Disclaimer: I don't own ANY of the Hunter X Hunter characters (wish I did
though). They all belong to Togashi sensei.
*I changed the contents of the original slightly to suit my storyline. Hope
it's not too confusing. ^_^
*I know that Clapika's supposed to be down with a fever but as I said, I
changed the story slightly.
Chapter Two~Encounter
7.24 p.m, Nostaroid mansion.
Neon tried to resist the impulse to run as she ascended the spiral staircase leading to the front part of her mansion, her heels clicking on the marble stairs. She knew she might break her neck if she did as she was wearing high heels. She was just a bit excited that she finally gets to actually go to an auction, and also unguarded.
Well, almost unguarded. She amended as she saw Clapika waiting patiently for her in the middle of the wide hall.
She also caught the flicker of amazement on his face when she saw her in a formal black, knee-length dress. Her hair was also pulled back in an elegant bun on top of her head, highlighting the vividness of her green eyes.
"What are you wearing?" she demanded as soon as she arrived at the bottom of the stairs.
Clapika looked down at his usual blue and gold one-piece suit and couldn't help but feel insulted. "This happens to be my tribe's sacred-"
"You're wearing your uniform!" Neon exclaimed, interrupting his icy reply.
"My uniform! It's-"
"Don't you own a suit?"
As a matter of fact, Mr. Nostaroid did give him a suit when he started working. wait a minute, he's still not letting her get away with her 'uniform' comment.
"Even if I did, what diff-"
"They're not letting you in without one, you know. What, you want to stand outside all night?" Neon cut him off again, her voice impatient.
Oh, jeez. How could he forget? Well, the last time he'd been to the auction, he was stationed outside so there's no need for any formal attire. But this time, he was accompanying his boss inside the compound. So a formal suit was indeed required. So that's why she was not in her usual gypsy outfit.
"I will go and change." He murmured, now embarrassed. How could he have neglected such a simple detail? What happened to his sharp mind that he prided on so much?
"Well, be quick, would you? The auction's starting soon."
Fifteen minutes later, they were in the car, speeding towards the auction site, both of them properly dressed. Neon couldn't stand the deafening silence in the car so she pestered Clapika with questions about himself, making him uncomfortable and further annoyed.
When he clearly showed that he wasn't interested in making small talks, Neon decided it was time to drop the bomb.
"You're going there as my date." She announced. She was rewarded with a narrowed look that was cautious and weary at the same time.
He didn't ask for an explanation so she kept on talking. "I'd expect you to drop your business attitude and start acting like a real guy." She said bossily.
"I don't see the necessity of that." Clapika returned dryly.
"Oh, come on. It'll be fun!"
There was silence from him. The unspoken scorn hung in the air between them. She knew he thought the idea was simply ridiculous, that she was ridiculous. She could practically sense his disapproval.
"Well, I wanted to be normal for a change!" Neon finally burst out, unable to tolerate the heavy silence anymore.
"Normal?"
"Ever since I can remember, I've never had any friends, much less a boyfriend. I can only watch girls my age enjoying themselves while I was stuck somewhere inside a stupid old mansion writing poetries about the future, only to make my father drift further apart from me and making myself lonelier. All my life, I've never had a real family, or friend. I just want to feel normal, to laugh with a friend, or go on a date. It's never been possible before. this. Before my father was."
She turned her head towards the window, hiding the telltale wetness of her eyelids. She blinked, willing the tears away. She would not let him see her real tears for the second time in the space of twelve hours.
Clapika took a moment to digest this information. He felt horrible. He had no idea how miserable her life was. He just took it for granted the fact that she was being a brat just because her father's a millionaire. But in a way, he could relate the feeling of loneliness that Neon felt. He knew what it felt like to have no one to turn to in this world.
But he'd been lucky. He had friends now. Instantly, the faces of Gon, Killua and Reolio flashed in his mind. His friends, teammates, and people he could trust. But Neon, she had no one.
"I'm sorry." It was all he could offer. And he was sorry. He realized now that his impersonal treatment towards her had been unfair.
"So you agree?" Neon asked, instantly cheering up.
Clapika nodded. Then, almost reluctantly, he turned to her and offered her a small smile. Slight it was but still there nonetheless.
People were staring as they made their way towards the entrance. It might be the fact that they were quite young to be seen in an auction site or maybe it was simply the fact that they made a striking couple together. Clapika looked charmingly defined in his black suit that fitted well against his body and Neon was simply stunning in her simple but elegant dress.
