DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN HXH.
BETA READER: valorycruz (Yeah, she sent the email the day after I posted the unedited one. I think it won't hurt to change it last-minute for the better.)
Chapter 9: A Special Request.
"I wonder who that man is," Dmitri grunted.
Around twelve o'clock midnight, the auction had ended and the guests slowly dispersed out of the auditorium. Amidst of the crowd making their ways to their respective rooms, were the Mafia head alongside with his young bodyguard. Dmitri still looked frustrated since he didn't get the merchandise he wanted so badly. Kurapika noted that and he decided to keep quiet and left the man to his own musings. He too felt bad for his boss not getting the eyes. However he wasn't as frustrated as him. Yes, he honestly wished that Dmitri closed the deal. He hated the man for his disgusting hobby of collecting the Scarlet Eyes, but he himself had witnessed how much Dmitri treasured and valued them. In fact, he would rather help his boss collect them and get the most of the Eyes rather than make deals with Kuroro Lucifer. Either way, he would still have them. It would be pain in the neck, but in the end he would still get the scarlet eyes worth five billion, and that was all he needed.
"Five billion jennies... that doesn't sound like a hobby anymore. More like a fetish."
"Indeed, sir. Five billion doesn't sound reasonable for a pair." 'They are worth more than any amount of riches in this world. Nothing could ever equal their value.' Kurapika mentally added.
'Fetish... that's more like it. He said himself that seeing my scarlet eyes turns him on,' the boy felt himself flinch a little as another undesirable remark went through his mind.
"Guess another pair just escaped my hands," Dmitri sighed, ending their conversation.
While on their way back to the man's room Dmitri and Kurapika met Mitsuhiko whom the Kuruta presumed received a special order from their boss. From what he heard, his co-worker seemed to have booked a table at the dining lounge.
Dmitri then dismissed his blond bodyguard, saying he needed to take a rest. Kurapika was a little surprised, but he was about to switch duty with Mitsuhiko anyway so he gladly obeyed and made his way to their assigned room.
Meters away from their cabin's door, Kurapika felt it again— the powerful aura surge he felt the previous day. This time though, he was sure who its source was, as well as his exact location.
Still keeping his cool, he followed the aura's trail. He felt no need to hurry, and maintained his normal pace. Surveillance cameras were all over the place, in every corner, every hall, and placed into different areas to get every angle, so he had to act normal.
The trail led him into a room, a fair distance away from the room he was originally intending to go to. It looked like a utility room for housekeepers. Not a very nice place to meet up, but a suitable one if you discreetly need to see each other.
Kurapika cautiously reached out for the door knob while unconsciously holding his breath.
He stepped inside the room.
The boy didn't even have the chance to take a look around when he felt a vicious grip against on wrist. The next moment, he was roughly pinned against the door.
Someone had begun plundering his lips.
His eyes were partly opened, apparently enjoying the sight of a certain Kuruta shocked and paralyzed. Meanwhile the boy's eyes momentarily glowed scarlet but instantly returned to normal, evidently taking in the situation.
Kuroro even had the guts to snake his arm around Kurapika's waist. His other free hand gently cupped Kurapika's chin to stop him from getting away. It wasn't necessary. The blond was too flabbergasted to resist. Kuroro wouldn't waste that chance, hence he pushed his tongue deeper into Kurapika's mouth and suckled passionately.
The man received a fidget and a reluctant, silent moan. It was hopelessly amusing. But he was too busy to smile so he kept his amusement to himself and continued to enjoy his delicacy now squirming under his touch.
Kurapika was thoroughly paralyzed at first. His senses slowly began to kick in and he attempted to get away from the man. He didn't think twice and immediately applied nen to his hands before pushing the Spider head away from him.
Kuroro stepped back a little. He could tell by his expression that he was pissed however, he hastily retained his emotionless expression before setting his eyes on the Kuruta, who was now feverishly blushing and audibly out of breath.
"C-Cut it out," Kurapika panted wiping his wet lips with the back of his hand. "Learn some self-control, would you?"
"Sorry," the man said with a guilty-and-shy expression. "Couldn't stop myself . Not seeing you for one whole week was unbearable, as you can see."
