Kurapika was left staring at the closed door. He wiped away his tears and took his cell phone. He had no time to be mortified by what Chrollo just said; his family could still be in danger.

His wife was taking longer than usual to answer; nervous, he strolled around the office and looked through the window; to later remember that Hisoka might be watching him so he backed off. A sleepy voice answered his call; he had woken her up. Kurapika made sure not to alarm her with unnecessary questions, she sounded calm meaning they were both fine and safe. Kurapika ended the call and sat down again with relief. He looked towards the windows; still couldn't believe that Hisoka had betrayed him like that.

He winced in pain; his arm was still badly hurt. His eyes lit red as he remembered the cruel attack and damage the fishes had caused. The chains appeared and held the Holy Chain over the bandage. The silver chain glowed with a shining, and swung upon his arm. Few minutes later, when the pain ceased, he took off the bandage and moved his arm. Smiled satisfied; then stood up, turned off the lights and left the office. He called the elevator several times, but it didn't come; in fact, there wasn't even a sound of movement at all; so he decided to go down the stairs. Kurapika stayed alert. At this point he couldn't take anything for granted, the Spiders could have set him up on his way down.

Kurapika was mortified that he couldn't stop the fight; the horrendous images from that morning's nightmare still haunted him, so vivid that he had woken up screaming and bathed in sweat. He had tried first with Hisoka: called him as soon as he had woken up. Between a sleepy and drunk tone, Hisoka laughed out loud, then cut off the call, leaving Kurapika talking alone. It was then when he decided to take advantage of the encounter with Chrollo and try to convince him, but it went even worse. He never imagined that the chat with Hisoka would end up saving his life at the last minute. He frowned at the memory of his failure. He was sure the chat was a strong proof of Hisoka's feelings; he still couldn't believe Chrollo had dismissed it.

It was a chat from three days ago before Neon's birthday. They were talking about the conditions that both already agreed on: the scarlet eyes, Neon´s eyes, proof in both audio and photo of a good beating to Chrollo. Then, an optional condition was added, which had appeared at the last moment. A businessman, badly damaged by the Ryodan robberies, would pay a sum equivalent to a million dollars for the death of the boss. He recalled being so excited that he had insisted Hisoka to accept; the pay was exorbitant, he was sure the joker would not refuse.

Before going outside, he checked on his cell phone. The chat previously shown to Chrollo was still on the screen; Hisoka's reply: "I'll think about it." Now he knew why Hisoka only said that; he never thought of killing him, not even for the sum proposed. But still, even with that fact, Chrollo hadn't believed him. Kurapika shook his head and put the cell phone away.

He leaned out the front door and looked outside. The street was deserted and dark. As soon as he opened the door the cold wind hit him in the face. While walking he kept thinking how mistaken he was about those two: neither of them reacted the way he expected. But then, voices from afar started reaching. Surprised, he stuck to the wall, hiding in the shadows. They seemed to come from a block ahead, diagonally. Talking in a happy tone and even some shouting of joy could be heard from there. He didn't take long to realize that it was the Gen´ei Ryodan and their awaited return of the boss.

Kurapika was petrified. He wouldn't imagine those delinquents were willing to take risk; meeting up at such an open place instead of one of their many lairs. But there they were, in full sight of anyone awake at three a.m. in the morning. He approached slowly, up to a distance of thirty meters and hid behind a garbage container. It was the first time since the capture of Uvogin that he saw them all together, now with the boss included. Shuddering in anger, his eyes flared brightly, and covered them with his hand. He thought of the possibilities, attack or be attacked. The idea of ending all was as tempting as impossible; they outnumbered him and, worst of all, his family was still vulnerable. He bit his lip, took a deep breath and slowly peered out.

Chrollo was in the lead, surrounded by a small group of both men and women, while the rest stayed close from behind. They walked about fifty meters until Chrollo stopped making the others stop with him. Hugged one of the girls who was accompanying him, a beautiful young woman with pink hair and, in front of everyone, kissed her on the mouth.