They were stopped at the entrance by two bodyguards who asked for verifications. Neon was offended. She'd thought she was there enough times for the guards to recognize her. But it was well over a year since she'd been there.
"Nostaroid, Neon. And this is my date." She said haughtily.
The guard started and then bowed politely at her. "Miss Nostaroid. I wasn't told that you would be coming." He looked over her shoulder, as if expecting her bodyguards to stand behind him.
"Well, it was a last minute kind of thing." She said and brushed past him without a second glance.
So the old Neon Nostaroid is back. Clapika thought. For a moment back there, he'd thought that he finally saw the real her, behind the mask. So the mask is on again.
"You were quite brusque with him." He commented, his voice completely neutral as not to anger her.
Neon glanced at him.
"I wouldn't have dared said anything if I'm on duty but considering the fact that I'm here as your date tonight." he looked sideways at her and a sly smile was forming on his lips.
She suddenly smiled brightly at him. "Now you're getting it!" she exclaimed cheerfully and linked her arm with his.
"Which hall are we supposed to go to?" Clapika asked.
"Hall B! C'mon!" she pulled him towards the door.
As they made their way down the aisle, they suddenly bumped into two kids. They seemed to recognize Clapika as they exclaimed in delight when they saw him.
"What are you two doing here?" Clapika was asking them. Neon noticed that his detached and impersonal manner he usually adopted around her had evaporated. He seemed more at ease now.
"We're observing." The one with the silverish blue hair answered.
"Observing?" Clapika turned to the boy with the big innocent eyes and raised an eyebrow. "What are you guys up to now?"
"Well, we came up with a brilliant plan on how to be able to play Greed Island." The boy said. He didn't seem to notice the don't-tell-him- now look his friend was shooting him. "We figured that we didn't need to actually buy the game but find the person who bought it and offer our help as professional hunters to crack the game."
Clapika laughed. "Crack the game? The way you talk, Gon, it's almost as if you can go in and back out again in just a space of one hour!"
"Anyway, what are you doing here?" The silver-blue haired boy interjected. He glanced at Neon and back at Clapika with an almost-smirk.
"Aah, sorry. Neon, these are my friends, Gon and Killua. Gon, Killua, meet my employer, Neon. We're here to bid, of course."
"Nice to meet you two!" Neon said brightly. So Gon was the one with the innocent eyes and Killua was the silver-blue haired boy with the cold manner. "Clapika has told me nothing about you!"
"That sounds just like him." Gon remarked with a laugh.
Clapika grinned. "What's there to talk about?" he joked.
"But he sure had a lot to talk about you." Killua said, addressing Neon. "It's always Neon this, Neon that."
Neon looked at Clapika with a raised eyebrow. "You did?" she asked him.
"Well, I discussed you with Senrich a lot. About our mission and such. They involve you, of course." He answered, shrugging.
Neon was surprised at the heavy thud of disappointment in her when she heard this. Why did his answer would affect her in such a way? It didn't make sense.
"Oh, hey, Clapika. Did you just arrive?" Killua asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"So you didn't bump into anybody else you know besides us, did you?"
Gon seemed to be confused as well as Clapika was at Killua's questions. He gave his friend a puzzled frown, wondering what kind of point Killua was trying to make.
"Well, no. Why? Is Reolio here, too?"
"Hum. Nothing. Just wondering." Killua shot a look at Gon, willing his friend to understand.
"Killua, do you mean Fe-ouch!" Gon was rewarded with a jab in the ribs.
Don't say it, baka! Killua thought furiously. Don't tell him about Feitan and Phinx!
Clapika was merely staring at them in gentle amusement as Gon rubbed his sides and complained to Killua.
Neon, already losing interest in their conversation, had gone on ahead and got herself a seat near the front row. The auction was almost starting so Clapika excused himself and went to sit beside his boss-er, date.
Maybe it was fate, or just a weird coincidence, but sitting two rows back, five seats from theirs, were Feitan and Phinx. Of course, Clapika didn't notice them.yet.
Author's Ramblings:- Well, that's it for chapter two!^_^ I still can't decide whether Clapika should bump into Feitan and Phinx or not.but if he did, then the story would be a bit long. I'm not good at writing long stories, I get bored easily and won't finish it. Hm. We'll see. Btw, I used Word to write this story and when I spell-checked it, guess what replacement the computer suggested for 'Killua'? It's 'killer'. Ironic, huh? I found it quite hilarious. -_^ I'm not really a fan of Clapika x Neon pairings but I just think they would make a better couple than LeoPika or even KilluKura ( sorry all LeoPika and KilluKura fans out there~) Anyway, I'll try and make the story more interesting next time! ^_^ Ganbate, Yuki-chan~~
Chapter Two~Encounter
7.24 p.m, Nostaroid mansion.
