Second chapter. Looks like it's not a one-shot after all.hehe
Kurapika trudged slowly along the hallway. Paintings of the Nostrad clan loomed before him, the curtains bringing a dark shadows all around as the setting sun begins to lose it's glow. Stopping beside one of the windows that lined the hallway, he watched silently as the car that held Basho and Senrithsu sped away. He followed the car with his eyes until it vanished into the unknown. As the stars start to emerge from the velvet skies, the chandeliers lit one by one, the golden glow from them giving an old-century look within the house. Kurapika sat on the windowsill, pulling his leg up, and resting his hands around his knee. It was a long time since he had felt such loneliness. He was the lone survivor of his clan. He had friends, but they have their own ways. It would be a long time before he will set eyes on Gon, Killua, and Leorio. With his two other comrades gone, he felt like an empty shell. He sat there...on and on, he just sat and pondered on his thoughts. How long he stayed in that trance, he didn't know, nor cared. Soon, a familiar rumble distracted him from his thoughts. It was his stomach.
"I really need to go to the dining hall," he stood up and slowly made his way. As he walked, he glanced at the paintings that surrounded him. Blank, painted faces stared into the abyss. Most of them made him quicken his pace. Then, one particular painting caught his eye. It was a picture of a woman, and a little girl. Both had beautiful pink locks, and were dressed in clearly expensive gowns. Kurapika stopped to admire the details of the painting. It looked so real. The little girl, around seven or eight, was holding the woman's hand, while both of them smiled sweetly at each other. The resemblances between them made Kurapika assume that they were related. When he read the label, his heart skipped a beat. They we're mother and daughter. But that wasn't what shocked him. It was the fact that the little girl was named Neon Nostrad.
"Moirana Nostrad and daughter, Neon Nostrad." Kurapika read out loud. A thought suddenly occurred to him. Forgetting his hunger, he rushed towards a different direction.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Neon sat on a soft cushion, resting her arms on the windowsill as she watched the rain pour down hard. She looked down on the floor, where her pencils, pens and notebooks lay along with crumpled and torn pieces of paper. She sniffled and turned away, trying hard not to cry. It was no use. She'd never get her nen ability back. She had been trying for weeks, but it seemed hopeless. A fugitive tear made it's way down her cheek. More followed suit, and before she knew it, she was sobbing again. She buried her face in her arms and let her tears flow. The rain muffled her small whimpers, her body shaking from her sobs. Then, she felt a soft, gentle touch on her shoulder.
"Neon-sama."
She turned and was met by Kurapika's worried glance. Quickly, she whipped her head away from her bodyguard's stare and started to wipe away her tears.
"Neon-sama, are you alright?"
"What do you think?" Neon bent her head down. "How would you feel if you lost the nen ability which took you so long to acquire?"
Kurapika stayed silent. This wasn't the Neon he knew. He had hesitated coming into her room, thinking that she'll have a tantrum and literally kick him out...but now...it seems so strange. He was looking not at an annoying and bratty girl.but a sad and lonely one. As Kurapika looked at her more closely, he realized she looked gentle...even angelic...the way her hair was loose and waved down her back, her white nightgown riding up to her knees. She looked as sweet as cherub. Kurapika could almost see her sprout wings. She looked so much like she did in the painting.
"Uhm...have you eaten already, Neon-sama?" Kurapika asked nervously, as he tries to break the ice.
"I don't wanna,"
"You could get sick."
"I don't care."
Kurapika pressed his lips together. This is Neon all right...still stubborn. Slowly, the chain-user's eyes traveled across the room. Neon only had her table lamp on, giving the room a gloomy look. The bed looked messy and unmade. Clothes stuck out from shopping bags, drawers and closets. Scattered on the vanity table, were Neon's cosmetics. And on the floor, were Neon's writing materials. Kurapika bent down and started picking them up. He felt like he had to do something to ease his nerves. He had never gone into Neon's room by his own decision...and he has never been alone with her this long either.
"Have you eaten your dinner, Kurapika?" Neon's voice shook Kurapika from his thoughts. He stood, dumbfounded by the question. It was really weird hearing it come from a girl he had assumed to be insensitive. He turned towards her, and their eyes met and held...two different shades of green, since Kurapika wasn't wearing his contacts. Slowly, he shifted his gaze away and continued picking pens and papers from the floor. Neon watched as Kurapika put them inside her drawer on a neat pile. When he started to turn back towards her again, she looked away. She was nervous. Sure, Kurapika's been her bodyguard for quite awhile now, but she never really had a continuous conversation with him. It was like having a stranger in her room. She wanted to get him out, but at the same time, she wanted someone to talk to...only, she doesn't really know how to start conversations. Her social skills weren't really put to the test, being an over-protected child.
