SURVIVORS
A Hunter x Hunter Fanfiction
ZyraEmina
© Yoshihiro Togashi
After almost a year of being inactive, at long last I updated managed to upload a new chapter of Survivors. I'm really sorry for the very long wait. School works especially thesis have managed to caught up with me, leaving no time for me to work on this. Just to clear things, I'm not abandoning this fanfic, even my other cross-over fanfic (Feather's Code of Rebellion). No matter what happens I'll finish what I have started. Yosh! Nevertheless, please enjoy this chapter. ^_^
Also I would like to thank the following for their awesome reviews which always brings smile and inspiration to me even after repeatedly reading their reviews:
darlingfedz – thank you for always waiting for my updates even if it always took me forever to update.
Thaishi and HaruOtaku-San – thank you for loving my work. ^_^
Puggle-Rock – yup! I also like how Leorio thought that Kurapika was a girl (despite being the author :P). When I was a kid I always get upset whenever my cousin tease me with Kurapika being a girl but now. . .hehehe *evil chuckle*
Retz – it always makes me happy to know that I have managed to make you laugh. ^_^
KristelLee – it's okay if you review my work late, I don't mind. Promise sinubukan kong magsulat ng mahabang chapter pero hanggang ganito lang talaga capacity ko. Sensya kung nadisappoint kita at sorry rin sa matagal na update.
Sailor Pandabear – thank you for finding my work interesting.
Lalouch - *groveling* I'm so sorry for taking so long to update. I'm really, really sorry, please forgive me *bowing my head rapidly*. Oh my gosh, thank you for loving my fanfic, I never noticed that I'm kinda dramatic as well as comedic in here until you've pointed it out to me. Thank you very much. I'll try my best not to disappoint you in my next chapters.
yaoiprincess101 – yey! Another Kurapika fangirl! It's kinda sad there's little Kurapika compilations in YT. Anyone who knew how to mess up with videos, please do this starving fangirl a favor and make video/s about Kurapika! Hehe. ^_^
SilverSapphire34523 – thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift you've given to me (her review dated December 25). I didn't intend to kill you with suspense but I'm happy to know that there is someone who look forward to my updates. I'm sorry if my return gift arrived almost three months after. -_-
I would like to thank those silent readers and also those who clicked follow and favorite buttons for this fanfic: wintermoon7, 00Misty, Pikachu17, Regina Noir, Jesse M.E Gerrits, Reiyama Yuuko, Animorph128, Ellie-Anna Blackwood, Clay-Smile-Soil, Sailor Pandabear, Givemecookies and others whom I've missed. You make my day! ^_^
R&R please. ^_^
Chapter 10
BECAUSE of the chaos that had happened at Lady Fortuna's party, Light Nostrade, Kurapika's employer, instructed the chain-using Hunter to bring his daughter Neon back as soon as possible, much to the chagrin of the blunette heiress. The mafia boss is still traumatized on what had happened at Yorknew City when Neon lost her clairvoyance ability. Kurapika's very sure that the paranoid father would try to cage up his daughter at their mansion for her 'safety'.
It has been a week since then. It had also been a week since the last time Kurapika had heard from his friends about Akayuki; or should he call her Kirara now?
Kurapika pondered at Akayuki's transformation. That same night, after he had called Melody to escort Neon safely back at the hotel, he did some research about the other Kurta survivor. Nothing about her being a Kurta was mentioned though she now calls herself Kirara Ashenbert, the current head of the Ashenbert estate and hailed as the youngest multi-company owner after she had inherit it from her grandfather at the age of 15. The fact didn't really surprised him. She had once told him when they were kids that her mother was a sole child and heiress but was disowned when her mother decided to marry her Kurta father. The Hunter website also provided that her listed hobby was the same as those collectors whom he detests; collecting preserved human body parts, particularly preserved eye balls but he supposed it was because she was also hunting down their fallen brethren's eyes.
Flipping his cellphone, Kurapika gazed at his wallpaper which happened to be Kirara's photo provided by the Hunter website. Nothing much has changed on her physical attributes. Her eyes, her nose line, the linings of her jaw, it was still the same as he remembers though it had already matured to complement her age. Her silver locks were now dyed in gold with the same shade with his and she had gained some curves a girl like her should possess.
He snorted at the thought. Not until the night of their reunion, Kurapika never really thought Akayuki as a girl. Maybe because as a child Akayuki never behaved herself like one. She keeps her hair short, almost like that of a boy, moves and acts like a boy and willing to stumble and jump around despite her weak heart.
