Chapter 58 – Kurapika
The spiders floated away into the night, huddled together, tensed and uncomfortable. I fully understood now how some people can get addicted to this. The feeling of having utter control at your fingertips, your enemies moving at the twitch of your fingers. It was more than exhilarating.
I sunk back into the shadows and summoned my Nen back into me. The lights came back to life one by one and the silence lingered for a moment before the crowd's buzz erupted once again. In my spot in the women's rest room, I dragged myself down to the floor, my heels peeking out from the cubicle door, waiting.
I let out a girlish scream as soon as the bathroom door slammed open.
''Is someone here?!'' I nearly rolled my eyes at the question but I let out a dramatic sob as the men stomped towards my cubicle, rapping the door roughly.
''W-who…who is it?'' I stuttered and curled into myself, meekly pushing the door closed as if the action would actually stop the bad men from entering.
The man behind the door sighed aloud. ''It's security, ma'am. Please open the door. You're safe now.''
I rose from the floor like a newborn fawn, making the appropriate noises of a weakened woman. A beat later, I reluctantly and slowly opened the door, blinking up innocently at the towering men.
The man's shoulder sagged. From the mirror behind him and his two other friends, I saw myself clutching the door between us, with my eyes wide and my hair a blown-up mess.
Quite the damsel in distress, indeed.
''Miss. You're safe now. Here…'' The suited man offered out a gloved hand and led me out of the women's restrooms, and towards the brightly-lit hallways and back to the populated crowd.
But there, at the corner of my eyes, where I least expected and wanted it to be, was a quick flash of blue and yellow robes, straw-coloured hair and silver chains caught in the light. My heart skip a beat and my breath caught in my throat. His name came out of me as a sigh.
He met my eyes an instant, eyes strangely distant and calculating. He was in a middle of another group. I strode towards him like an overexcited puppy. My eagerness only stopped at the empty look on his face. Left behind, the guard I was with sighed and stomped away.
''Oh?'' The woman closest to me drawled, one perfectly shaped brow raising. ''You know this arm-candy?'' She cocked her hip to the side while the rest of their group gaped curiously.
Kurapika merely tilted his head to the side, appraising with the same coolness I have seen him wear when studying others he perceived as potential threats or puzzles back when we were in the hunters exam.
I ignored the others for him, noting how taller he had become and how the lights played with the grey brilliance of his eyes. The short one closest to him, wearing a conspicuously simple blue long sleeves and leggings in this luxurious hotel, closed her eyes and smiled gently.
''Hmm…'' She pointed a finger to the air and drew it languidly side to side. ''A soft, low-pitched keening of the heart. An adagio full of hope and joy from seeing each other again...'' The woman opened her eyes and then turned from me to Kurapika. ''She knows you well and you are supposed to know her.''
I smiled at him hopefully, raising my eyebrows expectantly while Kurapika scanned me from head to toe and back again. My smile widened as I noticed his frosty unfamiliarity thawed, some recognition flashing in his grey eyes. His mouth parted.
I broke into a grin and bowled through his friends, throwing my arms around him. ''Kurapika. Oh, I miss you.'' I closed my eyes and breathed in his subtle scent – of soft cotton with a sharpness of metal – and relished at the feeling of his solidness in my arms.
It had been too long since I had felt his presence.
''Gi—''
''Hyuna. It's Hyuna.'' I whispered to his pierced ear before smiling happily at him. His lips curled slowly into a soft smile but then one, two and then three heartbeats later, my smile died a little.
Worry and impatience plagued his mind, glazing his eyes so that despite him being in my arms, he felt so far away. The feeling of his hand around my arms felt like control than comfort, like he was holding me away rather than closer to him.
I slowly unwrapped my arms from his shoulders, putting distance to our bodies. After a moment, he let go of my arms as well and gave me a pained smile.
''Hyuna.'' He tested the name. ''I am—'' His phone made a shrill noise. ''One moment.'' He held a hand up before turning to the side. ''Yes. We have been informed that the merchandise are missing.'' If I had thought he was tensed before, it worsened as he continued to listen to the man from the other line.
''Shadow Beasts?'' I perked up as he turned around fully to the glass windows, hiding his face from me. His hands tightened into fists at his side and I heard his chains as they clinked. ''Yes. Right away.''