"It's so sad when it rains at night," Neon thought out loud.
"Yes, it is," Kurapika stood beside her, watching the storm. "It makes you feel so alone and vulnerable."
The young girl looked up at the young man beside her. It was the first time she actually noticed Kurapika. Most of the time, he just comes and goes. She knows how he looks like...but she didn't realize how handsome he was until now. His skin was almost as pale as hers. His golden hair seemed to radiate in its own glow. Beams of light played with his eyes making them sparkle with life. Neon felt her face turn hot and she knew she was blushing. Quickly, she looked away.
"Neon-sama, everything's going to work out fine," Kurapika encouraged. "You can start work on a new nen ability. It's better than sulking. We can't do anything about the loss now."
"You don't understand," Neon croaked. "That ability."
"But.isn't it better now that it's gone? Your father won't be using you for his own selfish ambitions now. You can do whatever you want and."
"You don't understand!!!" Neon suddenly stood up, startling Kurapika. "My father.I know he's just using me! But I accepted it! It's the only way I could get his attention!"
Kurapika stared at his boss in confusion. Suddenly, the girl broke down and cried. It seemed like an awkward moment for the Kuruta survivor. It was the first time he'd ever seen her cry. He really wasn't sure on what to do.
"I'm sorry," he stated, "I didn't mean to offend you. I'll go now."
"No.wait."
Kurapika stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned towards his master again, who had started to grind her fists against her damp eyes.
"I'm sorry to burst out the way I did.it's just that." Neon's lips began to quiver again. Her bodyguard stood closer to her.
"Would you like to talk about it?" the blond Kuruta asked. His master stayed silent. He wasn't sure if she was going to answer, but in a small quivering voice, she began.
"I've lived in this mansion my whole life, together with my mother and father. Though Papa was always traveling, I was happy enough with Momma.until she died four years ago," Neon sniffled at the memory.
"Ever since then, Papa never spent any time with me. He was always off on a business trip and found one excuse after another to avoid me. I felt so worthless."
"Then, Papa hired a nen teacher for me. I learned it quickly and realized that I had to develop an ability that will help Papa in his business. That way, I would be of some value to him. That's why I was able to develop my fortune telling ability. Immediately after that, he considered me one of his greatest assets and since then, I've become his top priority. He showered me with gifts and surrounded me with bodyguards.but since I lost it." Neon's voice trailed off. Kurapika knew the rest.
"I don't want to interfere with your family matters," the chain user began, "but haven't you realized that you were of no value to your father at all? He only valued you because of your ability.not for who and what you are."
It was like a bomb exploded within Neon. She had denied that truth, but Kurapika had boldly told her. Deep inside, she knew her father never cared for her.but seeing that other people knew this too, she wasn't able to take it. She buried her face in her hands and began to really bawl.
"No one loves me! No one cares for me!" Neon pounded her fists against the floor, tears pouring down from her eyes. She raked at her hair and continued to scream. She had never felt such anger and pity towards herself. Her heart ached so much. She stood up but upon her first step, stumbled.into Kurapika's arms. Her eyes widened as her bodyguard's arms circle around her in a gentle embrace. Her chin lay against the nook between his neck and his broad shoulders. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest and continued to cry. She felt so lonely and helpless that she hungrily groped for just a bit of care even from a person she barely knew. Kurapika was speechless but he held on to his boss. Her feelings of loneliness mirrored his own. He knew exactly how Neon felt at the moment as he tries his best to comfort her. He stroked her hair soft, silky pink hair gently, entwining it with his chained fingers.
"Hush now Neon-sama.I'm still here."
Neon was shocked by Kurapika's words. Yes, Kurapika was still there.for her. She felt her heart jump up to her throat as she realized what she was doing. She pulled away from her bodyguard, turning to the dark, dismal skies.
"You don't have to bother caring for me, Kurapika-chan," she sniffled. "I'm your boss and you're my bodyguard. All you have to worry about is my safety and nothing else."
"Maybe I can't care for you as a bodyguard.but as a friend, I'll always be here for you." Kurapika reached out, resting his hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Friend?" Neon faced Kurapika, her eyes welling up with tears. Kurapika gave her a smile of encouragement. Suddenly, Neon felt something different. She cried and hugged Kurapika, much to his surprise. Through her tears, Neon was smiling, the butterflies in her stomach flying around wildly. She knew she was falling for him.for Kurapika.and there was no way she could stop it.not that she wanted to. The Kuruta survivor, at the moment, was feeling quite awkward, confused with some new feelings he felt. As he looked at this beautiful lady, he couldn't help but embrace her back. A soft smile dazzled his lips. He knew at that moment that he would protect and care for her beyond the call of duty.for he cared for her more than he could have ever thought possible. Their joyful moment was shattered with the sudden burst of the doors.