Neon tried to resist the impulse to run as she ascended the spiral staircase leading to the front part of her mansion, her heels clicking on the marble stairs. She knew she might break her neck if she did as she was wearing high heels. She was just a bit excited that she finally gets to actually go to an auction, and also unguarded.
Well, almost unguarded. She amended as she saw Clapika waiting patiently for her in the middle of the wide hall.
She also caught the flicker of amazement on his face when she saw her in a formal black, knee-length dress. Her hair was also pulled back in an elegant bun on top of her head, highlighting the vividness of her green eyes.
"What are you wearing?" she demanded as soon as she arrived at the bottom of the stairs.
Clapika looked down at his usual blue and gold one-piece suit and couldn't help but feel insulted. "This happens to be my tribe's sacred-"
"You're wearing your uniform!" Neon exclaimed, interrupting his icy reply.
"My uniform! It's-"
"Don't you own a suit?"
As a matter of fact, Mr. Nostaroid did give him a suit when he started working. wait a minute, he's still not letting her get away with her 'uniform' comment.
"Even if I did, what diff-"
"They're not letting you in without one, you know. What, you want to stand outside all night?" Neon cut him off again, her voice impatient.
Oh, jeez. How could he forget? Well, the last time he'd been to the auction, he was stationed outside so there's no need for any formal attire. But this time, he was accompanying his boss inside the compound. So a formal suit was indeed required. So that's why she was not in her usual gypsy outfit.
"I will go and change." He murmured, now embarrassed. How could he have neglected such a simple detail? What happened to his sharp mind that he prided on so much?
"Well, be quick, would you? The auction's starting soon."
Fifteen minutes later, they were in the car, speeding towards the auction site, both of them properly dressed. Neon couldn't stand the deafening silence in the car so she pestered Clapika with questions about himself, making him uncomfortable and further annoyed.
When he clearly showed that he wasn't interested in making small talks, Neon decided it was time to drop the bomb.
"You're going there as my date." She announced. She was rewarded with a narrowed look that was cautious and weary at the same time.
He didn't ask for an explanation so she kept on talking. "I'd expect you to drop your business attitude and start acting like a real guy." She said bossily.
"I don't see the necessity of that." Clapika returned dryly.
"Oh, come on. It'll be fun!"
There was silence from him. The unspoken scorn hung in the air between them. She knew he thought the idea was simply ridiculous, that she was ridiculous. She could practically sense his disapproval.
"Well, I wanted to be normal for a change!" Neon finally burst out, unable to tolerate the heavy silence anymore.
"Normal?"
"Ever since I can remember, I've never had any friends, much less a boyfriend. I can only watch girls my age enjoying themselves while I was stuck somewhere inside a stupid old mansion writing poetries about the future, only to make my father drift further apart from me and making myself lonelier. All my life, I've never had a real family, or friend. I just want to feel normal, to laugh with a friend, or go on a date. It's never been possible before. this. Before my father was."
She turned her head towards the window, hiding the telltale wetness of her eyelids. She blinked, willing the tears away. She would not let him see her real tears for the second time in the space of twelve hours.
Clapika took a moment to digest this information. He felt horrible. He had no idea how miserable her life was. He just took it for granted the fact that she was being a brat just because her father's a millionaire. But in a way, he could relate the feeling of loneliness that Neon felt. He knew what it felt like to have no one to turn to in this world.
But he'd been lucky. He had friends now. Instantly, the faces of Gon, Killua and Reolio flashed in his mind. His friends, teammates, and people he could trust. But Neon, she had no one.
"I'm sorry." It was all he could offer. And he was sorry. He realized now that his impersonal treatment towards her had been unfair.
"So you agree?" Neon asked, instantly cheering up.
Clapika nodded. Then, almost reluctantly, he turned to her and offered her a small smile. Slight it was but still there nonetheless.
People were staring as they made their way towards the entrance. It might be the fact that they were quite young to be seen in an auction site or maybe it was simply the fact that they made a striking couple together. Clapika looked charmingly defined in his black suit that fitted well against his body and Neon was simply stunning in her simple but elegant dress.
They were stopped at the entrance by two bodyguards who asked for verifications. Neon was offended. She'd thought she was there enough times for the guards to recognize her. But it was well over a year since she'd been there.
