Kurapika had always been one to notice the things around him, even the smallest, seemingly insignificant things. A foxbear cub lingering behind a bush, hoping for his and Pairo's attention. The look of wonder in Gon's eyes as he'd looked out of the window of the airship on their way to the Republic of Padokea. The uncharacteristic look of concern that Neon had given him as he had hurried out of the Nostrade mansion with guilt heavy in his heart.
And now was no different. As he stood guard in front of the door that led to the rest of the ship, Kurapika's gaze kept drifting over to the closed kitchen door. Pots and pans clanged, Woble was whimpering in the same way that she always did before beginning to cry incessantly, and Oito was making gentle shushing noises.
"Kurapika?"
Kurapika looked to his left and realized that Bill had spoken. "Hm? What is it, Bill?"
"You seem a little off today. Perhaps you should go rest. I can handle guard duty by myself for a while."
Kurapika mustered one of his forced smiles that always felt so wrong, so fake. "I'm fine, Bill. I really am."
As usual, Bill didn't press him any further.
Several more minutes passed in silence, until Kurapika saw the kitchen door open.
Oito stood in the doorway, looking directly at Kurapika with anger blazing in her dark eyes. "Kurapika, I'd like a word." Her tone was deceivingly calm and collected.
"Of course, Queen Oito."
Kurapika could tell from Bill's expression that he was just as confused as Kurapika was. As Oito made to walk back into the kitchen, Bill shot him a questioning look, to which Kurapika replied with a shrug as he followed her.
Kurapika had never actually been inside of the kitchen before. Shimano was busying herself with laying the table and kept sending Kurapika nervous glances. Oito walked over to the large windows overlooking the sunset, and Kurapika followed her. As he passed Woble's highchair, Woble looked up at him and squealed, lifting her arms as if hoping that he would pick her up. The corners of his lips turned up into a small smile.
"Take a seat," said Oito, without looking at Kurapika, her gaze fixed on the vast amount of ocean before them.
The only other chair was the one closest to Woble. He sat down, and Shimano rushed out of the room, muttering something about dusting the living room.
"Queen Oito, is something the matter?"
She stood still, looking out of the window for so long that he wondered whether or not she had even heard him. "Just make sure that you stay focused on your task, no matter what may occur." Uncharacteristic coldness seeped through her words.
For once in a long time, Kurapika was utterly speechless. "Has something happened, Queen Oito?"
She shook her head no, and Kurapika had to restrain himself from questioning her further. He had to know his place, after all. But the curiosity gnawed away at every core of his being.
After a few moments of silence, Kurapika got up to leave. Woble started to whimper and reached her arms out to Kurapika again.
"She wants you to pick her up," said Oito. Kurapika turned around to find that Oito was looking at Woble with a slightly softer look in her eyes.
….
An hour later, as Kurapika stood guard at the door again, he could hear Bill snickering.
"She still doesn't want you to put her down?"
"Apparently not." It was true. Woble had clung to Kurapika for the past hour, protesting every attempt Kurapika made to give her back to Oito, Shimano, or even Bill.
"And you still have no clue what Oito wants?"
"No." Kurapika looked down at Woble and realized that she was asleep. She breathed in and out softly, her tiny hand loosely grasping Kurapika's own hand.
"I'll take her to her crib now," he said quietly to Bill, who seemed to be holding back a smirk. Maybe two years ago Kurapika would have made a lighthearted joke in response. But now? Now, everything was different.
When he got to the nursery, he found that Oito and Shimano were not there. He gently settled Woble down into her crib.
He was beyond exhausted. He found himself sitting down in the rocking chair next to the crib, wondering how Woble was able to sleep so peacefully.
He decided to keep watch over the young prince until Oito or Shimano returned, when he heard footsteps frantically running down the hallway.
"Kurapika!" Bill stood in the doorway, speaking so loudly that Woble began to stir in her sleep. His expression terrified Kurapika enough that he abruptly stood up.
"What is it?"
"The queen and Shimano aren't in the quarters at all."
"What do you mean? Weren't we guarding the entrance to the quarters the entire time?"
"I know! But I've checked everywhere, and they're nowhere to be found."
If it hadn't been for his immense trust in Bill, then Kurapika would have begun to suspect him of attempting to lead Kurapika into a trap.
His heart began to pound loudly. He blocked out everything from his mind that didn't relate to protecting the ones around him. Nothing existed except for the mission at hand.
"Stay here with the prince, Bill. I'll check everything out."
…
Once Kurapika had finished checking every last nook and cranny of room 1014, he was still just as dumbfounded as he had been before beginning his search.
He had to inform someone, someone. He rushed over to the phone on the wall and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror next to the phone.
He looked completely composed. There was no hint that he was more afraid than he had been even when Gon and Killua had been taken hostage by the Phantom Troupe. Wild speculations that didn't completely make sense began to overtake his brain.
Then, he heard a frantic knocking at the front door. He was snapped out of his panic and was now fully in bodyguard mode, determined to figure out what was happening.
He opened the door, prepared to use his chains if necessary.
He stared, completely perplexed. "Prince Fugetsu?"
But before he could ask how she had snuck past her guards in order to come all the way over here, before he could ask why she would come to Woble's quarters at all, she rushed towards him with pure panic written all over her face and gripped his arms so tightly that it hurt.
"Your majesty –"
"You have to come see." Her voice sounded strangled, and her eyes were brimming with tears.
"See what?" He had seen Fugetsu before at the banquet and on television, but he had never spoken to her even once before. But he had seen enough of her to know that she was usually calm and cheerful, completely unlike her current demeanor. Which meant that something truly serious must have happened.
"Almost everyone on the ship has disappeared!" she said.
"How do you know this, your majesty?"
"I checked the lower decks!"
She'd been able to bypass security and get onto the lower decks? Many questions went through his mind, but he managed to settle on a few. "And who did you see there? Who else hasn't disappeared, Prince Fugetsu?"
Something changed in the young prince's expression, and she averted her gaze.
"Some people that … that you've met before," she said softly.
There was a brief silence. "How would you know whether or not they've met me before, Prince Fugetsu?"
Another pause. "I'll tell you if you come with me to the lower decks."