A/N: Once, when I was around in my elementary days, I came to overhear a funny conversation between my mom and my older sister.
Big Sis: Mama! I think I want to be a lady bodyguard when I grow up! You see, my friend's Big Sis is a female bodyguard and she gets to have a really big salary!
Mama: *looks incredulously at my sis* ... TANGA! (MORON!) PROFESSIONAL PROSTITUTE 'YON! (That's a professional prostitute!)
Me: *... LIGHTBULB.*
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN HXH.
BETA READER: *THE GREAT, GREAT* pervie otome
Chapter 13: A Mocking Gamble
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Noisy, lively and active: no single hint of apprehension could be seen from anyone aside from the security personnel as the cruise boldly upheld their scheduled casino-blues night on the third day of the journey, despite the billion-jennies lost from the previous night's robbery incident.
At first everybody on board was shocked, disappointed, and most of all, scared after hearing the news, which spread all throughout the ship like wildfire. Some even proposed to cancel the trip and just return to the land, but not everyone seemed fazed about it. Rumors had it that it was a one-man job, and only the vault was reported to be infiltrated. Many were under the impression that it was an inside job; it was too impossible to eradicate a whole troop of highly skilled guards alongside with professional assassins to be outdone by a single individual without an insider's help. Even the management itself had no reliable lead of the thief's identity, and they were somewhat reluctant to spill information as to avoid unnecessary spread of modified rumors, as well as to mask their guilty incompetence. And it seemed they wouldn't want to lose more money if they aborted the cruise, therefore they opted to keep going and just heightened the security instead.
Flocks of suited and armed men scattered all around the cruise. Civilian nen-users seemed to grow in number as well, wandering all over the vessel, mingling with other guests and passengers. It wasn't confirmed but because it was given that they were in the middle of the sea, the culprit was likely to be still on board, blending with everyone. The management seemed to be desperate to find and catch the bastard, and continued the cruise's event just as planned. Business as usual.
And that principle of 'life goes on' could be clearly seen as the casino lounge boomed loudly, crowded with all sorts of people, partying their asses out. The sound system was deafening, men and women danced and bet on their tables, carelessly dumping and spending money as if there was no tomorrow. The ghastly greed was suffocating. Sick. Ridiculous. But having no choice, Kurapika had to endure it all. It was the nature of his work to guard people who had so much money in their lives, they were willing to throw away some just for the sake of spending it. Even if their clients were the worst human being ever existed on earth, even if they killed and humiliated someone in front of them, even if their violence and greed were sickeningly unbearable, they had to hold their tongues and close their eyes: they were paid to do so. That included watching them display their excessive, self-intoxication of being wealthy and powerful, lavish gamble and senseless partying.
Standing right behind his current boss, Kurapika reluctantly watched Dmitri as he was playing poker with some of his colleagues. Almost all of them were familiar to him; they were quite prominent among the community. His employer seemed to be enjoying the game, he won numerous times, but lost for two consecutive times as well. Dmitri looked like he was taking it lightly, but Kurapika was pretty sure the man must be cursing vehemently inside his head for losing twice. This outrageous spending of money wasn't something Dmitri was fond of. He was okay with it, as far as Kurapika knew, but he wouldn't want to participate with it if he could help it; that was why it surprised him when the man played along but hadn't taken his leave, not even once, to go to the restroom, for almost two straight hours. An attractive, young lady clad with almost nothing but her see-through dress and pumps was affectionately purring at the man, cheering and enthusiastically watching the card game. Dmitri seemed to be engrossed with the game and the woman clinging on his arm. The blond couldn't exactly tell whether he was just putting up a face for the show or he was seriously enjoying the gamble.
And for the third time, the businessman lost the bet. Kurapika silently hoped it would pique Dmitri to his senses, finally call it a day and get his ass off of his chair. To his relief, Dmitri finally showed a small act of yawn and slight stretching of his arms after the game.