As if on a cue, there was a collective roar of engines and more angry shouts outside. The buzz inside the building heightened to a roar. A crowd of fear, anxiety and vengeful excitement mixed together.
''The mafia lords have released their Shadow Beasts! They're apparently fighting it out right now!''
I frowned, seeking the source.
''Ha! End those thieves! That will show them to be careful who they mess with!''
''Is the auction continuing?''
A careful hand touched me by the arm. I turned my head to left to see Kurapika's grave face close to mine as he pulled me gently backwards to give us some privacy. Kurapika leaned closer to my face and whispered: ''Gin. I'm sorry but I have to go.'' I opened my mouth to protest. To tell him, I can help; that I was here to help.
''Kurapika.'' One the men called out calmly, cutting me off. ''We have a job to do.'' The biggest one in their group, a middle-aged man who looked like he might be their leader met my eyes blandly before nodding to Kurapika and walking away. ''I'm getting the car ready. We're meeting up.''
Kurapika nodded to his colleague before turning to me again. I forced a smile for him. Kurapika mirrored it and I knew then that he was going to tell me to stay.
''Stay here and I'll find you after this, Gin.'' He promised, looking at me imploringly deep in the eyes. When I didn't answer, his hand squeeezed my arm gently. ''Stay here.''
I lied and nodded my head. His shoulders dropped and he took a slow breath. His hand hesitated before he slowly held my cheek, smiling wider like the princely Kurapika I have always known.
''I will see you again.'' He smiled, turning to his group. ''Let's go.''
His friends at least looked back at me. The short woman who spoke randomly about her music smiled kindly and tilted her head to the side before they all slipped out of the heavily guarded double doors. My smile fluttered down at my lips.
I didn't have the energy and patience to remain Hyuna for the evening, or risk myself getting caught by Daisies. Acting like the woman he wanted and expected me to be was exhausting – both mentally and physically. With this in mind, I made my way to the exit, holding my glittering long dress up as I walked.
Another man in a neat black suit stepped out before me, blocking my exit. ''Miss, it is not—''
I reached over and touched his warm cheek, supple and clean-shaven. The young man paused, eyes glazing over for a second as I felt his life line fuse with mine.
''Allow me to leave.'' I told him. ''Please.'' The guard nodded before eagerly opening the golden door for me. ''Thank you.''
A horn blared deeply. Headlights flashed and cars skidded and roared away. Men spat on the floor and cursed, shouting death threats into the night. As soon as I stepped out, I released the man's life energy back to him and left him alone, having no reason to keep or tamper with his already dangerous life. I heard him gasp and lean weakly against the door.
I stuck behind the gathered crowd and closer to the shadows, keeping my head down. I focused on finding a secluded spot to remove myself from the scene while at the back of my mind, I worried about the dress I had borrowed for the evening, knowing that I couldn't really afford to stain or tear it in anyway.
A soft voice reached and tickled my ears amidst all the stream of profanities thrown around. ''I have a feeling your friend is not going to be there when you go back, Kurapika-san.''
''Ha! I didn't even know you had a girlfriend, Kurapika-kun.'' Another woman shot Kurapika a teasing smirk as she slid in the front seat of their black car. She twisted upper body around, her magenta hair bobbing as she casted her fellows at the backseat of the car a teasing smirk. ''I didn't expect you to like the Jollywood type but she's hot. I'll give you that.''
''Man…'' One of the men, the ginger one, sighed. ''Let the guy be, Baise. We're in big trouble here.''
There was a tensed silence until the woman tutted, settling back to her seat and grudgingly pulling her seat belt on. ''Oh come on. Fine!''
In a quieter voice, the same man from earlier muttered: ''Isn't she a bit too old for you though?''
The woman, Baise, exclaimed a heartily: ''Yeah! I know right?!''
Their car shuddered to life and the woman's exuberant voice and Kurapika's calm reply were soon muffled out.
Kurapika did not want me to be around but I went anyway in case my help becomes needed, and perhaps also due to my curiosity. I landed silently on hard ground. Dry sand and stone surrounded me just as the battle. Before me was the sight of Kurapika's back as he and his group of friends observed the massacre before all of us.
The Spiders' hot air balloon was shot down from the sky just as it was travelling past the dessert where the Mafia's men and the Shadow Beasts awaited them.
