Chapter 4

The first thing Kurapika was aware of when he woke up was that whatever he was lying on wasn't the hard cold floor of that cell. He slightly opened his eyes. A weak breeze rushed by, breathing on his face the salty smell usually found near the sea. Here was so peaceful.

"So you wake up." He heard a familiar voice.

He was fully awake now. Kurapika jolted up, but immediately cried out in pain and fell back. The wound on his left side hurt so much that it made him feel dizzy.
Kuroro approached the bed and helped him to sit up. For a second, Kurapika thought of struggling, but found himself lack the strength to, so he just leaned to Kuroro's chest for support, breathing heavily.

"Kuroro… " He said uncertainly.


"Yes, it's me. Don't strain yourself too hard. You've been wounded badly."

Kurapika looked around. The nen-locking device wasn't on his wrist anymore. He was staying on a quite large, well-decorated and full-of-light room. All the furniture was old and expensive-looking. The whole wall on his left was made of glass, allowing him to take a good view of the scene outside. The balcony and beautiful seashore were bathed in the sunlight. With the blue, almost cloudless sky and the sounds of waves clashing to the shore, it was so much like a peaceful day in the life of a normal guy.

That peacefulness was so charming. Kurapika wanted nothing more than just enjoyed it and stayed in the warm embrace of the strong arms around him forever. But then, the life of a hunter had never been normal, especially when that hunter happened to be around the infamous Genei Ryodan's leader.

"Where am I?" Kurapika forced himself to ask.

"You're staying at my house."


"You… What's the meaning of this?!?" He jerked out of Kuroro's hold, only to gasp and clutch his side as pain exploded.


Kuroro sighed and helped him to sit against the large pillow at the head of the bed. "Don't worry. I won't trick you. I always keep my promise."

"But Ryodan..."
"You're the only one except me that knows about this place. Even the members of Ryodan don't know." Kuroro answered.

It was definitely a surprise. Kurapika never thought of this. "Because you don't trust Ryodan?"

Kuroro caressed his hair gently. "It's not about trusting or not trusting. To survive, you have to think of preparation for every possible situation. When you are pushed in to a corner, when you helplessly feel that there's no way out for you, you'll see how happy it is to have a place to hide, and…"

The man stood up and walked to the glass wall. He watched the seashore for a few second, then turned back to Kurapika and smiled, not the normal cold and emotionless smirk, but a rare true smile.

"Don't you think this place is so peaceful? It doesn't need to be tainted by blood and death."

Kurapika couldn't say a word, being held captive by that smile. He had never seen Kuroro like this. Kuroro let his hair loose, and didn't wear his coat. He didn't look like a cold-blooded criminal anymore; in fact, he looked like a handsome, but normal man. Behind him, the color of the sky and sea melt into each other in to a perfect shade of blue that was brightened by sunlight. Kuroro seemed to be framed in that pure light.
Vaguely Kurapika felt he was seeing another side of Kuroro, a side that was hidden deeply behind the mask of a criminal. In Kuroro's eyes at that moment, there was neither deadly anger nor icy apathy. Fleeting through it was something so much like wistfulness. The smile, and the emotion in those eyes didn't last for long, but they were enough to make Kurapika's frozen heart started to melt.

"What?" Kuroro asked. "You've been staring at me. What troubles you?"

Realizing that he had been staring at Kuroro, Kurapika quickly adverted his eyes. "Nothing, just thinking."

Kuroro returned to his side and sat on the bed. "What are you thinking about?"

"That has nothing to do with you."

"Oh right," Kuroro smiled. "Of course the chain-guy doesn't want to show me what he is thinking. How can I forget?"

His face darkened at the word "chain". Kurapika grasped the front of Kuroro's shirt and pulled the man nearer. "You don't even have to use nen to win that battle, so why copying my chain? Why don't use something else?"

 "Why must I use something else?" Kuroro lifted his eyebrows. "Your chain is interesting, and while you slept in that cell, you slipped out some interesting information, and you even helped me to complete all the steps."

"What?" Kurapika shuttered. "I… I would never…"

"With the help of me, you did. Getting information from someone doesn't need that person being aware, or else my book would contain only few pages."

"You--" He nearly exploded with anger. "I'll--"

"Will what?" Kuroro challenged. "What will you do? Kiss me?"

Kurapika suddenly was aware of how near Kuroro was, the man's words breathed warm on his face. He released Kuroro's shirt hastily and turned away, blushing. "Don't joke like that."

"But then, did I joke?" Kuroro grasped his chin and turned his head back. Kurapika could only stared with wide eyes as the man leaned closer and…

… and the phone rang.

He hastily pushed Kuroro away. The man frowned, but then shrugged and stood up. He picked the mobile phone up and threw it to Kurapika.
It was his phone, Kurapika noted as he caught it. He brought it to his ear.

