The Locking of the Heart:
Chapter 17:
Of Games and Departures
"Is this really necessary?" Kurapika asked, giving the assortment of questionable human beings a drained look. Komugi stood beside her, a confused look on her face.
"You said you were worried about Neon and Rohan being ambushed," Nico pouted, "though you showed no such concern for me."
"Irrelevant."
"Sorry," he offered, gesturing to Chrollo. "Anyway, I called Luci."
"Luci?"
"We have nicknames for each other," Nico chirped, throwing an arm around Chrollo's shoulders. The other man said nothing, did nothing, and probably felt nothing as well because sociopath.
Kurapika was vaguely aware of the eyes lingering on them and instantly recalled the photos that had been taken of the Troupe. Every second out here was a second closer to discovery.
"Let's go," she declared, taking Komugi's frail hand in her own. The younger girl held on for dear life, though, she often did. She wasn't used to having someone there to hold onto, Kurapika supposed. The woman glanced towards the Phantom Troupe Head. "Chrollo, keep your over-sized children in line."
"Yes, ma'am," he quipped.
Kurapika ignored him, handing Komugi's backstage pass to the usher. The man gave her a charming smile, which she returned for all ten seconds of their shared gaze. Then, he turned away, and her scowl returned.
"Two-faced," Chrollo murmured, so close that she could feel the heat radiating of his body. She moved forward a few steps.
"You're one to talk." Her heart fell a bit as the words stumbled out, an inkling of guilt crawling into it.
He just laughed. "Don't worry, I won't judge."
Kurapika lowered her eyes but didn't speak. She pointed out their seats and then took Komugi to her assigned Gungi board.
The girl sat down on one of the red cushions, a bit of snot running from her nose. Kurapika kneeled down next to her and offered her a golden, lace handkerchief. She gratefully accepted it and blew her nose very, very loudly.
"Good luck, Komugi," said the Kurta, patting down her white locks as a mother would.
"Th-thank you, Miss Kurapika," Komugi replied. She tried to hand the handkerchief back to her, but Kurapika respectfully declined. It was a gift from Neon, but surely, the young Nostrade wouldn't mind too much if she gave it away for a good cause.
"Knock 'em dead."
"What? I couldn't!"
Kurapika chuckled. "It's an expression, Komu. Do your best, okay?"
Komugi put on a brave face, her eyebrows strewn together, her lips pulled into a thin, determined line. "Of course!"
"That's my World Champion," Kurapika said, fondly, as she stood up. "I'll be watching from the stands the whole time."
"Promise?" she asked, face turned in her general direction, eyes still sealed shut.
"Promise."
The Kurta cast one more fond glance at Komugi, a few more hostile glares towards her opponents, and then met Chrollo's gaze from where he sat in one of the cushioned chairs. A small smile graced his face, as he sat with one leg over the other, like some overlord who'd found something finally worth his time.
She scaled the red and gold steps to her overlord and chose a seat right beside him.
"Now, that was adorable," he said, his hand cupping his chin in the way great thinkers often did.
Kurapika loosened her tie. Goodness, why didn't she change into something more comfortable for this event? She tugged a bit harder and the knot became untied, the black fabric unravelling.
"Who made these things, anyway? I can hardly breathe," Kurapika muttered. She glanced back at Chrollo, whose eyes had widened just a smidge, his lips parted a bit. "You okay?"
A devilish grin spread across his face, and he leaned his chin on the palm of his hand, his face mere inches from hers. "M'lady, are you so intent on seducing me? I assure you that it's unnecessary."
She gave him an unimpressed look and shoved his face away with her hand.
"Ah, the sharp pang of rejection," Chrollo murmured, mournfully.
"We broke up just a few weeks ago. Show some self-control," she scolded.
Chrollo chuckled, eyes nostalgic. "Oh, the number of times you've said that to me."
"It's not my fault you overstep your boundaries."
"It certainly didn't seem to bother you so much back then," he teased, the back of his hand brushing over her cheek.
Behind them, a voice coughed. Kurapika turned to see a blushing horde of people. Nico was smiling like the demon from Hell he was. His sister's face was bright red against her blue hair. Rohan looked a bit confused, poor girl. Everyone else was a mix of jealousy and embarrassment.
"Look at you two, flirting like there's no tomorrow," Nico chirped, playfully.
"Nico, don't say things that you don't understand," Kurapika scolded.
"How cruel," both men drawled, and Kurapika had to divide her glare power among the two.
Her focused returned to the matches. There were only two more contestants Komugi had to play against, and Kurapika knew Komugi could beat them. But, she wouldn't be Kurapika if she didn't panic at least a little bit.
"Spy to 5x5," Komugi made the first move.
