Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter. If I do, there will be no more hiatuses! Say NO to hiatuses!

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Chapter 1

"8/13"

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So bright...

Where am I?

A jungle?

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but green leaves and the penetrating rays of sunlight, which blinded my eyesight for a fleeting moment. The place did not feel very familiar to me but it did not feel dangerous as well, which may be the reason why I'm still not bothering to gather myself up. I breathe in the fresh breeze that smelled of the young fragrance of the forest and mountain brooks.

My eyes scanned around before I finally decided to get up. My body feels sore and wet. Wait a minute... wet? My clothes are wet and from the looks of it, I just got out from the nearby river on my right side. It feels weird. What happened?

"You're finally awake." a smooth baritone voice spoke and I turned my head to its direction. There, I saw a young teenager about my age with a peculiar black colouring. His hair is jet black, his skin is as white as ivory, and his mysterious eyes are just like obsidian stones. He's wearing nothing but a pair of black jeans. The wet shirt hanging on a branch of a nearby tree must be his.

"Who...who are you?" I managed to ask. The guy smirked lightly and stood up from the tree stump he's sitting on. He proceeded to pick a dry branch near his feet and walked over to where a burning bonfire is. I didn't notice it there, being more preoccupied by the presence of this mysterious guy.

"Me? I'm your saviour, kid." he replied and threw the dry branch into the fire to keep it alive. Then, he turned towards me. "And who are you?"

"M-Me?" I asked as well. "I'm-" I stopped, not knowing why I did. Wait... who am I? I... I can't remember! I don't understand this. Why can't I remember my own name? What the hell is happening? "I don't know." was my honest reply. "I can't remember."

"You must have had a temporary amnesia." the guy tried to explain to the my nearly panic-stricken self. "Do you have any identification in you?"

I examined myself, searching my pockets and anywhere around my body and clothes until I found a brown, worn out wallet. I opened it and saw different cards on each of its slots. The paper bills inside got wet and torn when I tried to take them out. One by one, I also fished out the laminated cards and I was surprised to see a Hunter's License card.

The mysterious guy whistled when he saw the said card. "So, you're a Hunter." he said and casually walked back to the tree stump to sit down again. "Any I.D., Hunter-san?" he asked.

A Hunter? As far as my memory could take me, I know that a Hunter is a special profession sought after by many. The license card is very valuable and anyone would pay any amount to get their hands in it.

I looked back into the wallet and much to my relief, I found an identification card. Well, it's not really an I.D. because it's actually a bank account of a person named Kurapika Kuruta. Is that my name? Kurapika Kuruta? I read the rest of the information. 18 years old, birth date is on April 4, blood type AB. Are those information needed in a back account? When I saw the amount stashed in this certain account, I found myself gaping. Am I that rich?

"So, what's your name, Hunter-san?" that mysterious guy asked again.

"You first." I demanded and he chuckled, much to my confusion.

"My name is Kuroro Lucilfer. Your turn."

"I'm not sure." I admitted. "I think my name is Kurapika."

"Whether you're sure or not, I'll call you Kurapika from now on." Kuroro told me. "Anyway, why were you floating around this river, Kurapika? You don't look like you were injured or someone is chasing you."

"I-I can't remember anything." This is frustrating. I really can't remember anything. Who I am, where I came from, how I ended up like this... nothing comes into my mind. But oddly enough, I can recall a name of a country and lecture about it's history. Does that mean I only lost memories concerning my identity? If so, then I'm in big trouble.

"I guess it can't be helped." Kuroro stood up again and gestured for me to do the same. I stood up, feeling the weight of my wet clothes. "Take your clothes off and dry them. After that, rest. I'll go and fish for our dinner."

"E-Eh?"

Kuroro already jumped into the water before I could even say another word. Looks like he's serious about fishing and stuff. I want to ask him some questions as well but looks like I still have to wait until after 'dinner'.

I took off my blue shirt, but before I could even do it, I noticed some sort of white bandage around my chest. I felt my face heat up. What the-.

I decided against taking off my shirt because it seems inappropriate to do so when a guy about my age is around. And did Kuroro think that I'm the same gender as him?

