DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN HXH.
BETA READER: NONE
Chapter 8: An Abominable Bastard.
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"Ugh, another unreasonable way to spend my money lavishly," Dmitri sighed in irritation with his eyes tightly shut. He leaned heavily against his comfy armchair and tossed the envelope he just opened as if a terrible bad news came out from it.
A week passed after his so-called 'transaction' with the Spider Head, Kurapika found himself standing in front of Dmitri's desk inside his dim-lit study, one fine evening. He just handed a letter to his boss that turned out to be a party invitation. However, he didn't expect to witness Dmitri frown as the man continued scanning the letter's content. The Kuruta wondered for a moment about the man's reaction, but easily figured everything out seconds later.
"That Meniandro's up to something, sending me a grandiose invitation like this."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Receiving this kind of cruise trip invitation," Dmitri turned the scarlet-colored, old parchment styled paper in which beautifully written cursive text was scribbled to let Kurapika see its contents, "is no different from getting an allegiance treaty from a destructive colonist. Look closely at the seal." As Dmitri said, there was a genuine-looking seal stamped at the bottom of the letter, as well as on the envelope. Kurapika didn't really need to think about its authenticity: one look and he instantly recognized that certain emblem.
"A Mafia family seal."
"A genuine one. From the richest Mafia family of this era. I bet this letter have some kind of recognition device or something: that is, only the person it is named could open the envelope. You can feel some kind of aura from it, can't you?"
"Yes, there is, sir. A faint one."
"I can hardly imagine how come Meniandro had his hands on this kind of letter, let alone have an extra copy and give it to me."
"Connection, perhaps."
"Yes, no doubt about that. That's why I don't like to meddle with him, if I could help it."
"You can't decline the invitation, sir?"
"In more reasons than one, yes," Dmitri incredulously signed once more. "For one thing: you can't land your hands on this kind of letter every day. I might have to spend millions of jennies, but I could have a chance to get investors and strengthen my connections, which is worth the try. Second, Meniandro's the type you wouldn't want to mess with. Decline the offer, and you'll declare an all-out war against the craziest assassins on earth. That tiny son of a bitch is tougher and scarier than what he already seemed to be. Really, having him as a colleague is not fun, but very beneficial. For that, I have no choice but to attend. I'd like you and Mitsuhiko to go with me. The cruise will last for a whole week, and there will be an auction and casino night. I just hope the auction got some Kuruta eyes. That would make the trip worth the while. Tell Mitsuhiko the plan, and talk to Senritsu to watch the mansion while we're gone. Get prepared, I want this week to be over as soon as possible," Dmitri concluded and folded the letter before placing it back inside the envelope.
Kurapika curtly nodded and bowed his head a bit. He excused himself and headed out of the study, his mind grumbling relentlessly.
Somehow, he too, could feel something off about their unexpected journey.
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The first night of the exclusive week-long, five star cruise trip was spent peacefully as the ship upheld a warm welcome party for the guests. As expected, prominent names all gathered in one grand dining lounge, flocking together while having drinks, talking with each other with probably boring business matters. Fair enough, Kurapika couldn't quite remember when the last time he went on a gathering with these high-profile personalities. Probably months ago, on York Shin City. Yes, probably that was. He didn't just meet the richest people of this age; he even came to see well-known assassins, not to mention his close friend's father and grandfather: Silva and Zeno Zoldyick
Most of all, he met the biggest dumbass ever existed on the face of the earth over there. Kurapika had to shake his thoughts off for suddenly thinking about Kuroro Lucifer. It crept the hell out of him, remembering that pale face, and even the feeling of his warm, soft lips.
"Kid," a low growl sounded from behind, pulling Kurapika out of his own musings. The speaker's voice sounded creepily familiar.
"Meniandro-san," Kurapika acknowledged the man clad in black suit and curtly bowed in respect.
"I see you guys received the invitation. I kind of expected Dmitri not to attend. Speaking of, where's your dearest boss?"
"Dmitri-san is talking with the other guests, sir," Kurapika shortly replied.
"I see," with that, Meniandro nonchalantly left and went deeper into the dining lounge to mingle with the other guests.
Left alone, Kurapika let out a brief sigh. He couldn't exactly tell why, nor shake it off of his head, but he kind of felt restless ever since they boarded on the ship. He found that the cruise would last for seven days, while three days already passed since that night when he delivered the letter to Dmitri. So technically, he wouldn't see Kuroro Lucifer for more than two weeks, which was a very good news. But what was irking him was the silence the man had kept even a whole week had already gone.
