SURVIVORS

A Hunter x Hunter Fanfiction

ZyraEmina

© Yoshihiro Togashi

Hello guys what's up? Sorry for the late update. .Hehe _

Don't worry guys I won't make this long (for some reason my head is currently in the air, I don't why). Just wanna say thanks for the following awesome people for their equally awesome reviews: Latias876, DreameroftheRealm, , Retz ,and Puggle-Rock.

I also wanted to give my utmost appreciation to those who clicked favorite and follow buttons. Thanks guys so much! ^_^

P.S. Tochiotome-chan where are you? I'm missing you girl. . . ~.~ and yeah don't forget R&R!

CHAPTER 8

HE'S starting to regret his impulsive decision about attending Lady Fortuna's party as his boss' 'lady' escort out of irritation to his whining new subordinates. Kurapika is never the type who thinks that cross-dressing can degrade one's masculinity but the troubles accompanied by the said task can be really annoying. Currently his face feels heavy and kinda itchy with numerous cosmetics applied to it and he can hardly open his mouth due to the red lipstick and lip-gloss that not only added color to his pale lips but also glued them together. Also his eyebrows still stung from all the plucking it had to endure. He was dressed in the pale blue one piece dress that Melody picked up for him. It has a black ribbon tied around the waist while its neckline was styled in Bateau, has long sleeves only allowing his hand to be exposed and the hem falls just below his knees. The outer rose-embroided cloth was see-through while the inner cloth was made of soft pale blue silk. Underneath the dress, Melody made him put on a corset and breast padding to give an illusion of small waistline, curvy hips and big chest that he didn't and will never possess. His pedicured feet was covered with a pair of black flat sandals with ribbons that tied crisscross just around his ankles. The Music Hunter wanted for him to wear heels even if it's just an inch high but decided against it as it would only hinder his mobility. To complete Kurapika's transformation, his hair was brushed down and adorned with a butterfly designed headband.

Honestly speaking he can put up with all the make-up and dress crap just fine but what makes his hackles up is the unwanted attention he had garnered after the transformation. Also the flash from his subordinate's camera didn't help quell his irritation.

Before they left the hotel, the newbies Akito, Jadeite and Regulus openly ogled him out of disbelief when he emerged out from his room already dressed for the party. After snapping numerous pictures of him in different possible angles with a camera that appeared out of nowhere, the newbies got the gall to openly question if Kurapika is really an Adam as a few dusting of cosmetics and a flimsy dress transformed him into a gorgeous Eve. Their insolence obviously earned themselves a lump on their heads where the chain-user's fist had made contact. Now at Lady Fortuna's estate, the male bodyguards stationed outside the mansion joined the trio's open ogling of him. Also the lump on their head from earlier didn't stop them from snapping another couple of pictures of Kurapika.

"Stop that!" In reflex Kurapika closed his eyes when the trio's camera flash' hit his eyes.

"But Kurapika-san you're so cute!"

A little push and Kurapika will seriously pierce his Judgment Chain into the hearts of his younger subordinates.

"Kurapika, please calm down." Melody pleaded in a soothing voice.

"I am calm." Kurapika retorted. To prove his point he wore his face indifferently.

"You're maybe calm on the outside but I can hear that in the inside you're not." Another flash from the camera made Kurapika whip his head to the trio's direction to give them a hard glare. Melody can't help herself but giggle.

"Not you too!"

"Well I can see why they're into taking pictures of you. You're beautiful." The appreciative glances from the guards stationed outside proved that she's not the only one who thinks that way.

"I'd rather be called handsome than beautiful."

Melody let out a small chuckle at Kurapika. She had done a great job on him if she could say so herself. With that blue dress and make-up he turned into a really gorgeous woman. Too bad he was born a guy, she could have made use of a human doll to dress up with.

Upon entering the great hall, the first who caught their attention was the mistress of the party herself, Lady Fortuna in her elegant purple silk long gown. She was talking to a blonde girl wearing a red and black dress whose back was facing them. At first he thought that they were having a pleasant conversation but when they got close enough he could see through the blonde's body language that she doesn't like being around the older woman but still kept around during the conversation out of courtesy.

"Fortu-chan!" Neon shouted while waving her hand in the air and trotted towards Lady Fortuna. The blonde girl used the moment's distraction to get away.

"Ah! Kirara-chan!" The blonde girl didn't stop at Lady Fortuna's calling.

"Who was that?" Neon asked as soon as she was beside Lady Fortuna, her eyes trying to find the blonde in red and black dress in the sea of crowd.

"Oh, that was Kirara Ashenbert." Just like the blunnette Lady Fortuna was craning her neck to see the glimpse of the runaway blonde. "I was planning to introduce her to you. She's also into collecting human body parts. I thought you two would get along since the two of you shared the same hobby. Too bad she's too shy to talk to other people aside from me."

Kurapika discreetly raised a brow. Really? From what he observed it's obvious that the girl doesn't want her company but stayed as it would be disrespectful to brush off the one who organized the party. Well if that was what she believed so be it.

