It was late at night when the two men entered the small office. The place was arranged in an impersonal way. One of the gray walls had a picture of a flower vase. There were also a desk with two chairs and an old couch with a low table in front of it. A large window with no curtains almost occupied the entire wall opposite and showed the darkness of the surroundings and empty roofs.
Kurapika motioned for Chrollo to take a seat on the couch, while he took one of the chairs and sat, leaving the small table between them. "Relax, I just want us to talk for a bit before we get down to business," Kurapika said. His voice sounded tired. He was still very young, barely in his twenties, but he resembled older. Chrollo took one more look at the place with a stern face. Then he sat up, without loosening the tension on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry we couldn't meet before," Kurapika began, "they told me you were hospitalized for a few days. I'm glad to know that you feel well."
Chrollo glared at him. Kurapika touched his nose to hide a smile. "Although, I have to say," He continued, "you look much better in person; you aren´t so photogenic, after all." A giggle escaped through his fingers.
"Really? And why didn't you do the dirty work for yourself instead of sending your dog? What a coward," Chrollo grinned; he leaned forward and added with undisguised contempt, "Come on, blondie, hit me now if you dare."
Kurapika clenched his fists. He had promised to Hisoka not to hurt Chrollo, but he could barely restrain himself. He felt the anger rising by seeing Chrollo's defiant face, his smile full of contempt; the bruises even emphasized the soulless appearance of the most fearsome murderer.
"I knew it; Kurtas are nothing but cowards…" Chrollo sneered.
"Damned motherfucker!" Kurapika yelled. He stood up with red eyes blazing with fury. The chair fell back. Chrollo stood up too but his arm was caught by the chains; they that also wrapped his torso and immobilized him. Kurapika threw him back to the couch with a kick.
"Fuck off! Kurta son of... " Chrollo exclaimed but he couldn't continue; Kurapika stepped on his throat.
"I'm going to kill you," Kurapika said through clenched teeth, his foot pressing his neck, "I don't care what I promised. I'm going to end this up right now." Kurapika said. His red eyes were blazing and his aura flamed altered. He saw Chrollo's face red with anger; his gray eyes shone with loathing and his smile teased him with contempt. Kurapika's fists trembled at his sides. He was longing for erasing his grin blow by blow.
"I'm going to…" Kurapika repeated; then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He clenched his teeth; he knew he had to leave Chrollo alive if he wanted to avoid the terrible images he saw in the premonition. Kurapika shivered by recalling the nightmare with which he had awakened that morning; that horror still pressed his chest. He took one more breath. He opened his eyes, released the pressure on Chrollo's neck and withdrew his foot. Chrollo tilted his head, coughed and gasped, breathing in great gulps of air.
"Get up, piece of trash," Kurapika said, grabbed Chrollo by the chains and sat him upright. They both breathed hard, glared at each other. Kurapika frowned and punched him in the face; two, three times. He would like to keep on beating him, but stood and took a few steps back instead. Chrollo gasped. The tight chains barely allowed him to breathe. With his head down he laughed; blood ran down his injured lip and cheek.
"So predictable…" Chrollo said, while leaning back.
Kurapika ignore him and lifted the table and the chair. Before sitting down, he glared at Chrollo and warned him: "Don't open that filthy mouth until we're done with this." Then he dropped into the chair, rested his head in his hands, and remained motionless for a few minutes. The silence was broken by his low voice.
"There's no point... Nothing I could do to you will compensate the damage you did to me," Kurapika said. "But... you challenge me again and I swear by my family that you will rot with that damn sword inside. Did you get it?
Chrollo just laughed.
"Did you get it? Answer me, you damned psycho."
"Yes, yes, I got it; relax" Chrollo said. He tasted the blood inside his mouth. "Hey, take this thing out of me. I can't breathe", he said by looking at the chains around his chest. "I promise, I won't hurt you," he added by guessing at Kurapika's doubts. His voice sounded tired. "Look, all I want is to leave out of here without this bloody restriction."
Kurapika remained silent, staring at him. Chrollo snorted in annoyance.
"Okay; let's finish all this rubbish," Kurapika said. He reached out; the strong chains of Nen vanished in the air. Chrollo relaxed his shoulders and rubbed his arms.
"Is it done? That was easy," Chrollo asked.
"No. Those were the ones I just put on you. The Nen sword is still around your heart," Kurapika replied. His lips lifted up a little by seeing a shadow of disappointment on the face of the assassin.
"Well, I don't have much time, you know?" Chrollo said, "I have to train for a fight, in case you didn't know ..."
"In the end your lover sent you to the hospital," Kurapika said, "who would have thought it?" He smiled when he saw the surprised expression of Chrollo.
"What did you say?
"Didn't you guys get along? I never imagined Hisoka would hit you that much. You must have really irritated him..."
"Do you want me to kill you; right, Kurta?"
"Do it. I have nothing else to lose. You, on the other hand..."
"Are you sure? What about your pretty girlfriend and the newborn baby?"
Kurapika turned pale, his expression transformed. His hands began to shake with fear.