"Nostaroid, Neon. And this is my date." She said haughtily.
The guard started and then bowed politely at her. "Miss Nostaroid. I wasn't told that you would be coming." He looked over her shoulder, as if expecting her bodyguards to stand behind him.
"Well, it was a last minute kind of thing." She said and brushed past him without a second glance.
So the old Neon Nostaroid is back. Clapika thought. For a moment back there, he'd thought that he finally saw the real her, behind the mask. So the mask is on again.
"You were quite brusque with him." He commented, his voice completely neutral as not to anger her.
Neon glanced at him.
"I wouldn't have dared said anything if I'm on duty but considering the fact that I'm here as your date tonight." he looked sideways at her and a sly smile was forming on his lips.
She suddenly smiled brightly at him. "Now you're getting it!" she exclaimed cheerfully and linked her arm with his.
"Which hall are we supposed to go to?" Clapika asked.
"Hall B! C'mon!" she pulled him towards the door.
As they made their way down the aisle, they suddenly bumped into two kids. They seemed to recognize Clapika as they exclaimed in delight when they saw him.
"What are you two doing here?" Clapika was asking them. Neon noticed that his detached and impersonal manner he usually adopted around her had evaporated. He seemed more at ease now.
"We're observing." The one with the silverish blue hair answered.
"Observing?" Clapika turned to the boy with the big innocent eyes and raised an eyebrow. "What are you guys up to now?"
"Well, we came up with a brilliant plan on how to be able to play Greed Island." The boy said. He didn't seem to notice the don't-tell-him- now look his friend was shooting him. "We figured that we didn't need to actually buy the game but find the person who bought it and offer our help as professional hunters to crack the game."
Clapika laughed. "Crack the game? The way you talk, Gon, it's almost as if you can go in and back out again in just a space of one hour!"
"Anyway, what are you doing here?" The silver-blue haired boy interjected. He glanced at Neon and back at Clapika with an almost-smirk.
"Aah, sorry. Neon, these are my friends, Gon and Killua. Gon, Killua, meet my employer, Neon. We're here to bid, of course."
"Nice to meet you two!" Neon said brightly. So Gon was the one with the innocent eyes and Killua was the silver-blue haired boy with the cold manner. "Clapika has told me nothing about you!"
"That sounds just like him." Gon remarked with a laugh.
Clapika grinned. "What's there to talk about?" he joked.
"But he sure had a lot to talk about you." Killua said, addressing Neon. "It's always Neon this, Neon that."
Neon looked at Clapika with a raised eyebrow. "You did?" she asked him.
"Well, I discussed you with Senrich a lot. About our mission and such. They involve you, of course." He answered, shrugging.
Neon was surprised at the heavy thud of disappointment in her when she heard this. Why did his answer would affect her in such a way? It didn't make sense.
"Oh, hey, Clapika. Did you just arrive?" Killua asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"So you didn't bump into anybody else you know besides us, did you?"
Gon seemed to be confused as well as Clapika was at Killua's questions. He gave his friend a puzzled frown, wondering what kind of point Killua was trying to make.
"Well, no. Why? Is Reolio here, too?"
"Hum. Nothing. Just wondering." Killua shot a look at Gon, willing his friend to understand.
"Killua, do you mean Fe-ouch!" Gon was rewarded with a jab in the ribs.
Don't say it, baka! Killua thought furiously. Don't tell him about Feitan and Phinx!
Clapika was merely staring at them in gentle amusement as Gon rubbed his sides and complained to Killua.
Neon, already losing interest in their conversation, had gone on ahead and got herself a seat near the front row. The auction was almost starting so Clapika excused himself and went to sit beside his boss-er, date.
Maybe it was fate, or just a weird coincidence, but sitting two rows back, five seats from theirs, were Feitan and Phinx. Of course, Clapika didn't notice them.yet.
Author's Ramblings:- Well, that's it for chapter two!^_^ I still can't decide whether Clapika should bump into Feitan and Phinx or not.but if he did, then the story would be a bit long. I'm not good at writing long stories, I get bored easily and won't finish it. Hm. We'll see. Btw, I used Word to write this story and when I spell-checked it, guess what replacement the computer suggested for 'Killua'? It's 'killer'. Ironic, huh? I found it quite hilarious. -_^ I'm not really a fan of Clapika x Neon pairings but I just think they would make a better couple than LeoPika or even KilluKura ( sorry all LeoPika and KilluKura fans out there~) Anyway, I'll try and make the story more interesting next time! ^_^ Ganbate, Yuki-chan~~
