A/N: *breathes in* ... Hello :D. LOL, I know. 6 months hiatus. I won't waste your time for my excuses, so I'll go straight to the point. A lot of things happened after my 22th birthday, when I updated this fic's 16th chapter

May 2017: I got home from work only to see that something's wrong with my grandmother who was sleeping with me in our room. Turned out she had a mild stroke attack. I stayed with her at the hospital to watch over her during the night for 1 week. My acnes and eye bags were horrible. Didn't manage to write a single thing from exhaustion.

June 2017: Grandma's back at home... bedridden. She had terrible bed sore, and believe me, you won't like to see it yourself. I looked over her for the whole month every night, with no compensation.

July 2017: I was at work when a bad news came: Grandma passed away. She was cremated a week later. 5 days later, my 6th month old, 5" phone was snatched when I was on my way back home from work. I had another phone (4" Samsung Galaxy Young) which I lent to my cousin since I have a new one. Heard that on the very same day, it was pickpocketed from her school bag. That was my 5th stolen phone, 2 were snatched while I was reading fanfictions.

In short, life's sticking a big, fat dirty finger in my face. Due to this crazy luck that caused depression, I'm plunging into a deep shit that is writer's block for more than a month already. You might notice that I didn't give my all to this chapter, and I apologize for that. And just you know, I'm not giving up on KuroKura. Yes, I'm not at my best and still being your chatterbox of complains and excuses but I'm not letting go. Not yet. Lastly, I'd like to thank rainquiet and for all of those who commented on the Chinese translation of this fanfiction. She is translating them for me and you can't imagine how much they make me feel so glad after all of these things that were happening. Thanks everyone for that whopping 45k views. We are getting closer to the main development element of this story and I'll admit that I'm having a hard time working on it, but I will not stop trying. For now, I hope you like this short chapter.

*Lols, sorry for the depressing notes. I'm a little better now, really XD*

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HXH.

BETA: None.

Chapter 17: A Request Call.

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Dmitri gave him a wry smile.

"Why, Kurapika? Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? After all, I wasn't the one who's hiding my real identity from my employer. Don't you think," Dmitri quirked his lips into a sarcastic grin, "last survivor of the Kuruta clan?"

At that, Kurapika finally dropped his oblivious façade. "I see. You found me out at last."

"Yeah. Let me give you some credit: you're pretty tough to deceive me for so long like that," Dmitri leaned on his chair, looking at Kurapika from head to foot.

"Correction, sir. I didn't deceive you. You just didn't do thorough background check and you didn't ask me, so I didn't tell."

Dmitri laughed sardonically. "Amusing! Never thought you hide some sarcasm in you. Well since we're at it, let me ask you: who are you and what do you want from me, Kuruta?"

Kurapika sighed, still not sure how to handle this. "Everything about me that you know is true, Dmitri-san. My loyalty and respect are genuine. There is nothing that I want from you… but the eyes."

"I knew it," Dmitri's eyes crinkled from his humorless smile. "You were using me to collect the eyes for you."

"I was the one you used to search and purchase the eyes as far as I remember. Consider it a win-win. I intend to claim the eyes and return them to the rightful owners."

"Do you mean your wasted clansmen that died years ago?" At that, Kurapika's eyes shifted into scarlet behind his contact lenses. His temper rose and he subconsciously curled his knuckles into tight fists. Still, he remained composed and unmoving—or at least as his brows knitted in building anger.

"... I've never seen you so irked and angry like that before, Kurapika. I guess raising subjects related to your clan sparks the flare of your rage. Here I was wondering if you can fill me up with the story of how the Kuruta clan was murdered, and how you managed to survive," Kurapika tried his best to imitate the cold and flat look Dmitri wore, but to no avail. He breathed in and straightened up, eyes widening and scarlet irises aglow.

"I'm afraid I would greatly disappoint you with how anti-climatic my story is, not that I will tell you. Truth to tell, it's not worth sharing."

"Aww, too bad. So, since you said you intend to get the eyes from me, how are you planning to take them? Steal them away while I'm asleep? Kill and swipe them from my display room? I doubt you plan to buy them off. Not that I'll sell them to you," Dmitri shrugged.

"I doubt you wouldn't think twice if I offer a good price, but yes, I will admit that I don't have the gold to spend for them as for yet. Just a curious question: why do you like the eyes so much, sir?"

"Hmm. Because they are pretty, exquisite and expensive? I really can't explain why, but I fell for them in an instant when I saw a pair for the first time. Makes me wonder how they will look if its head was still intact, if its owner was still alive. I've never met a Kuruta before… or so I thought," Dmitri threw him another unfeeling twitch of the corner of his lips.

Kurapika looked apathetically at him, thinking that his reason was lame.