But at the back of his head a little voice told him that there is something familiar about the blonde runaway girl. He just can't point a finger on it. It bothers him but decided to ignore it. After all, assessing the guests was not the thing he had come here for.

After a few minutes (which felt like years for the Black List Hunter) of animated chatting about the desire in possessing preserved piece of brain of the man believed to be the most intelligent person who ever lived, mummified unnamed Pharaoh King, pieces of hair of famous personalities whether dead or alive and other disturbing grotesque topics between Neon and Lady Fortuna, the older woman peeled herself away from them to attend to her other guests. Neon pouted at the loss of someone to talk to but immediately forgot about it when food was served. Kurapika on the other hand is very anxious as to where the Kurta eyes are. The night is dragging by but there still no sign of the eyes. Damn! If only he had learned about the eyes earlier than yesterday, he might have formulate a much better plan than igniting a chaos to get an opening to steal the eyes without putting his boss in harm's way. He can be really reckless when it comes to the Kurta eyes.

"Don't worry Kurapika, everything's going to be alright." Melody placed her hand on Kurapika's hand and gently coaxed it to open to avoid self-inflicted injuries. He wasn't aware that he had balled his fist and that his nails were already piercing hard on the skin of his palm until the Music Hunter pried it open for him. She even made circular motions at the back of his hand to calm him and while he did visibly relax, the tune of rage is still ringing in his heart. As soothing and gently as Melody's presence can be, she can't do anything about the disturbing melody of Kurapika's heart. Years of searching for his people's lost eyes didn't pacify the boiling rage inside him but rather it was intensified.

Melody frowned on the inside. She's seriously not looking forward to the things that would transpire tonight. Also, though she's not showing it, she's having a hard time in this crowd. After the incident with the Dark Sonata which resulted to her gaining superhuman hearing in the expense of her physical body, her poor ears were always bombarded with pandemonium of sounds. Intensive training and concentration were the things that allowed her to be able to focus on Kurapika and Neon's heartbeat but in this situation they're not enough. The usual mild headache she always got from the noise pollution from the city can't compare with the nausea Lady Fortuna's guests gave her. The collection of jealousy, envy, malice, rage and the slanderous gossips under hushed voices in one place is surely one hell of a place for someone such as Melody. Though, despite the offensive sounds she hears, Melody picked up two familiar heartbeats when a pair of maids pushing food carts arrived the great hall.

Gon and Killua! She's surely not mistaken. Once she choose to memorize an individual's heartbeat it will be forever engraved in her brain.

"Kurapika -"

The Black List Hunter turned to look at the Music Hunter when she called his name for a moment before shifting his attention on the elevated platform at the center of the room. The elevated platform served as a stage in which Lady Fortuna was now occupying. Whatever Melody was about to say was drowned in the loud sound system that amplified the mistress' voice when she spoke on the microphone stationed in the stage. Not to mention that all of Kurapika's attention was now on the older woman.

PUSHING a food cart towards the great hall, Gon and Killua once again assumed their role as maids. Killua was still struggling not to trip on the hem of his skirt as they walked, which irritates him to no end while it entertains Gon greatly. Once they were inside the great hall Gon suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong Gon?"

"There's something familiar in the air."

Killua sniffed the air. Aside from telltale scent of different colognes and perfumes mixed with sweat in the air, the silver-haired boy smelled nothing in particular that might catch his attention. He throws a questioning look towards Gon.

"It's Kurapika's scent."

Killua's eyes widened a fraction. "Kurapika's here? Where?"

Gon took a deep breath to pinpoint Kurapika's location but cringed his nose when the offensive mixture of odors assaulted his nose. "That stinks." He immediately covered his poor nose with his hand. "I don't know. I can't point Kurapika's position with all of this scent in here but I'm very sure that he's inside."

The duo reached the buffet table and carefully placed the cuisine they were carrying on top of it.

"What might Kurapika be doing in here?" Gon asked as he tried to locate their Kurta friend in the sea of crowd but to no avail.

"Maybe his boss was invited and he tagged along as her bodyguard." Suddenly Killua's facial features turned into that of a mischievous cat and a wide sly smile grace his lips. "Gon, are you sure that Kurapika's inside here, not outside?"

The raven-haired Hunter nodded. "I'm pretty sure the he's inside here somewhere. Why?"

The sly smile on the silver-haired Hunter's face widened more if it was even possible making the raven-haired blink rapidly in confusion. Gon knew that there was something mischievous running around Killua's mind but he just doesn't have a clue what it was.

"This is gonna be fun. If Kurapika's here it means that he'd cross-dress to enter the mansion's premises. I can't wait to see his femme version." And Killua let out a small evil giggle momentarily forgetting that he had also undergone that same situation. This made Gon more confused. It's true that Kurapika may be wearing a dress tonight but didn't the two of them were in the same circumstances as him? If Killua is going to laugh at Kurapika from wearing a woman's clothes does that mean he's also making fun of them? Gon shook his head. His head is not really meant for analyzing and if he pushed himself too much, smoke will surely come out from his head.