"Kurapika!!!"
Kurapika trudged slowly along the hallway. Paintings of the Nostrad clan loomed before him, the curtains bringing a dark shadows all around as the setting sun begins to lose it's glow. Stopping beside one of the windows that lined the hallway, he watched silently as the car that held Basho and Senrithsu sped away. He followed the car with his eyes until it vanished into the unknown. As the stars start to emerge from the velvet skies, the chandeliers lit one by one, the golden glow from them giving an old-century look within the house. Kurapika sat on the windowsill, pulling his leg up, and resting his hands around his knee. It was a long time since he had felt such loneliness. He was the lone survivor of his clan. He had friends, but they have their own ways. It would be a long time before he will set eyes on Gon, Killua, and Leorio. With his two other comrades gone, he felt like an empty shell. He sat there...on and on, he just sat and pondered on his thoughts. How long he stayed in that trance, he didn't know, nor cared. Soon, a familiar rumble distracted him from his thoughts. It was his stomach.
"I really need to go to the dining hall," he stood up and slowly made his way. As he walked, he glanced at the paintings that surrounded him. Blank, painted faces stared into the abyss. Most of them made him quicken his pace. Then, one particular painting caught his eye. It was a picture of a woman, and a little girl. Both had beautiful pink locks, and were dressed in clearly expensive gowns. Kurapika stopped to admire the details of the painting. It looked so real. The little girl, around seven or eight, was holding the woman's hand, while both of them smiled sweetly at each other. The resemblances between them made Kurapika assume that they were related. When he read the label, his heart skipped a beat. They we're mother and daughter. But that wasn't what shocked him. It was the fact that the little girl was named Neon Nostrad.
"Moirana Nostrad and daughter, Neon Nostrad." Kurapika read out loud. A thought suddenly occurred to him. Forgetting his hunger, he rushed towards a different direction.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Neon sat on a soft cushion, resting her arms on the windowsill as she watched the rain pour down hard. She looked down on the floor, where her pencils, pens and notebooks lay along with crumpled and torn pieces of paper. She sniffled and turned away, trying hard not to cry. It was no use. She'd never get her nen ability back. She had been trying for weeks, but it seemed hopeless. A fugitive tear made it's way down her cheek. More followed suit, and before she knew it, she was sobbing again. She buried her face in her arms and let her tears flow. The rain muffled her small whimpers, her body shaking from her sobs. Then, she felt a soft, gentle touch on her shoulder.
"Neon-sama."
She turned and was met by Kurapika's worried glance. Quickly, she whipped her head away from her bodyguard's stare and started to wipe away her tears.
"Neon-sama, are you alright?"
"What do you think?" Neon bent her head down. "How would you feel if you lost the nen ability which took you so long to acquire?"
Kurapika stayed silent. This wasn't the Neon he knew. He had hesitated coming into her room, thinking that she'll have a tantrum and literally kick him out...but now...it seems so strange. He was looking not at an annoying and bratty girl.but a sad and lonely one. As Kurapika looked at her more closely, he realized she looked gentle...even angelic...the way her hair was loose and waved down her back, her white nightgown riding up to her knees. She looked as sweet as cherub. Kurapika could almost see her sprout wings. She looked so much like she did in the painting.
"Uhm...have you eaten already, Neon-sama?" Kurapika asked nervously, as he tries to break the ice.
"I don't wanna,"
"You could get sick."
"I don't care."
Kurapika pressed his lips together. This is Neon all right...still stubborn. Slowly, the chain-user's eyes traveled across the room. Neon only had her table lamp on, giving the room a gloomy look. The bed looked messy and unmade. Clothes stuck out from shopping bags, drawers and closets. Scattered on the vanity table, were Neon's cosmetics. And on the floor, were Neon's writing materials. Kurapika bent down and started picking them up. He felt like he had to do something to ease his nerves. He had never gone into Neon's room by his own decision...and he has never been alone with her this long either.
"Have you eaten your dinner, Kurapika?" Neon's voice shook Kurapika from his thoughts. He stood, dumbfounded by the question. It was really weird hearing it come from a girl he had assumed to be insensitive. He turned towards her, and their eyes met and held...two different shades of green, since Kurapika wasn't wearing his contacts. Slowly, he shifted his gaze away and continued picking pens and papers from the floor. Neon watched as Kurapika put them inside her drawer on a neat pile. When he started to turn back towards her again, she looked away. She was nervous. Sure, Kurapika's been her bodyguard for quite awhile now, but she never really had a continuous conversation with him. It was like having a stranger in her room. She wanted to get him out, but at the same time, she wanted someone to talk to...only, she doesn't really know how to start conversations. Her social skills weren't really put to the test, being an over-protected child.
"It's so sad when it rains at night," Neon thought out loud.