Not that he was eagerly expecting or wanting Kuroro to invite him over, but what he saw and experienced first-hand from the last time they slept made him think that the man wouldn't last a day without sexual intercourse. Maybe, though, he was just exaggerating things. Or maybe both.
But he realized he got no time and room in his mind to think about insignificant things, and he should focus on his job. Therefore he set the matter aside and looked around instead to search for Dmitri.
When suddenly, in a very short instance, he felt a strong, familiar aura from behind. Kurapika's heart skipped a beat and he sharply spun on his heels. He even unconsciously materialized his Chain Jail, its rattling sound rose and some people whom he could tell as nen-users looked at him in alert. Realizing the attention he was drawing, the blond abruptly deactivated his chains and composed himself, though his eyes kept moving here and there, trying to trace the aura's source.
Sure, he could feel powerful auras from several people around the vicinity, but the one he felt was nowhere to be found anymore. It was not simply strong; it was awfully strong, familiar, and different. As if the aura's surge was directed right into him. Knowing it was futile to try and locate the aura's owner, he held his senses fully alert and opted to return his gaze to the dining lounge, silently convincing himself that it didn't bother him, and he couldn't let it interfere and affect his work. 'Maybe it was just my imagination since I'm thinking of that bastard again,' he told himself and went back to his duty instead.
After that brief incident, nothing special or out of ordinary happened. The night went fairly peaceful and in order. The guests began to retreat back to their rooms around midnight, and Kurapika with his co-worker, Mitsuhiko, even had to drape both Dmitri's arms on their shoulders to support him since the man couldn't even bring himself to walk on his own due to drunkenness.
Slurring incomprehensible grumbles, the man unceremoniously slumped himself against his mattress.
Later on, his mumbles turned into loud snores. That made Kurapika, who was already standing outside his boss' room, sigh out of tiredness. It was his duty tonight to guard the man's room. As usual, he busied himself by reading books, while keeping his senses fully awake. The book he was currently reading was very interesting that sleep didn't occur to him. Admittedly, though, his attention wasn't entirely into the text.
He hopefully hoped that what he was thinking wasn't happening. That aura earlier seriously made him anxious. He knew right from the start that this cruise wouldn't be as harmonious and simple as everyone wished it to be. But he didn't expect himto butt in. Kurapika wasn't so sure if he was guessing it right, but it wasn't far from being impossible. More or less, he was aware that something was going to happen on the ship, with or without him messing with it.
But what if he really was with them on board?
'What are you up to again...' for the third time today, Kurapika let out a stressed sigh. He hated this kind of feeling, being clueless yet aware of the impending disaster waiting ahead.
Worrying wouldn't help him, though. It dawned to him that the least expected things tended to happen when you least expect them. Apprehension would just stress the hell out of him. That in mind, he focused his mind on the book instead and waited for the morning to come.
He didn't know that everything would officially start the next day.
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"Our dearest guests are all in high spirits, this is really fun!" the emcee delightfully exclaimed as the room boomed loudly after an intense bidding contest among the audience. He just closed a deal worth one hundred million jennies, and his guests were still enthusiastically anticipating for more as the auction began on the next evening of the cruise. This strongly reminded him of York Shin, as Kurapika watched the event along with his boss. Dmitri already spent a million jenny for an antique vase, but the man didn't seem to be satisfied enough with it. He was apparently waiting for a certain item to be served, just like Kurapika himself.
"And for the next merchandise: Here's a rare item for those who loves to collect human body parts! The price for these precious gems have exceedingly risen due to demand, as there are only exactly thirty-six pairs known in the Market." Kurapika felt his lips slightly moved into a small smile. For a moment his heart leaped in delight. But it didn't really last, as the emcee resumed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, a genuine pair of the Kuruta Clan's Scarlet Eyes!"
Tension began building again inside the hall.
"The bid starts at one hundred million jennies!"
Soon enough, the guests started bidding with determination.
"Two hundred million jennies!" the emcee declared as a guest shot a hand into the air. The first amount was shortly followed by another. "Five hundred million jennies... Six hundred million jennies..."
The biding was relentless, and Kurapika couldn't help but to worry a bit. Dmitri as awfully quiet, smugness was etched in his feature.
"Nine hundred million five hundred thousand jennies!" the emcee loudly announced once more. A hesitant silence followed his voice.
Finally, after a breathtaking moment, Dmitri's arm moved and boastfully waved a hand.
"One billion jennies!"
This time, the silence was more definite, indicating that victory would be theirs.
Dmitri swiftly let his hand fall on his side, an unreadable expression displayed on his face. But a silent hiss from him didn't escape from Kurapika's keen ears. He understood why; that was the biggest amount Dmitri spent for a pair. He still wore that blank face, but satisfaction was glinting into his eyes.