Remembering the other Kurta's health condition, Kurapika opened his messages and read the text message he had received from Leorio for the umpteenth time.
'You don't have to worry Kurapika. Kirara . . . I mean Akayuki is now okay. The doctors had stabilized her condition and her blood vomiting had already stopped but the doctors will be keeping her for a few days for further examinations. Kurapika, try visit her, okay? No you SHOULD visit her. Got it? Go visit her or else. . .'
It had already been a week but he had never visited Akayuki in the hospital. His guess was that Akayuki had already been discharged for some time now. Yeah right, how would he knew when the lack of communication had started on his part?
OUTSIDE Kurapika's room, three shadows loomed as they peek through the gaping door. Akito, Jadeite and Regulus leaned on each other all the while pushing one another to get a better view of their blonde-haired head bodyguard who was musing to himself once again, his expression solemn yet longing. Of course the trio were using Zetsu to suppress their aura. They don't want to be discovered by the target of their rubbernecking.
"Ah!" The trio gasp quietly as Kurapika exhaled a heavy sigh before clicking his phone off and turn his attention towards the paperwork lying on the desk next to his bed.
"That sigh! I knew it!" Akito whispered sharply taking the attention of the other two from Kurapika towards himself.
"You knew what?" Jadeite looked down at Akito curiously.
Squirming out from being sandwiched by Jadeite and Regulus, Akito positioned his right hand against his hip while his thumb and index fingers cradles his face which has already cracked into a cocky smirk.
"Someone had captured Kurapika-san's heart."
Jadeite and Regulus' eyes almost pop out from their sockets.
"Kurapika-san. . ." Jadeite peeked once again at the gaping door to see the said blonde Hunter's back facing him and busy with paperwork before facing a smug-looking Akito. "Kurapika-san is in love?"
Akito nodded his head. "Yup! You got that right! My guess is that he met the girl during the party Neon-sama last attended. You know, the one where he needed to cross-dress."
"Well, thinking back, I think that's plausible. After all it was after the party that Kurapika-san's behavior started to get odd." Then pink tints colored Jadeite cheeks. "Not to mention that he was so beautiful that day."
Jadeite's words ignite the memories of Akito and Regulus of that day; their cheeks turn to several shades of red and they suddenly chocked on their own saliva.
"That's the problem." Regulus suddenly said after being so quiet the whole exchange. The two grunted in puzzlement.
"He's in an arduous situation." Akito and Jadeite were more confused then look at each other quizzically. Regulus could only sigh at their incomprehension. "Since Kurapika-san was a she during the party, the girl he had meet thought and knew him as a girl. He can't introduce himself to the girl as the one she had met at the party. The girl might misunderstood him and assume that cross-dressing is his hobby."
"Kurapika do have something that keeps him busy aside from body guarding work though I'm not sure if you could call that a hobby."
The three twisted their heads to see Melody standing behind and smiling at them. They released the breath they didn't know they're holding.
"Melody-san!" The trio chuckled, flustered. Remembering the Music Hunter's extraordinarily sharp hearing, Akito gulped on his spit. "U-umm, how much did you heard?"
"Hmm. . .Let's see." The stout woman tilted her head, deep in thought. "From the beginning, I guess."
In a flash Akito, Jadeite and Regulus were on their knees and bowing to Melody feverishly.
"Please, please, oh great one, don't breath a word to Kurapika-san about what you have heard today."
"I won't tell, I promise."
"Cause there's no need." The trio froze once they recognized the other voice. Slowly and stiffly they turn to see Kurapika by the door scowling down at them. Nervous grins cracked from their visages.
Kurapika watched the trio under scrutinizing gaze which in turn make the newbies squirm. Before the trio become a nervous wreck in front of Kurapika and Melody, the blonde ordered them to scram away, an order that the three happily obliged. When the trio was out of earshot, Melody was the first to break the silence.
"So someone had managed to penetrate the walled fortress you call heart, Kurapika."
The blonde chain user scoffed. "Shut it. Those three were just talking nonsense again. It makes me wonder how the hell they managed to pass the Hunter examinations."
"Though they were right about you being out of it as of late." Melody make a point to linger her gaze to the cellular phone Kurapika held. The Kurta sensed the stare and hid the phone inside his pocket.