The group surrounded the pair with exclamations of joy, mockery and some envy. Chrollo and the girl stayed out of Kurapika´s sight, so he decided that he already saw enough. He walked a few meters when, suddenly, one of the group shouted:

"Hisoka!"

Kurapika stopped in surprise, and looked where all of them were paying their attention. Hisoka was watching them over the roof of a shop located right in front, standing on the ledge of it; with a tense and defiant attitude. He wore black clothes, which would have made it impossible to distinguish him in the dark if he hadn't gotten closer into the light.

"I'm going to kill you!" yelled someone from the group as he wielded his sword. Kurapika recognized him as the one named Nobunaga.

Hisoka laughed and replied defiantly:

"Really? Letting your boss look like a coward? come on, do it."

A tall blond man restrained Nobunaga.

"Calm down! He is right," said the blond. "If we kill him, they will think it was the boss's order to avoid the fight."

The swordsman barely contained himself, still being held by the blond.

"Actually, I hope your cute boss will be the one who kills me," Hisoka added. "Look if I'm going to hell and the last thing I see is that horrible face of yours."

Two more people joined to restrain the swordsman, while Hisoka burst out laughing ignoring the insults. A voice was imposed among all and made them shut up immediately, except for a couple of protests.

"I said stop! Silence!" Chrollo repeated in a loud voice. They stayed quiet.

"Ignore him; don't you realize he's provoking us? That's the only thing…"

"Who provokes whom? You fucking coward!" Hisoka yelled.

Insults started again but Chrollo re-imposed himself:

"Enough! Don't listen to him." He turned around and started walking with Machi.

"Look at me, you son of a bitch!"

"Don't let that pathetic thing spoil our celebration. Let's go," Chrollo insisted loudly and firmly. Kurapika watched as the Ryodan boss turned his back on Hisoka, hugged the pink-haired girl around the waist and kept walking, followed by the rest.

"Motherfucker! Who gave your powers back, huh?" Hisoka yelled to the group that kept walking away. "Who? Tell me who was it? None of them could! None!"

The group resumed their hubbub and disappeared from sight around the corner, leaving Hisoka and Kurapika alone. The boy was shaking like a leaf. For a moment he feared, and at the same time had wished, that Hisoka would attack the Ryodan. But it was when Chrollo spoke that his blood ran cold. He did not dare to detach himself from that wall. He was afraid, not of Lucilfer but of Hisoka.

He could see him clearly now; standing on the ledge, the street light shone right on him. Hisoka's eyes were glaring as blood red, his breathing hard moved his chest and his shaking hands hung helpless, as he murmured:

Kurapika lowered his arms a little, without taking his eyes from him. He was sure that Hisoka's sanity was hanging by a thread. He shuddered again; the images of the nightmare knocked him harder than ever. He cursed Chrollo for not believing him.

"Hisoka… come down. Let's have something to eat."

Hisoka looked at him, then looked towards the corner where the group had disappeared, and back at Kurapika again.

"Did you ... did you see it?" Did you hear…?

"Yes, I saw it."

Hisoka said nothing. The blood that flown from the scratches surpassed the eyebrows and was falling over the lids, surrounding the yellow eyes. He looked at the corner again.

"But did you see what he did ...? He said that... he... "

"Yes. He acted horrible… Are you fine? Please, be careful. Come down and let's go..."

"If I'm fine…? Of course I'm fine." Hisoka took a few steps back then climbed back onto the ledge, balancing on the edge. "Don't you see I'm perfectly fine?"

"Come on, stop joking. It's dangerous. Let's have a drink...

"Joking?" Am I a joke? Hey, Why are you looking at me like that?" He insisted. His yellow eyes flashed wildly in the blood-streaked face. He paused; before Kurapika could say anything he started screaming louder and louder:

"Am I a joke? Am I a joke? Am I a joke?"

"Hisoka stop! Enough!"

Hisoka screamed again; a terrible, heartbreaking, almost inhuman scream, much louder than the previous one. A scream that rose from his entrails and spread into the silence of the night. Kurapika put his hands over his ears, fell to his knees and started crying.