A big smile was forming on the emcee's lips, and it was about to open when something caught his attention.
"... Five billion jennies!"
Kurapika's eyes widened in mixed surprise and dismay, and his heart thudded heavily against his chest.
He knew it: the impending doom he saw coming.
He refused at first, but reluctantly forced himself to turn his head behind. The hand that he thought he would still see wasn't in the vicinity anymore. He slowly turned to the other side of the hall, and saw nothing but heads and locks of strangers. Dmitri on the other hand looked dumbfounded and curious.
But not as shocked and restless as the Kuruta.
"The Kuruta Scarlet Eyes are sold for five billion jennies!" the emcee happily closed the deal.
The room was suddenly filled with applause; the guests were all turning their heads to look for the person who bought a mere pair of lifeless eyes for five grand billion jennies. Once again, but was pretty sure this time that he would find the person he was looking for but wanted to see last, Kurapika calmly spared a glance at the back and attempted to relax in spite of the loud heart now pounding hard inside him.
Standing indignantly among the crowd, wearing a black suit with a light blue necktie, a bandage was tightly wrapped around his head. A charming smile was plastered on his pale face, his dark eyes were annoyingly filled with what could be considered as 'having fun,' his very existence never failed to bring fury and ablaze wrath as Kurapika's eyes caught the sight of his most formidable foe. He looked sickeningly good on his attire, and Kurapika berated himself for honestly thinking that way.
Kuroro Lucifer was there for real.
He wished it was just a horrible nightmare, but it didn't really work because ever since that day he came across that man, his reality turned into more menacing nightmare than his bad dreams about losing his family.
He intentionally glued a stare to the man, until their eyes met and locked. A sweet smile graced wider on the man's mouth, and Kuroro even had the guts to curtly bow to him as if saying that everything was no dream.
Kurapika casually averted his eyes from the man's and acted as though everything was normal.
'...Damn it!'
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P.S.
God, I dunno how to start.
September 21, 2013... That's when the last time I posted a chapter. So I actually didn't work my ass off for almost a year, and yet- 13,072 views!? Someone out there is still checking me out!? Gosh, you're making me cry X'(. That's so sweet, thank you very much for the support!
Well, I'm pretty sure that many fans out there are no longer into HxH due to Togashi's hiatus, and Kurapika and Kuroro both absent on the latest episodes of HxH 2011 (that's about to end too). So if you're a loyal reader, yes- I'M BACK.
Many things have happened. I got myself a job, I met a guy and had him as a boyfriend but we didn't even last for a month, we're about to move to another house, and my job's actually a tough one. It took me half a year to cope with my new lifestyle, since office is driving me mad, mastering English is driving me even madder, and studying Japanese on my own is splitting my head open. But look, I even managed to post a new chapter!
Yeah, I know that's too short for a comeback chapter, but this chapter was originally long. After reading the first section of 'A Complete Course in Freshman English' by Harry Shaw, I've woken up one morning only to find that the long version was terrible. So I edited it again and it turned out like this. Also, I have noticed that I did something that's too impossible: that is, having Kurapika on top by his own accord. I know that sounds nice but really, that's OOC. But to make up for that, I made something so good to serve you better! That's why I have a question: Can anyone describe to me how does a "Hotel VIP Room for Couples' look like? You know, those crazy rooms in resorts with bed that has vibrator or something installed to it? Yes, that, and stop imagining things on your own: I need answers.
And as soon as I received answers from you, I'll try my best to post the next one around first week of October. So I'll be waiting for reviews and replies!
And those who have viewed my chapters yesterday (Sept.1) and today (Sept. 2), 3 readers from the United States of America and 1 each from Peru, Germany and UK- Thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
And lastly, I'm looking for a beta reader. I badly want to ask V-nex-san but I'm too shy since I didn't update for almost a year. But still.
Really, last one: this is for a sweet reviewer of NGB, Izumi Natsuki-chan: Thank you so much for the lovely review. If you came across this fic too, I hope you make your own account here and I think it would be so fun to chat with you! Ewan ko lang kung mabigat para sayo ang plot ng isang 'to pero sana swak pa rin sa taste mo. Romance kamo? Magsawa ka. Haha, it would be really nice to meet you in person. I hope to talk with you even more.
Another sweet reviewer, gentletopainfulgaze-chan: I'm sorry for not keeping my word about updating on my birthday. My life really sucks. But here you are, I hope you'll like it!
Don't forget to review, you don't have an idea how much love you are giving to me with every word you post.
Lovelots, Kusari.