This work is a submission for day 7 : Kuraneo Week 2020.
I repeat the vampire-themed challenge from day 4 because I looooove vampirecore very much ;D
I worship Kuraneo's prey x hunter dynamic. I feel like there's so much indirect belligerent sexual tension between them.
Fair Bloody Exchange
Kurapika believes vampires are the enemy of mankind.
Ever since his whole village was killed by a band of vampire, he has sworn to hunt vampire to their last existence.
As soon as he came of age, Kurapika officially became a vampire hunter, dedicating his life to exterminating the bloodsucking monster and their disgusting appetite for blood.
"Are you going to kill me too?" the fair-skinned lady cowers before the blonde young man in front of her. Dried tears are still visible on her cheek.
Kurapika's crossbow arrow has pierced Chrollo's heart. The raid to Phantom Troupe castle was successful. He has avenged his family by killing the vampire lord Chrollo.
As he trusted his comrade Hisoka to behead and burn the vampire lord's corpse, it is mandatory for Kurapika to move on to the next target : Neon Nostrade, the lady of the castle.
He had researched his enemy for some time and it's the first time Kurapika sees her in flesh.
Naturally he would have pulled the trigger of his crossbow, allowing sharp arrow to pierce her heart and end her ethereal presence.
However, seeing a vampire cowering in such vulnerable state makes him question his belief.
Rather than a monster, she looks like a wounded human girl. She didn't even fight back when cornered, heightening his doubt to kill her. She escaped all her chances to fight and risked her beautiful dress torn in her attempt to escape. Is she really a vampire?
Upon looking closer, Kurapika can see visible fang marks on her neck. What does this imply? A vampire feeding off another vampire?
Neon immediately covers her face with her arms when Kurapika crouches near.
"I'm not going to hurt you." he says when she dragged her feet away as his hand approached her. Only after that, he can touch her chin to tilt her head, examining the bite marks on her neck.
"Who did this-" Kurapika rolls his eyes. Obviously he knows who did this.
Chrollo.
Assuming her title, she would be untouchable to other vampires ,"Why did this?"
"Aren't you a vampire?" he slowly presses his thumb between Neon's lips, revealing pointy fang teeth.
Her skin temperature is colder than normal but the inside of her mouth is warm. He places his thumb on her tongue to examine closer. Even her saliva is still intact. If one does not observe properly, she could pass as a human girl.
Must be a high-level vampire. The most dangerous kind, who can walk among humans unnoticed. He concluded.
There was an uncomfortable silence when he noticed her flushed cheeks.
"Master Chrollo likes my blood. So what of it?!" she pulls his thumb away from her mouth and brushes his hand.
Kurapika felt a twinge of guilt. Probably he shouldn't have done it. Though a monster, she is still a woman after all.
"It's the first time I hear cannibalism among vampires." he comments on the peculiar case.
"Chrollo has practiced it since I was a human. He said the blood tastes awful if he doesn't drink it through mine."
Since she was a human? Had a long history, didn't they?
"So you're the one who feeds off the prisoners?"
"The human cattles? Oh, yes."
Kurapika scoffs. What a ridiculous thought to humanize her. Once a monster, always a monster.
"Were you one of the prisoners too? Why did he turn you into a vampire?" he asks, trying to learn her vampirism origin.
"I was not." Neon says ,"Chrollo... he gave his vampire blood to save me."
"Saving you by turning you into a bloodsucking monster?" he responds bluntly.
Neon's expression changes when she hears Kurapika's response ,"I refuse to tell you more. You killed Chrollo. Why would I tell a murderer?"
Likewise, Kurapika is also provoked by Neon's careless choice of word. How can she address him as the villain? It is her kin that killed his family first.
He quickly reminds himself that he is not here to argue. Any lead to cure vampirism must be treated properly.
"What is your name?"
"I don't want to tell you."
"Neon, is it?
Neon widens her eyes, wondering how the stranger knows her name.