"Let me ask you back as I'm still curious. How did you escape the massacre?" Dmitri persistently pressed.

"In case I buy the eyes off from you, how much each pair would cost?" Kurapika asked, straight forward as if he didn't hear Dmitri ask the last question.

"I just told you, they are not for sale," Dmitri's eyes narrowed.

"And just to let you know, sir, I will get the eyes from you whatever it takes. By hook or by crook. I am humbly asking for your cooperation; I do not want to resort to drastic or violent measure to reclaim my brethren's eyes."

"So you really are set to go harm me should I refuse?" His guards instantaneously whipped their guns and pointed at him. Kurapika wasn't fazed, he didn't make any move and remained looking at Dmitri, eye to eye.

There was something… odd about this. Dmitri was aware that Kurapika was a nen-user, a good one at that. But none of these guards were nen-user, as far as he could tell. These men wouldn't stand a chance against him. He and Dmitri knew that.

"No, if you tell your men to put their weapons down. I mean no harm, Dmitri-san. Please hear me out. I just want the eyes back, cleanly and legitimately if possible. I'm willing to buy them properly," Kurapika slightly dipped his head. "I assure you that you'll be doing the restless souls of the original owners of those eyes a huge favor. I'm prepared to purchase them for a reasonable price," Kurapika knew he was babbling crap. That this was futile. How was he supposed to buy them? They both knew it was an empty promise. Well. It wouldn't hurt to try. Kurapika began to worry now. He didn't really want to make a ruckus. Should he attack or threaten Dmitri, words would surely spread inside the Community.

"Hmm… okay." Dmitri timidly shrugged.

"Look, Dmitri-sa—" Kurapika's mouth was left hanging. He bet he looked stupid. He was about to swear absolute loyalty to him until he could finally afford the eyes but his mind jumbled with that promptly said one word. "… O-Okay?"

"Yeah. It's okay. You can have the eyes for two billion each pair."

Now this was anti-climatic. "That… is very nice of you, Dmitri-san." This must be a trap. Two billion was sickeningly an exorbitant amount of money. Two times four pairs; that would be eight billion. Yes, that was big, but there was no way Dmitri would sell them to him so easily. He couldn't help the doubtful look on his face, but he decided to ride along. "But two billion is pretty too much. I've bought those pairs for only some hundred million or so."

"Seriously, Kurapika. You have some guts to actually demand about the amount when you just said you're willing to pay the price. I'm doing you a favor so do me some in return. I mean, it's not like you can go buy them right away after this. You'll be buying the eyes for installment, that is I'm sure, so I have to tack on interest. Take it or leave it."

Wait. So Dmitri was serious?

"I'm serious about this, Kurapika. I'm not trying to deceive you or anything. I get your 'I need to get the Kuruta eyes back' thing. I did have you background checked. Heard you killed a member of Ryodan singlehandedly. Generally, you could have killed me easily but you didn't. Which means you are sincere about taking the eyes without getting physical. But I can tell... that you can really go kill me if that's what it takes to get what you want. I weighed over the decision whether to risk being killed by a powerful and gutsy guy or let go of something I can live without. This is my answer. Business is business, however. I have to get my money back. I want to make more money out of it so I'll feel I gained something from it than consider it a lost."

"... Two billion is unreasonable, Dmitri-san. Hypocritical, even. It's like as though you're telling me that I can never afford them no matter what I do," not that Kurapika couldn't earn that amount, of course.

"That's not my problem anymore. I won't change my mind. Now if you don't want that, leave. I'm a fair person: I won't crack about your identity unless I really have to. But if you try to get dirty and forcibly take them, that's another story," the guards fastened their stances and raised their guns a little higher, aiming for Kurapika's head. "I'll make sure you'll drop dead with one wrong move, and I swear to let your secret known to the entire world should you attack. You know me, Kurapika. I'm a man of my words."

Working with this man for quite some time, Kurapika knew how professional Dmitri with his business partners when it came to business deals. And right now, his employer was dead serious about his threat and that fixed price. Dmitri wouldn't change his mind no matter what Kurapika do. It was a plain take it or leave it.

It was an irrational, impossible, even suicidal deal. But at least Dmitri agreed to trade, and Kurapika didn't have to fight and there was no bloodshed needed. It was better to have this slim chance than to have nothing at all.

"... I understand. We have a deal, then. Dmitri-san," Kurapika fisted his right hand, repressing an urge to grit his teeth and glare at the man.

"Excellent," Dmitri smiled and clasped his hands together, he seemed amused with himself. That was his kind of smile whenever he closed a good, favorable deal with his clients and business conglomerate. Kurapika lingered his gaze about the man. He might be different from Nostrad and Meniandro, but still they were made out of the same fabric.