"Yeah, right. Exactly what I expected from a pervert like you," Kurapika snapped back. "What do you want?" Kurapika stupidly asked. He looked away right after realizing what he said.
"That's kind of stupid of you to ask. It's not like you," Kuroro wore a silly, amused smile.
Kurapika spared the man a glare, a faint blush colored his cheeks. The man was way having too much fun getting on his nerves, and keeping this awkward conversation was irritating. So he decided to ask his questions and change the first one he blurted out.
"Five billion jennies— what the hell were you thinking!? No, my question's still wrong; what the hell are you doing here?"
"First, I just made sure the eyes would fall into my hands. There's nothing wrong with that. Second, the third question's no different from the first one, so I won't bother harboring an answer for that."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not worrying about you, but don't you think you might be recognized as a Ryodan when you show-off like that? I understand that you want to get the eyes, but you're well-aware that you can win the bid with a smaller amount. I'm sure you're not stupid enough to take the risk of getting caught."
"I simply-," Kuroro stepped forward and leaned towards Kurapika, smiling "-Want to let you know how much I'm willing to spend just to lay you in bed and hear your sexy moans."
"Die and go to hell."
"Tonight's your day off, I suppose? Want to come to my room?"
"Don't you think you're too talkative today? And how do you know it's my day off?"
"I was taking a wild guess."
"Yeah right, you shit of a liar."
"Foul-mouthed as ever, I see?"
"You're obviously spying on me, jerk. How else would you know I was on this cruise? Moreover, I don't really think you're just here for the eyes... Or to do unspeakable things to me; what are you really up to? And—" Kurapika's rant was cut short. His breath was caught in his throat when Kuroro advanced closer to him, and roughly captured his lips in a kiss.
Kurapika kind of expected that, but what he didn't expect was Kuroro hurriedly undoing the button of his pants and casually slipping his hand underneath his underwear. The blonde's face brightened into a darker shade of crimson, and he violently struggled to get away.
"W—What the hell do you think you're doing!" he exclaimed, his voice sounding seductively breathless.
"I don't need you bombarding me with questions; I want you tonight. Are you free or not? A yes or no is enough."
"And touching me will answer your question?"
"Not really, but it will help you come to a decision. You see if you refuse to answer directly, I can take your reaction instead. And it's obviously a yes, considering how hard you are already."
"That's a normal reaction, you perverted psychopath! Let go of me!"
"Answer me first."
"... Okay fine— but not in here, for goodness' sake.".
"Of course," Kuroro let go, a triumphant smirk was plastered on his face.
"... This room must have a surveillance camera, have you taken care of it?" Kurapika suddenly asked trying to break away from the embarrassing atmosphere.
"Yes your highness," Kuroro teased.
"Let's just get this over with quickly; I need to go back and get some rest," Kurapika said, firmly. His blush getting worse.
"Demanding and impatient: Are you really that eager to be touched?"
"Will you shut the hell up? Honestly— I wasn't expecting anything good from you at all, but will you please stop saying useless and insensible things? Don't get me wrong, but you seriously didn't seem to be a trash talker to me when we first met."
"Whoa, did I receive a compliment from you just now?"
"I just said don't get me wrong," the blond spat. Turning around with the intent to get out of the room. However, his hand hadn't even touched the knob when a series of things happened within the blink of an eye.
He felt Kuroro's arm circle around his waist, then an unusual surge of aura came from behind, apparently the man had summoned his so-called 'Skill Book.' That aura gradually enveloped Kurapika's body. The surroundings started to spin, making him feel sick.
The next thing Kurapika knew, he was inside a different room, bigger and brighter than the one they were in moments— seconds ago.
"We're here," Kuroro said, and let Kurapika go.
"Is this... your room?" the boy muttered.
"Yes. Make yourself at home."
"You," Kurapika breathed out, his eyes examining the place, his face wore an unreadable expression. "Just... Just how many stairs did we skip within that span of three seconds?"
"Five," Kuroro casually said. "We're on the highest deck."
"Highest deck? On a... VIP room?"