"Miss Neon, I will not kill you. But you will help us by participating in the blood experiment to cure vampirism."
"Kill me. I don't want to aid any of Master Chrollo's murderers."
"I apologize, but you have no other choice."
Neon started running toward the window as Kurapika stood up. Her attempt fails when Kurapika chases and pins her back to the wall.
"Let me go. I'll jump and kill myself instead!"
"You're a vampire, Miss. You will survive the fall." Kurapika calmly says while pushing her waist with his arm, suffocating her.
"Nghh."
Again, he feels guilty hearing her painful grunt. Judging from her reaction, she seems to be genuinely harmless and has no fighting capability. Does she really not know she will survive the fall?
However, he must minimize her movement. He doesn't know what she's capable of yet. Even low-level vampires are stronger than ordinary humans.
She is still a monster. Kurapika reminds himself.
"Hey, what are you!?" Neon shouts as she feels cold iron wrapping around her wrists, weakening her body.
"This is a silver-based cuff. Please do not resist so I won't have to treat you violently." Kurapika unhands his arm from her waist, letting her realise that the chain between the cuff is lengthy enough for her to extend her arms.
"Looks like you guys are having so much fun." a familiar voice approached them from the door.
"Hisoka. Have you burnt the body properly?"
"I had so much fun with the vampire lord's body." the jester-appearanced man answers with ambiguous delight, to which Kurapika take as a "Yes."
"Chrollo..." Neon weakly weeps for her kin.
"Let's go back. We will take this lady to the laboratory." Kurapika take off his coat and put it on Neon, covering her torn dress.
"Why is that?" Hisoka asks curiously.
"Another lead to cure vampirism."
"Interesting."
Kurapika releases his hands from Neon's shoulder to introduce himself ,"My apology for the insolence earlier, Miss. My name is Kurapika. I will ensure your safety and comfort while you stay at our base and help us in the experiment."
"Follow us, Miss Neon." Kurapika adds the polite request.
"No. Leave me here." Neon turns her face away.
"We will treat you respectfully as a member of our laboratory team and fulfill your needs from blood transfusion stock." he tries to convince her.
"I still won't go."
He stares blankly at her before saying ,"This is my last request. Please follow us and collaborate in the experiment."
"Do not even try."
"Don't mind me then." He then comes closer and carries her in his arms despite her disapproval.
"Let me gooo!" Neon kicks the air, struggling pointlessly in Kurapika's arms.
As they get further from the castle, she can only yield while noticing his constant curious glances toward her.
Kurapika is starting to lose patience. It has been three days and Neon still refuses to give her blood for the experiment. The vampire hunter association has spent their expenditure to decorate Neon's room and now they're demanding progress.
"Please, Miss Neon." the young man politely demands ,"Extend your arm at once."
"Do you think I will allow you to treat me like human cattle?" Neon says while hugging the wool blanket Kurapika provided.
The vampire hunter only wishes Neon would initiatively cooperate with him. Is it still too much to ask?
The lady is at his mercy. She is also his literal prisoner. Yet, he still addresses her by her honorific title "Miss". He also has kept his word to create the most comfortable environment she requested.
He really wants to be a gentleman by understanding her circumstances. Unfortunately, time is running out and there is no other choice. Today he has to take Neon's blood by whatever means necessary or the association will execute her.
Kurapika decides to grab her arm quickly by force. He disables her movement to prick her arm with srynge needle. Her painful screech fills the room as the syringe draws her blood.
"It hurts! How dare you do this to me!?"
"Forgive me. But since Miss Neon has offered blood to the vampire lord numerous times, a needle puncture must be nothing." Kurapika subtly urges Neon to stop her dramatic reaction while he watches the puncture on her skin quickly recover.
"That's different." she objects to his statement ,"Chrollo's bites feel pleasant, while your needle is not!"
"What the-" he feels offended by her comparison for some weird reason.