"Yes, it is," Kurapika stood beside her, watching the storm. "It makes you feel so alone and vulnerable."
The young girl looked up at the young man beside her. It was the first time she actually noticed Kurapika. Most of the time, he just comes and goes. She knows how he looks like...but she didn't realize how handsome he was until now. His skin was almost as pale as hers. His golden hair seemed to radiate in its own glow. Beams of light played with his eyes making them sparkle with life. Neon felt her face turn hot and she knew she was blushing. Quickly, she looked away.
"Neon-sama, everything's going to work out fine," Kurapika encouraged. "You can start work on a new nen ability. It's better than sulking. We can't do anything about the loss now."
"You don't understand," Neon croaked. "That ability."
"But.isn't it better now that it's gone? Your father won't be using you for his own selfish ambitions now. You can do whatever you want and."
"You don't understand!!!" Neon suddenly stood up, startling Kurapika. "My father.I know he's just using me! But I accepted it! It's the only way I could get his attention!"
Kurapika stared at his boss in confusion. Suddenly, the girl broke down and cried. It seemed like an awkward moment for the Kuruta survivor. It was the first time he'd ever seen her cry. He really wasn't sure on what to do.
"I'm sorry," he stated, "I didn't mean to offend you. I'll go now."
"No.wait."
Kurapika stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned towards his master again, who had started to grind her fists against her damp eyes.
"I'm sorry to burst out the way I did.it's just that." Neon's lips began to quiver again. Her bodyguard stood closer to her.
"Would you like to talk about it?" the blond Kuruta asked. His master stayed silent. He wasn't sure if she was going to answer, but in a small quivering voice, she began.
"I've lived in this mansion my whole life, together with my mother and father. Though Papa was always traveling, I was happy enough with Momma.until she died four years ago," Neon sniffled at the memory.
"Ever since then, Papa never spent any time with me. He was always off on a business trip and found one excuse after another to avoid me. I felt so worthless."
"Then, Papa hired a nen teacher for me. I learned it quickly and realized that I had to develop an ability that will help Papa in his business. That way, I would be of some value to him. That's why I was able to develop my fortune telling ability. Immediately after that, he considered me one of his greatest assets and since then, I've become his top priority. He showered me with gifts and surrounded me with bodyguards.but since I lost it." Neon's voice trailed off. Kurapika knew the rest.
"I don't want to interfere with your family matters," the chain user began, "but haven't you realized that you were of no value to your father at all? He only valued you because of your ability.not for who and what you are."
It was like a bomb exploded within Neon. She had denied that truth, but Kurapika had boldly told her. Deep inside, she knew her father never cared for her.but seeing that other people knew this too, she wasn't able to take it. She buried her face in her hands and began to really bawl.
"No one loves me! No one cares for me!" Neon pounded her fists against the floor, tears pouring down from her eyes. She raked at her hair and continued to scream. She had never felt such anger and pity towards herself. Her heart ached so much. She stood up but upon her first step, stumbled.into Kurapika's arms. Her eyes widened as her bodyguard's arms circle around her in a gentle embrace. Her chin lay against the nook between his neck and his broad shoulders. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest and continued to cry. She felt so lonely and helpless that she hungrily groped for just a bit of care even from a person she barely knew. Kurapika was speechless but he held on to his boss. Her feelings of loneliness mirrored his own. He knew exactly how Neon felt at the moment as he tries his best to comfort her. He stroked her hair soft, silky pink hair gently, entwining it with his chained fingers.
"Hush now Neon-sama.I'm still here."
Neon was shocked by Kurapika's words. Yes, Kurapika was still there.for her. She felt her heart jump up to her throat as she realized what she was doing. She pulled away from her bodyguard, turning to the dark, dismal skies.
"You don't have to bother caring for me, Kurapika-chan," she sniffled. "I'm your boss and you're my bodyguard. All you have to worry about is my safety and nothing else."
"Maybe I can't care for you as a bodyguard.but as a friend, I'll always be here for you." Kurapika reached out, resting his hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Friend?" Neon faced Kurapika, her eyes welling up with tears. Kurapika gave her a smile of encouragement. Suddenly, Neon felt something different. She cried and hugged Kurapika, much to his surprise. Through her tears, Neon was smiling, the butterflies in her stomach flying around wildly. She knew she was falling for him.for Kurapika.and there was no way she could stop it.not that she wanted to. The Kuruta survivor, at the moment, was feeling quite awkward, confused with some new feelings he felt. As he looked at this beautiful lady, he couldn't help but embrace her back. A soft smile dazzled his lips. He knew at that moment that he would protect and care for her beyond the call of duty.for he cared for her more than he could have ever thought possible. Their joyful moment was shattered with the sudden burst of the doors.
"Kurapika!!!"