"Haven't you been inside a VIP room before? Why do you sound so shocked?"
"It isn't the room that shocked me— It's you being able to get a VIP room on the cruise of the richest Mafia of this century. Just how much money do you have and how much do you plan to waste just to mess with me?"
Kuroro nonchalantly chuckled, and wore the most charming smile Kurapika had ever seen on his face.
"As much as it takes."
That made Kurapika flush even harder. He thought he might die with how flustered he was.
"I'm... I'm going to take a bath," Kurapika looked away to hide his blushing face. He actually wanted to say something more, but couldn't come up with the proper words to express how much he wanted to punch the man in face and break his nose. But what came from his mouth was something he didn't mean to say. However, he wanted time to think alone. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Kuroro replied, still wearing his sick smirk. "Help yourself."
The answer was way too submissive. Kurapika could tell that the jerk was up to something again.
"It's on the right, the small door."
The boy just continued walking ahead. Silently following the man's directions.
"Don't peek," Kurapika warned, his eyes on the man.
"Alright," again, the answer was too passive. Kurapika had to watch out.
With that said and done, Kurapika stepped inside the bathroom.
"What the— " Kurapika heard himself gasped.
'Alright— this is going way too far!' the blond unintentionally backed away, now thinking twice about taking that refreshing bath.
What Kuroro said was true, it was Kurapika's first time inside a VIP room on a cruise ship, and that was one secret he'd take to his grave.
He had a picture of this in his mind, but seeing it for real still crept the hell out of him as his eyes fell onto the biggest bathroom he had ever saw in his life. There was a circular bathtub big enough for two to three people. A red, translucent curtain was hanging around the tub, giving off a peculiar atmosphere. The shower area on a corner was enclosed with a transparent glass panel. The glass cubicle was utterly useless because one could still see when somebody took a bath, but Kurapika was well aware of the erotic purpose it served. For a very, fleeting moment he imagined himself taking a shower inside, and that was the worst thing to ever cross his mind. So much so that he momentarily wished to melt away and die.
Everything was too much to take in, and Kurapika really wanted to get away from this demented place as fast as possible. He was about to reach out for the door when he abruptly stopped and mused.
'That man is... taking advantage of my inexperience,' of course Kurapika knew that long ago, but it never occurred to him that it could be something the man could use in order to wrap him around his fingers. As far as Kurapika knew, Kuroro was nine years— almost a decade— older than him. Surely he had experience. Kuroro was admittedly a smart and a wise man, he wouldn't be the leader of one of the most notorious gangs if he wasn't. And as odd as it was, Kurapika could somehow read the man's way of thinking, including his ungodly imagination.
'Dominance. One thing that undoubtedly satisfies him is when he knew he was stronger and dominant over his targets. He likes it when his prey's in a corner after its futile attempt to get away. Like a poor little kitten that will have no choice but to do anything he says. Playing with weaker people is his favorite, and the more reluctant his targets are, the more he likes it.
'I know my protests and attempts to win only increases his interest in me, but I wouldn't just give-up and submit just to try and delude his interest in me.'
It was a matter of will power, and perhaps endurance.
'I've completely made my way into the dark side of this world. It's too late for me to act all innocent and let him use my lack of experience as an advantage. It wouldn't hurt to go with the flow tonight. Since he spent five billion dollars for that pair of Scarlet Eyes.'
"Just for tonight," Kurapika mumbled to himself making up his mind.
He started stripping away of his clothes. One by one he put them neatly on a basket nearby. The bathroom was confined but it was eerily cold, the misty air was biting his skin.
He then took a quick shower, since he couldn't stand being inside the transparent box for a minute longer. Languidly he plunged into the huge tub, the water on it was comfortably warm. It soothed his frazzled nerves and relieved his tension for a moment.
Kurapika let out a long sigh and laid his head back against the tub. His blank eyes rested on the white ceiling, the warm water successfully alleviated his tensed muscles, but it didn't help his mind, which was now grumbling relentlessly.
Five billion jennies. That wasn't something you could receive easily, let alone spend for one night. With that amount, Kurapika could easily get two or three more pairs of his clan's eyes. He could use the money to invest in some decent business and expand the sum to acquire more pairs. He could even sustain himself a fraction of his remaining life with that amount.