"Anyway, my job here is done. Thank you for the cooperation, Miss Neon." Kurapika puts the loaded syringe in the metal box and leaves her room ,"I will see you again tomorrow."
"I refused to cooperate, you know!" Neon shouts at the locked door.
But the door gives no answer and her only visitor has left, leaving Neon feeling isolated and lonely.
The sun has set and the night has fallen. For vampire hunters, the day has just begun.
Kurapika is running an errand when he finds a liberated castle prisoner wandering near the prison's gate. They are supposed to rest after receiving medical treatment.
"Aren't you Dalzollene? Why are you here?" Kurapika asks the wandering ex-castle prisoner.
At first, the man with the face tattoo was hesitant to answer.
"I come to see Miss Neon and offer her my blood. She prefers newly harvested blood." Dalzollene admits.
"She held you prisoner." Kurapika reminds him.
"It's true. But, I appreciate her benevolent heart." he explains ,"Miss Neon sent help to my destitute siblings outside the castle several times, ensuring their future."
"Once I learned of my mistress' condition, I can't help but to feel grateful and worried." he continues ,"Now that Miss Neon is a prisoner like I was. I wish to aid her in any way possible."
Kurapika listens to Dalzolenne's concern attentively. He is surprised by Dalzolenne's faithfulness, but more surprised when he learns of Neon's altruistic nature.
The question arises in his mind. Why does she care about other people's future? Can a vampire act humane?
"Go back to rest, Dalzolenne. I will assure Miss Neon is to be served newly harvested blood next time."
"Thank you for your understanding." Dalzolenne's face expresses relief and he quietly go back to his chamber.
Now that Kurapika has made a promise, he can only think of one convenient way to serve newly harvested blood here.
"Good evening, Miss Neon."
Neon jumps from her bed to welcome her usual dinner tray, only to notice Kurapika doesn't bring anything with him tonight.
"Kurapika? Where's my dinner?"
"A man named Dalzolenne sent me a request." he says ,"His request is for you to be served newly-harvested blood."
"So?"
The blonde young man loosens his scarf and undo the first two buttons of his white shirt.
"Please feed on my blood tonight." Kurapika made his offerings before she could protest.
"Why are you offering me your blood?" Neon asks suspiciously, taking their hostile relationship into account.
"We have taken your blood earlier. It would only be fair if I offer you mine."
Neon raises her eyebrow. He's got a point.
Plus, she is starving and can't resist looking at his tempting bare neck already.
"You are right." she comes near the vampire hunter, causing a ticklish feeling in his stomach ,"This is a fair exchange."
Kurapika's heart beats faster as Neon leans closer to his neck. He can sense the girl is smelling his neck through the tingling air. Strangely, he is relaxed enough to notice the flower scent on her hair.
He feels her soft lips again. This time, on his neck.
Her fangs suddenly get sharper. They sink into his skin and he immediately closes his eyes, feeling paralyzed. The bite prevents him from moving or breathing.
Kurapika was never bitten by a vampire before. The new sensation is hard to describe. It's like he's drowning. Drowning in the sea of gruesome pleasure and intimacy.
The bite didn't take long. Neon licks the wound to stop the bleeding, leaving only fang marks. Now, he can breathe again.
Before Neon could move her body further away, Kurapika stops her by grabbing her shoulder.
"Do you like it?"
Through the close distance between their lips, he could sense the girl trembling in shock.
"Your blood tastes good." she finally answers, unable to cover her reddened cheeks ,"Thank you."
Kurapika slowly releases his grip. He doesn't understand why he cares so much of a vampire's opinion on his blood.
He just knows that he is glad for taking Dalzolenne's place tonight. And hearing the fact that Neon likes his blood left him feeling satisfied.
It took quite some time but I enjoyed writing this. Hope you enjoyed this vampire story!
This is a one-shot story but I feel like I can write a prologue or another chapter for later since so many things are left hanging, there is no version difference from the one I posted in AO3.