"Good evening my beautiful ladies," Lady Fortuna's voice came blaring out from the speakers effectively making Gon and Killua snap into the reality. Everybody in the great hall stop from chatting and eating and focus on the woman in the elevated platform.

"I would like to thank you all for sparing some your time to attend this little party of mine." Lady Fortuna paused dramatically, eyeing her guests as they murmured how grand this 'little party' is. "As a passionate collector like you, I know that you could understand the feeling of dedicating one's self in acquiring the things that most people deem unnecessary to live out their lives and I'm really happy to have ladies with similar passion such as mine gather in one place."

From the buffet table Gon and Killua watched Kirara as Lady Fortuna continued to deliver her useless speech. It's obvious that the old hag organized the party to brag about the things that were added to her collection. Honestly she should have just shown off the goods and cut off all the flowery speeches crap. Then again, that's how people like her like to play.

The duo tried to look for Kurapika once again but still in vain.

In a wave of Lady Fortuna's hand, one of her lady-in-waiting appeared at her side pushing a cart carrying three veiled cylindrical containers. Lady Fortuna smiled to herself as murmurs of curiosity filled the air. With dramatic slow motion she removed the veil of the first container to reveal a knife with an odd pattern and dark red-black stain smeared on its blade. It was a discolored Ben's knife and Gon's interest piqued at the sight of the knife as he had already seen one during their stay in York New City during the auction. Now the curious murmurs died down into disappointed whispers. The lady's smile even grew wider with the reaction.

"Now everyone of you may think that this is just an ordinary Ben's knife with questionable credibility but unfortunately you're gravely mistaken. This baby is undeniably one of the famous blacksmith and mass murderer's original work."

"Well we could see that. What's so unique about that knife? Not only it's filthy but that kind of collector's item is not even rare. I got three of that back home and all of them are in pristine condition."

"Good question." Lady Fortuna gave the guest who inquired a patient look. "You see this baby does not only belong to Ben's original work but it was the first knife he had made and used in his murder spree. The dark black-red stain you see on the blade was the dried blood of the very first victim who lost his life in the hands of great blacksmith. Of course we ran a DNA test to ensure the validity of the claim."

There's 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' everywhere as the comprehension sink in on the guests. Gon and Killua, on the other hand, looked at each other with wry smile on their faces. Talk about gross gore stuff.

When the veil was pulled down from the second container, it revealed a dried up organ, with appearance and texture much like that of a dried fish but has an erringly resemblance to a female's uterus.

"This mummified uterus is believed to be one of the uterus Jack the Ripper ripped from his victims when he was still alive to wage terror to the females lurking in London streets. While there's no way to prove the claim as the murderer himself was never apprehended and no one really knows what had happened to the uterus he had ripped off from his victims, with the carbon-dating we have estimated that this was mummified around the time the infamous serial killer was still alive and actively killing making the validity of the claim possible."

"Fortu-chan! I'll do whatever you want just make that glorious mummified uterus your birthday gift for me on my birthday three months from now!" If the raven and silver-haired Hunters were given a chance to meet Neon the duo would have recognized the over-enthusiastic blunnette as their blonde friend's employer. On the other hand, the duo Hunter could only distort their faces in disgust.

Kirara, with all the excitement around her was not moved by some blood stained piece of junk and dried female parts that have seem to pique the interest of the other guests. She was waiting for the third container to be unveiled as she was 100% sure it holds the Kurta eyes. To whom did the eyes inside the container belonged to? Kurapika? Fennik? Her father? She's dying to know.

Every minute that passed seemed like hours for Kirara. When the older woman decided to shift her attention towards the third container, the blonde in red had a hard time suppressing her groan of annoyance as the older woman delivered another boring rant on how rare and how lucky she was to obtain one of the world's most beautiful things that ever existed before lifting the veil. Just hurry up and unveil the container, damn it!

MELODY is really getting bothered by Kurapika's heart melody the longer the presentation of the Kurta eyes takes. On the far corner of the great hall the Music Hunter could hear another heartbeat which plays the same melody as Kurapika's except that it doesn't only play rage and anxiety but also anticipation. Their melody was so powerful for the stout woman's ears that it dwarfs any other sound in the hall, even Neon's heartbeat of excitement when she laid eyes on the mummified uterus. The only thing that she was able to catch up on Lady Fortuna's speech was that the eyes was unique compared to other Kurta eyes and it belonged to a pair of twin siblings.

Everyone drew a sharp gasp when they saw two pairs of eyes - a pair of brown and red eyes - when Lady Fortuna finally lifted the veil that obscured their view of the treasure.

Suddenly, for Melody, the surroundings become eerily silent with Kurapika's and the mysterious person's heartbeats the only thing she could hear. Even though Kurapika was right beside her, the mysterious heartbeat seems to be much louder than that of her comrade. She can't help but whip her head towards the direction of the heartbeat and her eyes widened when her eyes met blonde hair and two scarlet orbs that didn't belong to Kurapika.

Without warning, a fire broke out inside the party hall.