"Alright— that was fun," the Mafia head mumbled eagerly, sounding sincere. "But I think I should retire now. Sorry gentlemen, please excuse this old geezer for tonight." Dmitri already placed his hands on the armrests of his leather chair when an annoyingly familiar voice rose and took their attention.
"Hey, hey. Chickening out just when I felt like joining you? That's no fun, Dmitri," someone spoke from behind. Swiftly, Dmitri turned to glance at the back where he found Meniandro walking towards their table. Kurapika did the same, looking at those dirty gray eyes before giving a curt bow. Straightening up, the blond made a quick glance to his boss' face. Dmitri's feature held no particular expression, but his eyes did otherwise. They both knew that Meniandro posed nothing good whenever he was around.
Especially right at this very moment, where money and gambling were involved.
Agitation apparently flashed behind Dmitri's eyes. "Meniandro-san," said he as he faked a smile. "Good timing, I'm about to take my leave to rest. If you like, you can replace me and play on."
"Hmm, in more ways than one, it doesn't sound appealing to me at all," the man sardonically responded.
"Well—"
"Come on," Meniandro rudely interrupted. "I didn't approach this lively table just to be a substitute for you as you back out. The night's just getting started! And wouldn't you want to win back the money you lost, if there was any?"
The probability of winning against his colleagues was slim enough; but playing with Meniandro warranted only greater loss. Dmitri knew that if he complied, he would practically shove his jennies down to Meniandro's nose.
"Besides, getting the invitation for you was far away from easy," the gray-eyed man added, to Dmitri's surprise and utter embarrassment. "Won't you accompany this old man even just for a little game in return?"
'Damn it, why does he have to reveal that to everyone?' Kurapika could almost hear what his boss' mind was surely grumbling about. That seemed to corner the man to go along with the flow; raising an argument in front of this crowd guaranteed nothing but trouble.
"Very well then," Dmitri heavily slumped on his chair, probably feeling so dreadful already about the sum he was about to lose again. The purring woman suddenly stopped clinging on him as if she had found Meniandro more worthy to be leeched off. She didn't move from her seat, though.
"Let the game begin!" Meniandro barked.
The others seemed to be unaffected when Meniandro intruded their game. Only Dmitri was the one that looked slightly and discreetly upset by the man's presence. Nonetheless, the game went on.
Dmitri was obviously expecting to lose on the very first round of the battle, but luck unexpectedly sided him when his victory was revealed. Kurapika couldn't judge if it was purely a beginner's luck or Meniandro did something to twist and turn the game, purposely favoring their side. Either way, Dmitri did gain some confidence, unaware of trapped he had just fell into. They immediately proceeded to the next round, and that too, sided Dmitri.
A smile was already betraying Dmitri's poker face, while Meniandro was alarmingly holding a blank expression. It was irking the bodyguard; he was more than sure that Meniandro was up to something.
As he expected, the grin that played around Dmitri's mouth was short lived as Meniandro won on the next round. Dmitri looked worried but determined; his eyes glinted confidently like a true gambling maniac. Kurapika could definitely tell that it would be the beginning of his boss' losing streak; Meniandro's poker face said it all.
He didn't guess it wrong.
"Okay," Dmitri said, after an alarming amount of jennies were wasted once again. He raised his arms in surrender. "Luck was sure on your side, Meniandro-san," he complimented.
"Why, Dmitri," Meniandro spoke. "Wasn't it in yours moments ago? Come on, Lady Luck's such a bitch; she couldn't stay long with only one man. Let's try again."
"I'd love to but I should admit, I've lost more than what I can afford and I'm pretty at my limit. There's always a next time, isn't there? So if you'll excuse us—"
"Hmm, if you have no cash anymore then why don't you just use something else as a bet?" Meniandro suggested.
"Something else?" Dmitri sounded thoroughly baffled. "What do you exactly mean, Meniandro-san?"
"Hmm... something that you currently possess with no exact cash equivalent or has less monetary worth. Example: that bodyguard of yours, standing right behind you like a watchdog?"