"You're the chain guy, aren't you?" At the other end of the line was an unfamiliar voice.

He nearly dropped the phone, feeling fear grip his heart. Calling him that could only be his enemies. He answered reluctantly, "What are you saying? Who are you?"

"You know fully well who we are. You have our leader. We have your two little friends. Are you willing to sacrifice those two?"


The iron hands around his heart tightened their hold as he realized the situation he was in. "Call tomorrow." He said hastily without thinking and switched off the phone. It rang again, but he didn't answer. After a while, the rings died down.


Kurapika grasped the phone so tightly that it looked like he wanted to destroy the poor thing. He glanced at Kuroro. The man was still standing by the wall, staring at him without saying a word.

The chained around Kuroro's heart had been untied. Kurapika knew he had no chance to win Kuroro now, not when his wound was still throbbing and his nen was exhausted. Kuroro wasn't his hostage anymore. By the look of it, he was the one that was held captive. But if he abandoned Gon and Killua… Kurapika squeezed his eyes shut. Even in front of death, he wasn't afraid; but now, he couldn't deny that his fear had doubled. What could he do now to save his friends when he wasn't sure of his chance to save himself?


Kuroro remained silent, only watching Kurapika. He knew what the boy thought, but he didn't speak, only waiting. He had made a promise, and he would never break it. Kurapika only needed to ask.

After a long time, Kurapika dropped the phone he was holding and looked up at Kuroro. He knew he had no right to ask Kuroro for anything, but at that moment, he desperately needed someone to guide him, to tell him what to do. No words were spoken, but Kurapika's eyes were telling much more than words could say. Kuroro could see in them clearly Kurapika's wordless begs.

In another day, Kuroro would have turned his back and walked away. In another day, he would have killed anyone who dared to ask him for anything. But at that moment, for some reasons he didn't know, he couldn't stand even just the thought of hurting this person.

Kuroro sighed, then picked up the phone and threw it onto the table. "Don't think about it. Just rest, worrying is not good for your wounds."

"But…" Kurapika's voice was close to a sob. "But what about my friends? You said…"

"I don't lie, but first, you need rest. You've been injured badly, and poisoned too. Right now, you couldn't do anything." Kuroro said and walked to the door. "I will leave you alone now."

"I don't care! If you really want to help me, you won't hesitate like that!" Kurapika jumped out of the bed. Immediately a wave of dizziness ran through his head, together with the terrible pain from the wound on his side. He crashed to the floor, the impact stun him momentarily. Blood oozed out from his wound and his mouth, but he wasn't aware of it.


Sadness reflected in Kuroro's eyes. He returned and gathered Kurapika to his arms. Putting the boy back to the bed, he caressed the blond hair gently. "Look, you've made your wound worse."

Kurapika tried his best to hold back the moans. Kuroro wanted to change the bandage on his wound, but he patted the man's hands away. "I don't need your sympathy."

Kuroro frowned. "I do not sympathy you."

"Stop it. Don't play the hypocrite. I'm not a toy for you to play in whatever way you wanted. I'd rather die before that happens."

Violet light suddenly flared around Kuroro as the book appeared on his hand. Even though Kurapika managed to look indifferent, somewhere deep in his heart, there was a silent sob. A beautiful dream… but finally, the dream was over. Now it was time to end everything. He closed his eyes and waited for the final blow.

To his surprise, the pain slowly faded. A warm sensation spread from the wound, giving him energy, easing away exhaustion. Kurapika opened his eyes in amazement. Hanging from Kuroro's hand the Healing Chain.

The wound had disappeared. Kuroro closed the book; both the chain and the violet light disappeared at once.

Kurapika gingerly pushed himself up. His movement wasn't painful like before, but his nen level was still terribly low. "Why…"" He couldn't finish the question. The physical wound had been healed, but the wound on his heart started to ache.

"The poison has got into your system, but it's not really dangerous. All you need is a good rest, and you'll fully recover. Well, it'll take time for your nen to get to its old level too." Kuroro answered. "Now, it's your choice. You can believe me and stay here until you get rid of the poison, or you can leave to try to save your friends. I won't stop you. So, what do you choose? Would you stay here?"

Kurapika was silent.

"I'll take it as an accept."

"What should I say tomorrow," Kurapika asked quietly, so quietly that Kuroro almost missed it, "when they call back…"

"Think of it when tomorrow comes." Kuroro placed a kiss on his forehead and walked out. "Now, lie down and rest, or you can walk down stair and enjoy the environment if you want."

"Where are you going?"


Kuroro stopped at the door. "Prepare lunch for us."

"What?"


"Are you deaf? Prepare. Lunch."


For a whole long minute, Kurapika just sat there stunned, couldn't believe in what he just heard. He couldn't help wondering if he could survive to see tomorrow.

End Chapter 4