"It's not true… you're wrong… I don't have…"
"You are a horrible liar." Chrollo smiled pleased. He settled into the couch, one leg crossed over the other. "Did you really think you could hide them for a long time?"
"Where are they? If you did them any harm ..."
"Relax, they are at their home," Chrollo said, "I sent someone to watch them. They are still safe, but... "
"Release them, now!" Kurapika urged him.
"Listen, kurta," the voice of Chrollo got harden, "If you don't release me right away, they'll kill them without hesitation." Kurapika's red eyes widened. "I'm warning you. If you kill me or keep me here more than necessary ..."
"I'll do it! Please, don't hurt them," Kurapika begged, getting up from his chair.
Chrollo got up too. A wide smile spread across his face. "Then release me, now."
"How…? How did you find out?" Nobody knows..."
"Do you really want to know?" Chrollo said; his dark eyes sparked by enjoying the desperation in Kurapika's face. "You're not going to like my answer."
Kurapika nodded; he was shaking from head to toe. In the blink of an eye, his plan was unraveled by an unforeseen event, an extremely dangerous situation. He was sure that he had taken every precaution to keep his family hidden and safe.
Chrollo drew a crumpled paper from the pocket. He placed it on the table and pulled him to Kurapika. The boy leaned down to grab it. Before he got to open it, Chrollo said:
"I'm sure at some point he made sure you get a good look at his handwriting."
Kurapika looked at him, and then unfolded the paper. There it was, written in Hisoka's handwriting, the address and names of his new family. Their physical description, everything was there. His legs loosened and he sat in the chair.
"No. He would never... Why...?"
Chrollo chortled and sat down on the couch.
"Are you really surprised?" Come on! You should know that this guy is able of anything. I don't even know how he got it," he clarified when he saw Kurapika's expression. "It's one of his skills, you know? getting and delivering information. But you already knew that. Am I wrong?"
Kurapika noticed Chrollo's accusing voice, but he was too stunned to answer to his taunt. He realized that he needed to calm down and regain control of the situation.
"So, you and that clown agreed to catch us," Chrollo smirked, "What a pity that you ended caught like this, and also your family..."
"I release you right away, but please don't hurt them."
Chrollo smiled filled with satisfaction. "Then go ahead. I'm ready," he said while he stood up. Kurapika got up too but remained still and clenched his hands with hesitation.
"Now what? Do you want me to promise you?" Chrollo rolled his eyes, "Ok. I promise you, no one is going to hurt them. Now, do it."
Kurapika was still without reaction.
"Do it, damned!" Chrollo exclaimed, exasperated.
"Wait!" Kurapika replied. "I'll do it, but… there is something important I have to say first… It's difficult… "
Chrollo snorted again. He looked around and paid attention to the window behind Kurapika. The night was clear and from that third floor you could see the terraces and other windows of the buildings opposite.
"This office was reserved by Hisoka, am I right?"
Kurapika looked at him with surprise.
"Yes, it must have been him," Chrollo answered himself. "Did you notice that the windows have no curtains? Do you know why?
The boy shook his head. Chrollo kept looking out, and then explained: "They're those windows with mirrored glasses; by day you can't see the inside of this office if you are outside; they act like mirrors. But at night it´s different..." Kurapika looked out, following Chrollo's gaze. "Everything we do now can be seen from outside. Surely this office is always empty at this hour, so there's no need to cover that window." Chrollo paused for a second; his face turned serious, his look sad. "I'm sure that maniac is out there somewhere, spying on us."
They were both silent for a few seconds, looking out the window. Kurapika, by seeing Chrollo's expression, finally found the courage to say it loud.
"Chrollo, you must stop the fight at all costs"
Chrollo looked at him in surprise. Then he laughed out loud.
"I'm serious," Kurapika insisted, "you don't have to fight. There will be a massacre if you do it."
"Are you an idiot?" Chrollo stopped laughing; his jaw stiffed with angry, "What massacre are you talking about? The only slaughter will be when I skin that son of a bitch."
"No! You don't get it. I saw it. It's… it's awful, a real bloodbath… Thousands are going to die!"
Chrollo lost patience and grabbed Kurapika by the collar of his shirt. "What the fuck are you saying? Take this damn thing out or I swear I'll kill you right now!"
Kurapika's eyes flashed red and a loud emission of Nen threw Chrollo across the room. Lucilfer got up in a fury and lunged at the boy.
"Stop!" Kurapika yelled, pushing Chrollo away again with a stroke of a chain. "I release you but you promise me first that you will listen to me, and you won't' hurt me, no matter what!"
"Free me right now or I'll kill you!" Chrollo shouted, his eyes glowing with fury.
"Promise it first! You owe me, damn it, it's only ten minutes… promise it!" Kurapika yelled after throwing him away for the third time.
"Okay! I promise! I will listen to you, damned kurta."
They stood both face to face, gazing with hatred. Kurapika sighed and extended his hand covered with the silvered chains. A small chain became visible, the one that started from the ring of his little finger and was embedded in Chrollo's chest.
Kurapika said:
"I release you from restraint, Chrollo Lucilfer ... and may God help us. Judgment Chain, out."