The Mafia somehow knew they were coming – or that something was going to happen. It explained the empty vault, although not why they did not have their infamous shadow beasts posted inside the building instead. They must have known that some sort of attack was going to happen and moved the merchandise elsewhere before the auction.
They didn't seem to find it serious enough, however, to cancel the whole thing for their guests' safety.
I withheld in a sigh, not even capable of being surprised anymore.
''He made a quick job on them.'' I wondered out loud at the ungainly lumps of overturned and twisted corpses, squeezed and battered and thrown around. Blood painted the rubbles in grisly reds and I could almost fool myself into thinking, it was simply spilt ink.
The group let out a few gasps as they stiffened in surprise and turned around sharply with wide eyes. Their bodies ready fraught with tension and ready to flee.
''What!—''
''Who—''
''It's me.'' I addressed the group and carefully levitated towards Kurapika, giving him some chance to reject me if he wanted to. I smiled even though he cannot see as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, resting my head indolently over his. ''It's me.'' I whispered to his ear, smiling and letting my Nen shroud slip off from my face so he could see me.
''Gin…'' Kurapika pressed at the name. ''I told you to stay.''
From his group of friends, the familiar lanky ginger one murmured, sharing a look with one of their friends. There was a faint tickle in my mind as I took their features. I reached out desperately at the wisp of thought until Kurapika's sigh brought me back to the present.
Oh, he's annoyed, I thought as I removed myself from Kurapika's un-responding form, turning instead towards the lone spider in the centre of the bright headlights and away from his disapproving eyes.
''U-vo-gin.'' I said. ''You want to capture him, yes?'' Another spider leapt from the rocky outcrop and down to where Uvogin sat on the ground, smiling wildly like a little boy on Christmas eve.
I scanned him over and glanced at his stunned friends. Four new ones joined his group. Kurapika nodded quietly, no longer frowning. Instead, his eyes scrutinised me like I was some unknown bug to him.
Two spiders were left before us. The other two probably carried the rest of their friends away to retreat. When I close my eyes and focus, I can feel my distance to my marked ones growing farther.
''It won't be difficult to get him and his friend. The big one looks unable to move right now too. The problem is…when they all come and get him back. And something tells me that their comeback will certainly be bloody.''
''No matter, I must still capture them.'' Kurapika says.
Of course, he must.
I motioned at to the two spiders below us. ''Which one of them do you want? Just one or both?''
There was a leaden pause before Kurapika replied: ''Just the big one.''
For now, went unsaid but heard all the same.
''Ah…'' I nodded. ''The Enhancer.''
My eyes fell on the chains around his hand and suddenly wanted to see it in action. In the space of time where we were apart, he also had undergone training and developed his Hatsu. Like me, this was his first time to exercise it.
''Alright.'' I said to him softly.
''Oy…oy…Let's not get carried away. First, who is this…woman? And have you seen that guy? And his other friend, what abilities do you think he has?'' The one in the pink shirt exclaimed loudly. There was a bright slice of light and I promptly saw an image of his severed head suspended in the air; his face frozen in horror.
''Leader!'' Kurapika called out instead, covering up my gasp. ''I can make this happen.'' He said. His superior and his new friends watched him, stupefied and concerned.
Crazy, their faces said.
The man he called leader was silent at first as he stared down at my friend. Tattoos were drawn both under his eyes and reached down to his cheekbones. He wore a simple black sweater and pants. An expensive-looking watch was strapped around his wrist. And the more I looked at him, the more I liked…
The Leader looked up and straight at me, eyes misty dark and cutting. ''We will prepare the car right up so we can escape right away.'' Kurapika's superior growled out before he turned around and walked away.
Yep. I definitely like—
''Gin.'' Kurapika stepped before me.
''What's his name?'' I asked him, nodding my head to his leader. Kurapika scowled before he sighed and simply watched me dryly, saying nothing. I sighed and looked away, curling a sliver of hair behind my ear and backed off.
''You just broke my disguise, you know.'' I said to him instead, referring to his unshakeable use of my name.
Kurapika smiled a little, tilting his head to his retreating group. ''I've come to trust these people.''
I crossed my arms over my chest belligerently. ''I don't.'' I said because I didn't know them. Who knows what they can give away under stressed? Or when it suited them? Such was the way of this world.