They were all about money.

"It's been a long day," Dmitri looked at Kurapika with his smile still on his face, but Kurapika knew that those eyes would never look at him the same way like before. Dmitri trusted Kurapika enough that he had let the blond see through his emotions with those brown eyes whenever he was pissed, anxious or agitated. Now, they swam in suspicion, distrust, even betrayal and maybe, obscene fascination. As easy as that, the trust that Kurapika had worked for months to gain dissipated into nothing, and his relationship with his boss as the employer and his trusted bodyguard turned sourly as the businessman and his hideous, dishonest and dangerous subordinate. "You are all dismissed. Except you, Kurapika." At that, the guards looked alarmed and worried about Dmitri. "Don't worry, he won't do anything, I'm sure of that. I just want to discuss something with you."

Still doubtful while shooting glares at the blond, the guards left and closed the door behind them.

Kurapika stood still, waiting for Dmitri and not saying a word no matter how much he wanted to argue about the agreed amount and curse him for thinking that he held some monetary worth for the eyes while in fact, he was just a damn geezer boasting about something that he didn't have a freaking right to claim.

"Just to confirm, can I have a look at your scarlet eyes?"

Kurapika mentally scoffed. He knew it.

"No problem, Dmitri-san. But in return, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, not that I'll answer it correctly," Dmitri leaned against his chair.

"It doesn't to be a direct answer, sir. Just a vague one will do, as long as it's true."

"Fire away."

Kurapika covered his eyes with one hand, while the other carefully fiddled to remove the black contact lenses from his irises. "Say," Slowly, as if building up the tension, he closed his eyes and let his hands fall to his sides. Turning his Kuruta eyes as bright as he could, he dramatically opened them and watched as Dmitri visibly had his breath caught in his throat, with eyes wide open and lips quirking into a fascinated smirk. "Who tipped you off about my identity as a Kuruta?"

Dmitri was at a loss for words, mesmerized with the view before his eyes and taking in the beauty of the crimson gems that he said that had him falling in love at the first sight. He was unbelieving with his mouth ajar and gaze solely focused on Kurapika's scarlet eyes. Kurapika let him take his sweet time.

"I knew it. They are prettier when the head is still attached. What a shame, really. To have your clan extinct," Dmitri looked dazed, tantalized. He chuckled, then he was back to his attentive self. "Oh, yeah. Well… let's say I was… warned by a concerned citizen."

It was Kurapika's turn to smile. "I see."

"That's all, then. You're dismissed. Good night," Dmitri turned his back and left without looking behind, face devoid of any emotion, but eyes screaming disappointment.

Kurapika's scarlet eyes hadn't turned back to normal. He couldn't deactivate them even if he wanted to. It had been months since the last time they glowed so fierce like this, and back then he was filled with fury and agony.

Now he was tasting failure he had never experienced before, and it was eating him alive.

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It took Kuroro some seconds to realize and accept that he, indeed, had been playing with his phone for more than twenty minutes, which was a first and also very unlike him.

Kuroro preferred reading books to kill time, but he'd been oddly had his hand on his phone for quite a while ever since he had that squabble with that Kuruta a week ago. One solid week had passed, and within those days, Kuroro had been absently checking it (both intentional and not) for two reasons: one was he was weighing over a decision whether to contact Kurapika first and two; he was waiting for Kurapika to make the first move.

Yes, he was hesitant to call Kurapika to apologize although it was really his fault for intruding his privacy, and he knew that saying sorry was the only thing he could do to make up to him. It should be easy; phone the Kuruta, say the magic word with a promise not to do it again, and Kurapika would go administer his anger control management and tolerate him again. It worked back then at the cruise ship—it should work again this time.

But Kuroro was reluctant to take the blame this time because he believed that what he did wasn't entirely wrong.

It was his bad that he got Kurapika pissed off by following him around, jumping into a conclusion and accusing the boy of making a trade with Meniandro, but he just couldn't help it. Kurapika was desperate when it came to his clan's eyes; he knew no boundary and prepared to cross the oceans, even to sleep with the enemy, to collect them all. He had taken what Kurapika said seriously because he took him as someone who wouldn't speak of something as such if he didn't mean it, let alone tell it to him.

So it went into his head when he saw Kurapika willingly went along with that guy and drove to Meniandro's place. It took a little time as he caught up with sneaked inside the mansion, and when he had a look as Kurapika took down those men and entered inside the house, he almost stepped out of his hiding spot to follow him. Back then, he assumed that Kurapika must have been reluctantly taken and he thought that he was going to face Meniandro to deal with him for good. There was a part of him that still believed that Kurapika wouldn't do what he threatened him to do because Kuroro was certain he wasn't that kind of person. Call it a little thread of trust. He let him go on his own. He remembered him saying that he could handle Meniandro alone just fine.