The boy across from her smirked, smugly. "Knight to 4x6."
Komugi's spy was immediately swallowed up by the knight, but Kurapika could tell she'd done it on purpose. It was a trap.
"C'mon, Elan!" a woman yelled from a few seats away. "Beat that invalid!"
A string inside Kurapika snapped, and she whipped her head around to the woman. "Jeering is strictly prohibited by title XXI in the book of conduct. If you do not wish to be escorted outside, then I suggest you keep your mouth shut."
The woman stared at her for a second. "Excuse me? Do you have any idea to whomst you're talking to?"
"Someone who is clearly trying to retain their authority even though they cannot pronounce the word they are attempting to use to reaffirm their status?"
The woman, dressed all in a jarring purple, decked out in expensive jewelry and a matching feathered hat, crossed her arms. "And who are you?"
"A woman who would very much like to spend the rest of this match not having to listen to your remarks."
"I'm quite certain that the last time I checked we were still able to say whatever we wish without punishment," said the purple monstrosity.
"Oh, I'm not punishing you. I just think you're being an arsehole and would prefer it didn't affect my experience."
Beside her, Chrollo chuckled.
"What's going on?" a man asked. Handsome he was, but he was also dressed in gaudy, expensive clothes. Kurapika had noticed him descending the steps just seconds before. She should've known the purple gremlin and him were related.
"Oh, Karol!" the woman said. "You'll never believe what just happened." She pointed at Kurapika in a most accusatory manner. "This skank has the audacity to try and tell me what to do? Throw her out! She's causing a scene!"
Kurapika felt rather offended. Her tone had been artfully emotionless throughout.
Karol gave her a scrutinizing look, an eyebrow rose, and then a smirk spread across his face. "How about I offer you a bargain?"
"Pardon?"
"Let me buy you a drink some time?"
"Karol!"
He raised his hand to silence her, eyes still on the pretty Kurta, who remained unaffected by the whole ordeal.
Kurapika gestured to Chrollo, who gave her a strange look as he tried to figure out what she was about to do. "This is my boyfriend. He kills people for fun. What do you think he'd do to someone he hates?"
"Well, it's like I always say," Karol said, shrugging. "If there's no ring, there's a chance."
She turned to Chrollo. "Wanna get married?"
"We'll pick out our rings after the match. There's a nice jewelry shop not far from here," he said, intertwining their fingers.
"Sounds like a plan," she replied, laying her head on Chrollo's shoulder. "By the way, sexual harassment is punishable by law. I suggest you never come near me again."
The man snorted, before turning to the purple lady. "Come, Vanessa, this isn't a fight we'll win."
The two of them returned to their seats, and Kurapika barely caught the, "I can't believe you would've left me for that slut," leave Vanessa's lips.
Kurapika exhaled. "Finally."
Her "boyfriend" chuckled, "you really can't leave things like these alone."
"I don't see why I should. They were being stupid."
"Karol certainly hasn't changed."
"Wait, you know him?"
"Hmm, he's from Meteor City. Took a habit to stealing, or well, trying to steal things from me," he hummed, pressing a absentminded kiss to her forehead. This was enough to snap her out of the strange trance she'd been put under. She withdrew her hand and straightened.
"Damn, Peeks," Nico said. "Let the guy love you."
"Shut up, Nico."
. . .
Komugi's first match came to an end about thirty minutes later, and the next contestant, a young girl with smoky black hair and intelligent eyes, came up the stage. She sat down on the other side of the Gungi board. The two bowed and exchanged a few words, before the other girl spoke.
"Archer to 5x9."
"Fortress to 6x8," Komugi replied, moving her piece across the board.
"Pawn to 7x9."
"Duke to 8x12."
One by one the girls got rid of the other's defenses, until eventually, their losses were equal. And then, the girl with the smoky hair made a move, one Kurapika was certain even Komugi couldn't circumvent.
That was ridiculous, though. Komugi couldn't lose.
But what if she did?
The black tie wrung around her hand. Then unravelled, before she began again in that nervous habit of hers. Her hands were caught, Chrollo's warmth encircling them, as he leaned in close to her ear.
"Believe in her. She knows what she's doing," he whispered, assuredly.
Komugi sat there, in shock, for a few seconds, her eyes widened with familiarity and love, before they were quickly replaced by a sort of solemnity.
She moved a single piece, and with that, she won the game. Kurapika let go of the breath she'd been holding, her face buried in her hands. Chrollo rubbed her back as a sign of comfort.
. . .
"Are you sure you have everything?" Kurapika double-checked.
Komugi nodded profusely, "yes, yes Miss Kurapika."