Kurapika watched me silently once again, searching and studying. I could only guess of what sort of things he was concluding about me.
Perhaps he thought I was beautiful in my older form, or that he was unhappy to see me here.
''I told you not to come here.'' He said gently, making me glare at him. But then despite him not wanting me to be here, he no longer looked angry.
''Are you surprised? Your friend did tell you that I won't stay.'' I smirked, watching as his brows twitched briefly before his expression smoothed out. He knew that in some way I was there, eavesdropping just after I promised him to stay.
Which in my defence, I didn't really say. A mere nod of the head could mean anything.
''You can wait in the car.'' I rolled my eyes at him. ''I can capture him myself. We need to leave quickly.''
''I can fly.'' I smiled and flew back to where I'd left my small bag of clothes and shoes – Daisy number 4. Glancing over at him, ''I can get the blond one for you, if you want.''
His response was immediate. ''No. I must to do this myself, Gin.'' Kurapika's stern look melted into a rueful smile. ''This is my burden to carry. Not yours, Gin.''
I paused to consider his words for a moment. ''You're right.'' I said, eyes falling to his Kurta robes. ''The justice they deserve should come from you. Not me.'' With a sigh, I zoomed back to him until our faces hovered over each other.
''You can go around, chasing these spiders, Kurapika. Chaining these devils in hell, if that's what you want.'' Our foreheads touched. When I closed my eyes and reached out to that darkness where my wispy and unstable memories lodged, I saw glimpses of Kurapika alone in the dark and my heart broke for him.
If anything should happen to my family, to my people in Whale Island, would I be able to function, to still smile like Kurapika does?
The dark part inside of me said a definite no.
''I'll be here to pull you out of the darkness when you need me to, Kurapika-kun. Why? You don't belong there.'' In response, his face twisted as if in pain. When he uttered my name, it had an uncharacteristic whine chiselled into it, giving me an impression of a kid who didn't get his way. The comparison stirred a chuckle out of me. I reached out and caressed the side of his neck, attempting to loosen the tight knots there. My fingers caught the tendrils of his blond hair. Time ticked over us.
''I have your back.'' I found myself saying as I let myself sink into the depths of his melancholic eyes.
It is a fact, not universally known yet that Kurapika was hot even when - or especially when he was angry and being all avenger-like. And with this thought, out of place it might have been, lightened up the current mood inside and outside of Kurapika's car – in my perspective anyway.
After casting a last look at the remaining spider, left shocked and surrounded by corpses below us, I flew on top of Kurapika's car and laid there as he sped away all fast and furious-like with Uvogin immobilised in the backseat of his car.
The spider kept taunting my friend, resulting to an enraged and reckless Kurapika and his friends freaking out and begging him to focus on the bumpy and curving road ahead of us.
''You better kill me now when you have the chance.'' The man rumbled from inside the car. I didn't have to see the smug smirk on his face to know it was there. ''Don't you understand? This is a golden opportunity! You won't get this chance again, you know?''
''I said, shut up!'' Kurapika shouted as his two friends in the car screamed at him to focus on the road. The car shook side to side.
''Kurapika!''
The spider had the nerve to chuckle. Sighing and rolling my eyes, I turned around and knocked at the window where the spider was sat next to. A moment later, the window slid down and I reached my shadowed hand in, finding the man's thick and heated arm. He stiffened at my touch and lunged to bite, his teeth snapping at nothing.
''Shh…''
On top of the car, I twisted around again and made myself comfortable on my stomach, holding on to the car as the sprawling city glared from below us. I started to wonder how tight Kurapika could make his chains to be, if I can escape them and if he would let me try them one day.
An amused grin appeared at my lips as soon my thoughts took a turn – and not for the last time either. It will certainly be interesting to see Kurapika's reaction. Leorio will definitely be scandalised when he catches on; Killua would be disgusted but curious; and my brother will blink innocently before nodding curiously, the dirty innuendo lost on him.
The commotion inside the car dissipated quickly, now that their captured spider was asleep and Kurapika's driving had thankfully calmed.
One day, perhaps the thought of someone's death – especially a bad person's like Uvogin – wouldn't cause me much anxiety.
Because right now, I felt like I was delivering a pig to its butcher.
AN: Thank you so so much for the reviews and all your support guys. I'm trying my hardest to just finish this.