However, the sight of Kurapika emerging out with disheveled hair, opened collar and a pair of scarlet eyes on hand moments later filled him a foreign feeling of anger and disappointment. It was a different kind of emotion and unlike when he was experiencing such feelings, they didn't immediately fade away. It was tugging at his chest and making him frown. It was making him want to rip and destroy something apart. An overwhelming urge of possessiveness crashed into him, and he didn't know where it was coming from.

Of course, Kuroro still had the impeccable control over himself and he didn't storm towards the Kuruta. But he needed some answer, some confirmation of what really happened, because he was still furious and he could tell that only when he knew if Kurapika had an exchange with Meniandro or not it would stop whatever this weird feeling he was having.

It clouded his mind in the way it shouldn't. The possessiveness, greed and being demanding were affecting him, swaying him and making him irrational, impulsive even. It was like he had gotten himself a huge stone to hit his own head with. Kurapika was lot more moody and hard to deal with compared to any bitch out there. High-cost, grumpy, amateur, and an archenemy. He had been doing so many adjustments, keeping his patience long and thick, and trying so hard to get along with the brat and his rude attitude and bottomless rage towards him. Of how this had to go that far and why he had been keeping it up, he had no idea anymore.

Case in hand, what was actually stopping him to apologize was because he wanted his one message to get across: he wanted Kurapika to be exclusively his. For the meantime, at least.

It seemed Kurapika somehow got it— just that he didn't want to agree, which was understandable because he hated his guts to the marrow of his bones, and the last thing you liked to happen was to be owned by your sworn enemy.

But that wasn't the deal here in Kuroro's opinion, Kurapika could hate him for all he wanted, sure, but he didn't want anybody else to touch him. They were in an agreed, secret intimate connection and Kuroro didn't like the idea of a third party. He was enjoying the game as it was. Simple as that.

Having Kurapika stirred his territorial side that he didn't know he had. It tested his judgment and manipulative skills to get under his skin. Everything about their deal had been keeping him on his toes, and there was no reason to end it just yet.

This was a small experimentation: to see how long the boy could hold on to his pride before swallowing it whole, and have him contact him first and get over with this mind-blowing abstinence already.

He had to give the boy some credit, though; it seemed the experimentation was on him to bite his ass.

It was getting ridiculous. The fight was worthless, and they wouldn't go anywhere if this continued but Kuroro reckoned he really had to do something to make sure that Kurapika wouldn't be touched by anybody else, be it consented by the Kuruta or not, and there was this one idea in his mind that could press Kurapika into doing just that and at the same time, make him a little more compliant, cooperative and less of a brat that he was.

He wanted Kurapika to see and acknowledge their differences when it came to power and strength, instill fear in him and have him realize how much upper hand he had. Show him who Kuroro Lucifer was as Ryodan's Danchou, and let him know what kind of a monster he was actually dealing with. There was no easier way to tame a wild cat but to introduce him to a wilder and bigger one, after all. Intimidating Kurapika might be a monumental mission, but it wasn't impossible.

All he needed was a situation and chance to show him what he was truly capable of.

Though honestly, right now, if saying sorry would end this damn fight, Kuroro was willing to do it. Just that he wanted Kurapika to call first— there was a limit of how much pride he could swallow—because calling him first would be claiming all of the blame and as far as he could remember, Kurapika said he would call him first once he was free of bugs and when the coast was finally clear.

Perhaps he was still being observed, or likely still mad at him. Maybe both. Kuroro decided to just wait a little more. Give him another week and if there still was no update, he might just fire off another text.

Kuroro put his phone down the table and pushed himself up the couch to get something to drink when his phone's ringtone broke the silence inside the high-rise condo unit he bought for Kurapika. He peered at the device and was very, honestly, surprised to see Kurapika's name flashing on the screen. Kuroro was hesitant to take the call for a second.

"… Hey," he began, pressing the device on his ear. There was no reply. "How are you doing?"

Still, there was no answer. Kuroro could faintly hear breathing from the other end of the line, so he was certain that this was no accidental dial.

He proceeded to his plan, anyway. "Look, I'm sorry about—"

"—How much?"

Kuroro's words were cut short with that vague question. He went still, recognized that it was Kurapika's voice—and noted how angry it sounded—and was about to ask what the Kuruta was talking about… when it finally clicked.

"… It depends."

"Very well," Kuroro was so used of hearing Kurapika's voice low and dangerous that in fact, it sometimes strangely turned him on and he had to admit, hearing him growling like that was sexy in its own way. Kuroro didn't even realize how wide he was grinning as the chance he was hoping for began to unfold before his eyes.

"Teach Meniandro a lesson he will never forget until he die."