Dmitri's eyes widened in shock, while Kurapika's face remained impassive. Meniandro looked at the boy's eyes, shooting him one creepy gaze that brought chills down his spine.
"What?" Dmitri blurted out. "Oh no, That's ridiculous. Don't you think you're drunk enough? That's nonsense!"
"Why not? Ah... I see. He's way too good to let go," Meniandro kept an unrelenting stare at Kurapika. The Kuruta returned the look with equally restless defiance.
"What the hell are you exactly talking about? Meniandro-san? Please stop this, you're being strange," Dmitri seemed to be so stunned he almost lost his respectful way of talking with the bastard. His face showed complete obliviousness.
Meniandro narrowed his eyes upon seeing the confusion all over Dmitri's face.
"Oh, I see. So you don't actually know."
'Damn it!' Kurapika could only snarl in his mind. 'How did this bastard find out?'
"I don't actually know what? This is very confusing, Meniandro-san. What are you babbling about?" Infuriated about being treated like a fool, Dmitri hissed.
"Never mind," Meniandro dismissed the topic and continued with his suggestion earlier as if he weren't interrupted at all. "Anyway, use him as a bet. Who knows? You might win and regain all of your lost. That's almost a hundred million, you know?"
"But... why Kurapika?" Dmitri asked.
One by one, their co-players began to excuse themselves, feeling that the game had turned into a very personal one. Even the clingy, sexy hooker seemed to be alarmed. She left without saying a word. Meniandro and Dmitri didn't even bid goodbye to them, they were too busy battling their reasons.
"It's just that your boy's very interesting. I'm in need of strong subordinates whom I can depend and trust my life with."
"That doesn't make sense at all," Dmitri chuckled, finally realizing what this was all about. "It's more like you are hitting on this pretty boy behind me."
Instead of being flustered, Meniandro curved his creepy lips into a perverted smile.
"What if I am?"
Kurapika felt like turning the table upside down. The strong urge to beat the hell out of Meniandro vigorously coursed all throughout his body.
"Then that settles it," Dmitri said. "We'll call it a day. I'm very grateful for your kindness to hand me an invitation, however I didn't know you're waiting for something in return. I'm not into further playing with your nasty little game. Now, if you'll excuse—"
"How much?" Meniandro rudely interrupted.
"What?"
"If you don't like to gamble, why not settle it into a good deal? Give me an amount; I can have it served to you right at this very moment."
"... You're hopeless," Dmitri grumbled. "You must be out of your fucking mind."
The atmosphere had turned from worse to worst, and it was no good for Kurapika and his employer. They were practically going against a tough wall: Meniandro was a towering and powerful one at that. Not only his employer's social status was at stake, even their lives were in the line.
Meniandro, behind his legitimate and successful life as a businessman, was also known as a notorious human trafficker. His trade of human resources all around the globe for both legal and illegal purposes was a great deal, thus making him a head member of the Community. Dmitri was barely anything against him. Kurapika might not have enough information about this man for he was too careful with information leak about his true identity, but he was very certain that he would try to get his hands on him in any possible way, by hook or by crook. He would have to take great risk, but he supposed that his life had become a big gamble anyway ever since he had decided to tread this path of vengeance.
Moreover, he was sort of a boy toy for a certain somebody anyway. He had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that he was somewhat interested with how Kuroro Lucifer would deal with it should Meniandro win.
Sounded badly interesting in more ways than one.
"It is okay, Dmitri-san," he heard himself spoke.
"Kurapika?"
"Play against Meniandro-san with me as your bet, Dmitri-san."
"But—"
"I trust you, sir. I am willing to take the risk for your sake. Please, play on and show him what you can really do."
"... That's what I'm talking about," Meniandro's eyes glinted so predatorily. The gaze sent horrible chills down Kurapika's spine.
Dmitri still looked reluctant and unsure of what to do. Kurapika looked at him thoughtfully and gave him a curt nod, a small gesture of entrusting everything to his boss' hands.