"You've only asked her a dozen times," Chrollo muttered. Kurapika shot him a glare. He'd been the only one who'd accompanied her to the hotel. The only one stubborn enough to come despite her repeated attempts to dissuade him.
"Miss Kurapika?"
"Yes, Komugi?"
"I'm r-really going to miss you," the girl said, wringing the fabric of her blouse in her shaking hands.
Kurapika smiled. "I'll miss you, too, Komu."
"And I really . . ." she trailed off, as she tried to gather her courage again and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, "I really hope we meet again someday.
Kurapika's brow furrowed. "Hope? Of course, we'll meet again." The Kurta tsked. "Oh, I forgot to buy you that cellphone on the way back."
"Cellphone?"
Kurapika's heart warmed instantly, and she placed a hand on the other girl's shoulder. "Of course, I wasn't about to let you break off all contact with me. We'll put in Mr. Chrollo's number as well. How's that sound?"
The girl blushed. "Oh, that's not necessary! I couldn't impose."
Kurapika laughed. "Don't worry. It takes only a few seconds to put in a phone number, and I'm sure Mr. Chrollo," insert pointed look here, "would love to hear from you from time to time."
"Whatever it takes to keep m'lady happy," he teased.
Bahari nudged Kurapika, suddenly, and pointed his muzzle towards the clock. It read 5:00.
"Oh, we better get going," Kurapika said, keeping her voice up-beat. "Are you sure you have ever-"
"Yes," the both answered.
"Right."
. . .
They got Komugi a voice-activated phone, so all she had to do to call one of them was tell the phone. It used a self-charging battery as well, so she didn't have to worry about her phone suddenly dying.
"I'll call you as often as I can -"
"Which means hardly ever."
"Which means at least once a week, don't listen to Mr. Chrollo, he's just jealous that I like you more than him," Kurapika reassured, shifting a bit to move Komugi further from the terrible influence that was Mr. Chrollo.
"It's true," Chrollo confirmed.
"All aboard airship 19 to the Republic of East Gorteau," a disembodied voice called, perky and feminine.
Time to rattle off her last orders.
She kneeled down and took Komugi's shoulders. "Don't let them walk all over you, stay out of the cold, ask for tissues when you need them, make sure to eat a well-balanced diet."
"Last call for airship 19! Get on the freakin' blimp, losers!" the voice said, still perky.
"Alright," Kurapika said, releasing the younger girl and standing, "I suppose this is goodbye."
"Y-yes," Komugi replied. Kurapika gave her a torn look, before wrapping her arms around the Gungi champion, who stood stiff for the second it took her body to respond. It didn't take her long to start blubbering. "I-I'm really go-going to m-miss yo-ou."
"I know, I know," Kurapika whispered, "but you'll be alright, and soon, I'll come visit you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Komugi's eyes continued to overflow with tears, snot running from her nose unrelentingly, but she nodded and turned away, walking towards the entrance of the airship, cane in hand. Kurapika watched, fists clenched as she let one of the sweetest people she'd met walk back into a life that treated her horribly.
"I don't fit in anywhere else. I don't deserve so much kindness. My life is in Gorteau," she'd said when Kurapika had asked if she'd prefer to stay with her. It was Komugi's choice. She deserved to have a voice, at least.
A hand settled on her shoulder.
"You're doing the right thing."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because it's the opposite of what I'd do," Chrollo replied.
Kurapika shrugged his hand off, making her way back to the large glass airport. "You keep bringing that up."
Chrollo caught up with ease. "Bringing what up?"
"The past. I'm surprised you're even here, honestly. Would've thought you'd rather keep your distance, and yet, here you are, like nothing had happened. Following me around everywhere," Kurapika explained, trying to keep her voice casual and distant, the way Chrollo did when he wanted to hide things from her.
"You said it was alright to be friends," Chrollo said. "Do you want me to leave?"
Kurapika pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "No. Not exactly."
"Then, what do you want?"
So much.
"Doesn't it faze you at all. Not being able to be with me?" Kurapika asked. She bit her lip, regretting how whiny it had come out.
"But, I am with you," Chrollo replied. "That's all I want. Whether it's platonically or romantically, being with you is what I've wanted from the start."
Liar. He definitely wanted her. Or, he'd better be, because she certainly hadn't gotten rid of that part yet.
"But you -"
"Can try. I'm not saying it's easy not being able to show my love in other ways, but you've been hurt enough. You deserve some peace at least, and some support that you can't cut off all communication with."
Silence engulfed them, as Kurapika calculated her response.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
. End of Chapter 17 .
Next:
Kurapika and Nico teach Rohan how to be a leader.
A/N: Kinda don't like how this chapter ended, but whatever. Next chapter, things really heat up. I'll reply to reviews later. I'm kinda at my writing limit for today.