But Kuroro spent it all in one go, for a pair of Scarlet Eyes that he stole himself from the real owners a long time ago. The Spider Head threw all that money without hesitation, to think that with that amount he could hire professional hookers to satiate him every night for the whole year round but no, he didn't. All because he wanted to slap Kurapika in the face of the fact that he had all the abilities and ways of getting the Kuruta eyes, and that all he could do was yield and let the man do whatever he wanted to him.
'As much as it takes,' Kuroro's phrase echoed in his mind. That calm and deep voice, that sly smirk and that sharp stare, all of them screaming out one single message.
Kuroro Lucifer was dead serious about what he had declared.
'... So tonight's service costs five billion,' if that was the case then how much did he have to surrender? How far should he give in? To what extend did he have to go in order to equal that exorbitant amount?
Seriously. How much did a human's dignity cost?
Kurapika decided to push himself upright and out of the tub. It was pointless to think about those things. He would just tire and stress himself out. He would acquire another pair of his family's stolen eyes tonight, and that was all that mattered.
Kurapika ran his hands through his hair while on his way to the basket where he placed his garments— when his fingers stopped midway.
His heart began to thud heavily against his chest, with his eyes wide open.
All of his clothes, which were neatly folded on the basket, were gone. His shirt, pants, and underwear. All of them weren't there anymore, and a white polo shirt was unceremoniously tossed on it instead. With one look Kurapika knew that it wasn't his shirt, what actually happened, and what Kuroro wanted him to do.
"... No way in hell am I going to wear your soiled shirt, you bastard!" Kurapika clutched his hand into a fist and closed his eyes in mounting annoyance.
'How come I didn't feel his presence? I should have felt his aura. Was he that fast?' the boy heaved a heavy, frustrated sigh.
'Now what to do?' Kurapika stood frozen, loss of what to do next. Well, he had two options; one was to storm outside the bathroom naked and get his clothes back, or two, wear that God-forsaken shirt and let Kuroro get what he wanted. Both were deadly mortifying, but he couldn't just stand there and wait for nothing to happen.
'... Why do I have to go through this?' Kurapika was tired of asking himself the same old question. A question he asked over and over again, but he couldn't help it.
"... Five billion," he reminded himself one last time. It was sick, but he felt the necessity to remember how much his service was worth tonight.
So in the end, he hadn't had much of a choice at all.
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P.S.
My promise of first week of October became second week. Haha, I wish I still made it in time.
Alright, first thing I would like to publicly apologize to valorycruz-chan for posting this chapter even though I asked for your hand to proof-read this. Well, I kinda changed it today after receiving the email you sent me. Sorry again, I was a little sad about how my life sucks right now and I badly wanted to post this as soon as possible so... But anyway, thank you so much for the work! You really pointed important things I overlooked (specially about the word 'nestled' and 'blurt').
Next: YESH, GUYS. It's a KARE shirt next chapter! Ahh, no more spoilers. Oh by the way, I know that part about the bathroom was ridiculous, but I can't help it. I don't have time to research about how an erotic bathroom looks like, just bear with it. (Well no one explained to me how it looks like anyway, so...)
Lastly: This is kind of a bad news. I wouldn't be able to post a chapter by next month. You see, I work on a small marketing company that supplies novelty items to Christian bookstores (here in our country). And since Christmas is coming, things are getting tough. Madugo. Sobra. I don't even know how to feel bored anymore since I always have so many things to do. But anyways, yes, the Kare shirt chap would be around December. BUT! I can guarantee that you'll love it. Yeah, just imagine how Kurapika looks like while wearing... Okay, okay. I'll stop here. Haha.
Oh, another: Thanks again for the reviews! From 13, 072 to 14,779 views. Oh, guys, you are making me so happy! Thank you for the support! We've just moved into our new house, by the way. Smaller, but more beautiful (Tiles with matching veranda! Sosyal!). Hell yeah!
So... see you guys before December 25!
Lovelots, Kusari.
*Don't forget my reviews!*