"Alright, if you're still uneasy then let's make it a little more engaging," Meniandro said. "I'll make it exactly five billion jennies. Win the game, and they are all yours."
Dmitri shot him an utterly disbelieving look.
"But if I win," he added, "he's mine." He looked at Kurapika again.
"... Are you sure about this, Kurapika?" Dmitri anxiously asked.
The blond gave him a reassuring gaze then slightly bowed his head. "I won't blame you, Dmitri-san whatever the outcome would be. This is my own decision," 'I'll make Meniandro realize that messing with me is the greatest mistake he could ever make in his life.'Whether Dmitri win or lose, Kurapika swore he would make sure of it. He would have to devise a plan of how to get rid of the bastard sooner or later.
Dmitri heaved a heavy, doubtful sigh.
"Alright, then. I'll try my best."
Meniandro's pouty, creepy dry lips broke into a sinister smile.
"That's more like it. Alright, then. Game start!"
Cued, the attractive woman attending to their table began shuffling a new deck of cards she withdrew from its box. She was about to distribute them when a pale hand rested gently on hers, and a baritone, rich voice of a man hailed the attention of everyone in the table.
The pretty lady softly gasped when a man mumbled under his breath.
"Excuse me, mi' lady. May I ask you to wait for a second?"
Dmitri scrutinized his eyes towards the new comer, whilst Meniandro's gray eyes narrowed in apparent disgust.
Kurapika, meanwhile, barely managed to retain his calm demeanor, with his eyes almost widened in shock.
He needed not to guess or ask how much the Genei Ryodan head had heard from their conversation. It wouldn't be surprising if he had known the entire ordeal right from the beginning. Now he could understand why Hisoka even resorted to trade with him for information; Kuroro Lucifer was definitely a man that wasn't someone to mess with. The extent of his abilities and cleverness was beyond professional— or maybe he was just very keen when it came to the things concerning his so called possession? Well, whatever. All he knew was Kuroro's interference guaranteed only one thing: trouble.
For one; he was the most wanted criminal now under a grueling search on the cruise ship. Of how he could leisurely loiter and walk around in a tasteful suit and tie like that was beyond his idea and concern. Second, the way he turned up on that very moment before the game started meant one more thing; he was under Kuroro's surveillance. The man knew his moves, and he wouldn't hesitate to intervene when he deemed fit to, just like now. It was irking Kurapika down to his bones; the thought of him being treated like a property was mortifying to the core. Third; it seemed that Meniandro knew something about the two of them. No, he certainly knew that something was going on between the two of them. And while knowing that, he dared to instigate this game to blatantly mess things up. Kurapika didn't want to think anymore regarding the real nature of Kuroro's motive.
Goddamn it. These two forsaken bastards were treating him like an invaluable item in an auction, and it was infuriating the hell out of him.
And look, it seemed like their neck-to-neck battle over him was about to begin.
A faint blush adorned the young woman's face and she immediately complied with the good-looking man's request and held onto the deck of cards. Kuroro then amiably smiled and turned his attention to the three other occupants of the table.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
"Hey... You're the one who had bought the Kuruta eyes for five billion jennies from the auction, am I right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Excuse me, but this table's full so you go somewhere else and find your own set of playmates," Meniandro rudely remarked, his eyebrows visibly furrowed
"Now's that's kind of rude, Meniandro-san. The more, the merrier, isn't it?" Dmitri suddenly interjected. "However, I should let you know that this is no ordinary poker game, Mister...?"
"Tadano, sir." Kuroro curtly bowed his bandaged head towards Dmitri. "Kurou Tadano."
"Tadano? That's kind of unfamiliar. Are you frequent in here?" Dmitri further asked the intruder.
"Not too much, Dmitri-san. I rarely attend this kind of event, that is why it would be a great pleasure to play with you, gentlemen," uninvited, Kuroro languidly occupied a seat right across the other two.
"I see. Oh, right, about the game. You see, Meniandro-san here and I―" Dmitri gestured his hand to Meniandro's way, "―have this little game wherein he'll bet for five billion jennies, while I wager my young bodyguard. I'm afraid it's rather personal, though I don't see any reason why I should stop you from joining, therefore I won't. If you really want to, that is."
