thought I could become a doctor…" Leorio said with a despondent look in his eyes.
Now that I think about it, Primna thought as she glanced around at her surroundings, isn't this kind of information a bit too sensitive to talk about with others near?
"I wanted to cure kids who have the same disease, and be able to tell them it was free of charge! Then I could have told his parents, too. That was my dream…"
It still is, though. He still has a bunch of medical equipment in his suitcase. I could see him as a doctor. It suits him.
"What a joke. Turns out that to become a doctor, you need even more money! Got it? The world runs on money…"
No point in denying that fact, Primna thought. For some reason, I feel like I shouldn't be here to hear about this. I wonder why I care if this is too personal or not? They feel comfortable enough to have a spat like this in front of mere strangers. So why do I care, indeed…
"So I want money!"
"You may think this world is horrible, but you have to remember the good moments. At the end of the tunnel is always light. You just gotta keep trudging forward with each heavy step," Primna said, the words flowing out of her mouth before she could even articulate them to sound gentler. Leorio looked bewildered, and Kurapika was a bit shocked. "Besides, Dr. Leorio has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" Primna said, smiling at Leorio sweetly in the hopes of recovering from her earlier blunder. She knew why she had just blurted out those words.
I was getting tired of seeing that look in his eyes. Does he really think money will get him what he wants? Sure, it might at first, but eventually you'll just abuse it. Nobody's a saint with that kind of power in their hands.
"See you at the goal, Kurapika. You too, Primna," Gon said as Killua, Quino, and himself caught up with the older group, interrupting the silence that had come over them.
"Catch you later, old timer," Killua said, a mischievous smirk on his face.
Old timer? What a cheeky kid, Primna thought, making sure the smirk she wanted to give didn't come out.
"I'm not old! I'm a teenager, just like you guys!" Leorio shouted at Killua.
What?
"Oh," Primna said, the word having slipped past her lips.
I didn't think he was as old as Killua implied, but I didn't think Leorio was a teenager. Maybe a young adult.
After that, nobody said anything.
Quino doesn't look too good, Primna thought as she eyed the three children racing ahead of them. I hope she'll be okay later.
Hey everybody!
So... yeah. I have no other words than to say that I'm sorry, again. Well, I was unexpectedly busy yesterday. But still, I feel I could've set some time aside to post this chapter. Unfortunately, I can only post this one chapter right now because Fridays are busy days for me (of course, some Fridays aren't as busy as others...). With that said, I'll double post on Sunday to make it up to all of you.
I do not own Hunter x Hunter.
PS: Oh, right! I hope you enjoy the story and all, and... maybe review? Um, I hope I'm not– oh! And make sure to follow because I basically post every day (except Saturdays). So it'd be really handy to hit that 'follow story' button if you want to continue reading. Ciao!