From afar, I can see Kuroro busy with his task, spearing fish with... Wait... how the hell did he catch that fish? One moment those fishes were just swimming in front of him, the next thing I saw is that the fishes swam over to where he is and he caught them with his bare hands. I would have to ask him after he finishes fishing.

A few minutes later, Kuroro finally got out from the water. I just sat there, watching the guy as he busily pierced the fishes with sticks and putting them against the fire to be cooked.

"Hey, how did you do that?" I asked and stood up, approaching him. "I mean, the fishes. How did you catch them easily?"

"Nen." he simply replied. "Don't tell me you forgot about that too, Kurapika. Hunters know about nen after all."

"I know what is nen. But I don't know if I know how to use nen." I walked over to where he is sitting and sat down in front of him. The bonfire cackled silently as we warmed ourselves up near it. I noticed that the sun is almost setting and since we're in a jungle, wild animals will start to come out from their dens to hunt for their food. We would be the most vulnerable targets in this cold night.

"We'll find out sooner or later anyway. I believe you have questions to ask so let's fix that first."

I raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"

"It's written all over your face. I bet you've been thinking that I'm such a mysterious and weird guy, no?" Kuroro smirked and I looked down. Am I that transparent?

Clearing my throat, I faced him again. "You said you're my saviour. Why did you save me?" I began. This is just a few of my questions that I will throw at him.

"Do I need a reason to save you?"

"Well, no but-"

"Then don't complain. If you really want to die, I'll be happy to do the killing job for you." his voice sounded very arrogant and smug, the kind of attitude I find very repellent.

"No. I don't want to die." I admitted with a frown. "So, why are you here in this forest, Kuroro?"

"Training. I've been training here for the last six months. I'm about to leave when I saw you floating down the river." he replied.

Wow. I'm not even sure if he's being honest or not.

"How can you say things like this so casually? I mean, you shouldn't trust me so easily."

He smirked again and I still find it very irritating despite the fact that it suits his handsome face.

"I just had a feeling that we'll get along very well, Kurapika." Kuroro replied and checked the grilled fishes. "Dinner's ready." then, he took two of those fishes and gave the other to me. Silently, I took it with a grateful nod and started eating while observing the guy in front of me. This guy is really a weirdo but he strangely doesn't creep me out.

"Where are you heading next?" I found myself asking after several bites from my grilled fish. Kuroro looked up and met my own eyes, and I found myself gulping an imaginary lump in my throat with his intense gaze.

"Probably back to my homeland." he started speaking, and I can feel that his voice had a hint of longing in it. "I'm searching for trustworthy companions to be in my group."

"Your group?"

"That's right. A 13-member group, including me, who can protect my homeland."

I noticed how his eyes softened at the mention of his homeland and I can't help but feel that something wrong is going on in that homeland of his.

"Why thirteen?" I asked and Kuroro chuckled.

"I like odd numbers."

"I see. You're odd yourself." he chuckled even more.

"True." then, he asked me back another question. "And you? What will you do next? Are you going to try and retrieve your memories?"

That made me think. I do want to get my memories back, but I don't know where to start. I may have a family worrying about me and friends looking for me. But I have no clue as to who I am and what I was doing before Kuroro found me floating down the river.

In other words, I'm completely stuck in this situation.

"Can I..." I bit my lower lip, anxious. "...stick with you for a while? I have nowhere else to go."

"I figured you'd say that. No problem with me." Kuroro replied with an almost carefree mood, and I found myself letting out a relieved sigh. Thank goodness the person who found me is this good. "On one condition."

I jolted out. "O-One condition?"

"You will be the first member of my group, how about that?"

"Wha-What are you saying? You said you're looking for members who can protect your homeland! How am I a good candidate? I don't even know nen!" I complained, making sure he gets the point.

"We don't even know about that yet." Kuroro grinned with a hint of mischievousness in it. "I'm interested in you, Kurapika. If you want to stay by me and thank me for saving you, then accepting my offer is a fair bargain, don't you think?"

Him? Interested in me? What's so interesting about me? This guy is getting weirder by every second I spend with him. Kuroro finally finished eating his dinner and threw the stick back into the fire. I looked down at my own unfinished food, thinking of his offer. He then waited patiently for me to answer.