At the mention of the bodyguard, Kuroro looked behind Dmitri and met his eyes with Kurapika's. The blond took that chance and shot him a fiery, brief look before vehemently and reluctantly lowering his head for a brief bow of courteousness.
"Oh," Kuroro softly whispered under his breath. "It does sound pretty interesting. It looks like this young guard of yours is special; the amount at stake is quite grand. I wonder what it is about him to worth that much."
Meniandro huffed a rude, sarcastic laughter.
He shot a sharp glare at the other man as his laugh faded into a snide sneer. "Yeah, I bet you do, though I believe it's none of your business anymore."
"Why, Meniandro-san," taking the loud remarks into account, Kuroro responded in an airy, unintimidated tone. "He seems to be eager to have this young man, Dmitri-san. It makes me curious and interested even more," he returned with an amused smile. "I must insist; would you let me join the game?"
"Of course!" Dmitri's eyes glinted with apparent desperation for help.
"What? Are you serious about letting him in, Dmitri?" Meniandro incredulously asked.
"What are you afraid of, Meniandro-san? We played earlier with more than four colleagues, good and more experienced players at that. It wouldn't hurt to allow a single young man in."
Failing to hide his annoyance, Meniandro rolled his eyes away.
'I knew it,'Kurapika mentally mused. It was a good thing that his boss must have sensed it, too. 'Meniandro must have been doing some dirty tricks to win the previous matches. He's sickly confident with it that he didn't see the turn of events to go this way. Now with the equally cunning man in the game, he wouldn't be able to pull his magic off so easily.'
Dmitri must have been desperate not to let Meniandro win that he resorted to allow the entry of a total stranger in the game, hoping to achieve a different result, an outcome that would favor his boss. It seemed he would rather have Kurapika end into someone else's hands than fall right down into Meniandro's perverted ones. Too bad he didn't know that the stranger shared exactly the same ulterior motive.
Meniandro audibly 'tsked' in irritation, obviously pissed off with the new comer's interference of his perfectly designed plan.
He refused to show how much it touched his nerves though, so he arrogantly placed his elbows down the table and intertwined his fat, little fingers.
"Fine, it's not like I'll let this little noob defeat me," Meniandro dryly commented, his eyes displayed great displeasure yet challenging.
"Good," Kuroro grinned from ear to ear. He signaled a hand up. Casino tokens were shortly served right before him. "Five billion jennies, gentlemen. Since the lousy security let my precious Kuruta eyes get stolen last night and they guaranteed money back, I will spend it in here instead."
'Are you out of your fucking mind?'Kurapika eyed the Genei Ryodan. Kuroro merely glanced at him and turned his gaze back to his opponents.
It was as if he wasn't even there, hearing everything. The sick sight of these people playing and talking about him as if he was just some sort of a grand prize was beyond any kind of humiliation, yet it told him what kind of world he had chosen to bear down. It was another face he had yet to see, and it raised another question at the back of his mind.
Just how much did he have to degrade himself to fulfill his goals? Dignity was the only thing remaining on him; did he have to give it up as well?
It took him a lot of self-control not to burst out of anger, and what he did next wasn't something he would do if he was in his rational mind.
He moved from his guarding position and walked forward, inching nearer to the female attendant. The woman looked at him for a split second, then immediately understood his intention as he reached out a hand, palm up. The attendant looked hesitant at first, but she handed the deck of cards to the blond anyway.
She whipped out a small two-way radio from her pocket and mumbled over it, reporting. The report shortly ended. She backed one step away after, keeping a small distance between her and the Kuruta.
"Since I'm the one at stake here, I would like to have some sort of participation," said Kurapika with his voice void from any emotion. He began shuffling the cards in his hands, lingering his eyes from one player to another, analyzing each one's reaction. Dmitri looked shocked upon seeing his usual serious and quiet bodyguard unexpectedly showing that side of him, while Meniandro shot Kurapika his creepiest stare for that evening. But to top it all, Kuroro's unrelenting gaze on him was the one that really shook his nerves. His look was giving off an eerie glow, as if assuring him that he had it all under control, which of course, didn't reassure Kurapika at all.
He was barely beginning to reshuffle the cards again, but he had vaguely predicted the result of this game already. Of why he volunteered to barge himself into this catastrophe, he could not really tell. Was it another by-product of dealing with Kuroro? Was he developing another persona because of it?
"Let's get this done," Meniandro hissed.
"May the best man win," Dmitri followed.
Kuroro gave a brief, cocky smile.
"Certainly. The winner takes it all."
"Alright, gentlemen," Kurapika's usual calm and silent expression had changed into a tougher one, with his voice containing defiance as if he himself was enjoying the game. He pressed both palms on the deck.
"Game start."
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P.S.
Soooo... Here we are again at my freaking notes to excuse myself for being delayed, as usual. Alright, let's make it fast this time.
So I updated last July 8, 2015. More than half of a year. And you know what's funny? Between those... *counting with my fingers* 6 months and 21 days of not being around here, 3 major things have happened that turned my life into a mixture of utter happiness and disaster. One is I attended the BLush Convention last August 22, 2015. THAT WAS SO AWESOME. I found no KuroKura or Finder Series or PsychoPass or Doushitemo Furetakunai item but still, I went home happily while clutching into a Sekai-Ichi Hatsukoi BIG paper bag that I tried so hard to hide from my parents *yet they saw it anyway*. Second: I watched a concert of a badass JAPANESE ROCK BAND while still here in the Philippines. ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila, Jan. 19, 2016 in SM Mall of Asia Arena. That was the best night of my boring life so far. Any OOR fans here?
Third. The craziest one. I don't really want to share it at all since it's nasty, so wrong and it brings bad memories that I wish to forget but I think I really need to say it. You see, I met this not-so-ordinary guy one day. He approached me after seeing me watching anime and stuff and he apparently was interested with me. I tried running away because I don't want anything to do with him if I could help it but I think there are just things in life that are bound to happen. He asked my number, I gave it to him. We texted and got to know each other. By nature, the messages went to wholesome to sexy ones. In a matter of a month we AGREED to meet and... well, do things. Except penetration. If you know what I mean. Geez, we're not even official in a relationship. I just went with the flow. So we met, and the agreement of safe play turned into 4 rounds. If you know what I mean again. Withdrawal method. My life abruptly went upside down. So yeah, in short, I slept with a man I hardly know. And as expected, it didn't work out. We broke up with no closure after 3 months, just around new year. I suffered from severe anxiety attacks from getting found by my parents, my friends and auntie not liking him, down to getting pregnant (my worst fear. EVER.) Gods, I'm having a nasty goosebumps right now.
So, I get to go to a Yaoi convention, watch my most favorite J-Rock band concert, and fall in love and get nastily hurt *I cried a lot, which was an utter surprise to me* for a couple of times. In just a span of 6 months and 21 days of not updating. Real world sucks, I know.
Enough of sad sentiments. Past is past. So, here you are! I hope you like it. Ah, BTW. I wrote something last December for the Kris Kringle event for KuroKura stuffs. You may want to read it too, it's kinda an AU but not really. A belated Christmas and New Year gift for KuroKura fans out there. Just check it out in my profile.
So, that's all, folks! Ah, a preview for the next chapter: Kurapika finally came to a reluctant decision over Kuroro's deal. The chapter's long, it might take me a year to post. But rest assured, it will be posted. Sooner or later. See you guys around! Drop a review if you feel like it.
Lovelots, Kusari.
*To those who personally know me on Facebook, I'm begging you please LEAVE THE NOTES STRICTLY ALONE IN HERE ON FANFICTION. No need to reprimand me or anything or share it to others just for fun. Send me a personal message, go on, but NEVER post anything publicly. Thank you.*