He's actually right. What he's asking is a fair bargain.

"All right." I finally replied. "I will be the first member of this 13-member group of yours."

Kuroro smiled with satisfaction in his eyes. "Good."

"What kind of group are you trying to establish anyway?" I found myself asking again, trying to understand his motives to make sure I'm not involving myself in some regrettable situation.

He hummed a little before answering. "A group containing loyal members. Not only loyal to the leader, but to the group itself."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I don't want my group to be like the Mafia community where betrayal is a very common thing to do when the organization is in a pinch." Kuroro explained with all seriousness in his voice. "I want to establish a group that will live on even if the leader ceases to exist. A group that will never betray each other when difficult times come. A group that is like a tightly-knitted family."

"Your standards sure are high." I commented. "That's almost impossible. In an organization, traitors will always be present."

"Not in mine." Kuroro's confident voice spoke up. "It's almost impossible, but not entirely." he smiled lightly, which surprised me because he's all smirks and grins. "I believe I can find people like that in my homeland."

"Then why me?" I asked again. He doesn't make sense at all not matter how hard I try to understand this saviour of mine. "Do you really believe that I won't betray you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Your eyes."

Well, that caught me off guard. "M-My eyes?" I asked and he nodded.

"It's filled with so much loyalty towards someone or something. A principle, perhaps?" He said. "Since you have no memories of anything about yourself, I will take the liberty of knowing who you are. Starting with your personality."

"My personality?"

"That's right." Kuroro nodded lightly. "It'll take some time but I'm sure it'll be amusing." he then smiled at the thought. "Well then, the night is getting deeper. Get some sleep. And do you really plan on sleeping with a wet shirt? You'll catch a cold."

I flushed again, but he didn't notice it because of the dim lighting. How should I explain this?

"I'm... I'm... female."

Even with the dim lights, I can clearly see how Kuroro's eye widened a bit. I bet he's shocked with this revelation. But then, he suddenly laughed, which took me aback.

"W-What's so funny?" I asked, still as red as tomatoes.

"A woman? With that flat chest of yours?" he laughed again and I felt a vein popped on my forehead.

"What's wrong with having a flat chest?" I angrily yelled and he tried to stifle his laugh. He's unbelievable! How could he laugh at such thing? What a pain in the neck.

"Okay, okay, I get it." he finally ceased laughing and it look around. "Well, I don't really have any idea what to do but..." Kuroro stood up and approached a brown backpack that is hanging on the tree where his wet shirt is. He opened it, rummaged through it, and pulled out a white shirt. He then walked back and held out the shirt to me.

"Here, wear it." he ordered. "We'll start moving by dawn so I wouldn't risk you catching a cold."

"Thanks... I guess." I took the shirt and stood up, sauntering towards some bushes to change. Kuroro doesn't seem like a pervert or a peeping tom. I he is, he would have already done something to me when I was knocked out. So I guess I do';t have to worry about him trying to sneak a look.

I came back a few minutes later, only to find my companion already settled a few meters away from the bonfire. He had already set up a makeshift bed for me and I can't help but feel grateful. Kuroro must be fast asleep now from the looks of his breathing. Geez, he falls asleep fast like a kid.

There's still so many mysteries surrounding that guy but right now, I have no choice but to trust him even just for a bit. I hanged my wet shirt over another branch and settled myself on the makeshift bed, hugging myself to protect my body from the harsh cold.

That night, as I slept, I dreamed.

I was in an empty place, dark and cold. The only thing there is a pair of orange eyes, looking right at me with a piercing glare. I felt my knees shake and grow numb.

The next thing I know, I was engulfed by a bright, powerful light.

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Note: Kurapika is OOC here and that's on purpose. Her personality will be developed as she spends some time with Kuroro. In this story, I made Kurapika a girl because I want to. No bashing if you hate authors who turn pretty Kurapika into a girl. I write Yaoi too, but I wanna try writing a hetero fic again. This is inspired by Anatolia Story. Chapter with titles such as "8/13" or "11/13" refers to the number of the Spider that will join the Genei Ryodan. Don;t be greedy and leave a review, okay? Thanks!