"What holds you back? I know you're worried about that girl at the party. Why don't you just contact her to ease your nerves?" Melody didn't know the details about Akayuki as Kurapika refused to speak anything in regards of what happened a week ago. She knows it's not her business but she can't help but be concerned when worry is evident in his heartbeat.
"I. . ."
Kurapika was silent when words failed him as Melody's words sink in his mind. It's true that calling her would help his anxiety; the real problem is that he doesn't know how to start or what to say to Akayuki once he call her.
The silence was broken by the sharp ringing of the blonde's phone.
Fishing his mobile from his pocket, the Kurta immediately recognized the numbers flashing on the screen though it has no caller id.
It was the numbers printed on the calling card Akayuki's bald bodyguard had given him.
Should he answer the call or not? For a moment his gaze met Melody's and the Music Hunter gave him a small smile before exiting the room. They both knew that it's useless; Melody could still able to anything from even a few kilometers away from her but it's reassuring to know that she respects his privacy. Half a minute passed Kurapika pressed the accept button.
"Hel – "A sharp falsetto voice interrupted him before he could finish his greeting. He could also hear a flustered female voice at the background.
"Today at Sweet Life Café, 3:00 pm sharp. If you don't show up I'll hunt you and skin you alive." And the call ended just like that. Kurapika could only stare at his phone, wide eyed in confusion.
PEEPING and eavesdropping were never the impressive things in Killua's book. He don't give a damn about other people's business. If the information that would be gained would help him keep his life (and his friends, of course) or when Gon decides to do something out of character like dating a girl, then that's the only time he would bother to do those things. So why the hell is he here in the café hiding and spying at Kirara without her knowledge? The answer would be because of his two raven-haired friends and a hairless bodyguard who were with him in the café and also spying at the blonde girl.
Wow, what a wonderful choice of hobby.
"Hey, baldy! Are you really certain that Kurapika would meet her?" Cause it would be messy if he didn't show up, Killua thought afterwards. He doesn't want the girl to get emotionally unstable on them and set the poor establishment on fire. He had enough of all that drama.
"He'll come." Lot said with conviction in his falsetto voice. "And stop calling me baldy!"
"What can I do? I'm a good boy who only tells the truth."
Lot grumbled and glare at Killua as he scrubs his hairless head in annoyance.
It was already three-fifteen in the afternoon but there was still no sign of Kurapika. Kirara had already finished her second cup of coffee while the voyeur team had already finished their snacks. The blonde girl was also staring at the café's door expectedly every time it opens while her bodyguard was biting his thumb in frustration. Leorio exhaled a deep sigh.
Lot paled while Gon and Killua looked at their friend. Killua was silently agreeing with Leorio while Gon looked puzzled.
"Why do say that, Leorio?"
The older Hunter runs his fingers in his dark hair. "After Yorknew City, Kurapika had been evasive towards us. He didn't even call when you were in critical condition, Gon, and he did the same thing when Kirara was hospitalized. Blame it to his stubbornness but I'm having a hard time thinking what would make him change his mind this time."
"Well. . . Because Kirara-san's a Kurta just like him?" Gon looked down, not really sure himself.
Another fifteen minutes or so had passed before the chain wielding Kurta decided to show up. He's wearing a black suit and necktie over a white dress shirt and black slacks paired with shiny black shoes, just like what Lot is wearing. He walked regally towards the awaiting girl like he wasn't late at all and his friends can't help but think how cool he looks with the suit. Gone was the beautiful Kurapika in dress at the party last week; hello to the handsome and cool Kurapika in black suit.
"Oh, he's so dreamy." Lot squealed. "My mistress is such a lucky gal."
The trio Hunters sweat dropped at the bald man's apparent "girly-ness".
AKAYUKI knows that too much caffeine would surely result to sleepless night tonight but that didn't stop her from getting her third cup of coffee. Ironically, the coffee was helping her nerves; she's totally out of her wits when Lot suddenly barged into the guest room where Gon and the others were staying and forcibly obtain Kurapika's number from Leorio and make a quick call to the man. Then he dragged her out of her mansion, led her to the salon and spa to beautify and pamper her, then went shopping before dropping her to the café and left her alone just like that.
Jeez, Lot can be pushy sometimes but she truly appreciates his concern. She just hope that the bald man won't get any trouble from Mikhael. Lot had practically kidnapped her and she's sure that Mikhael would not be pleased with the knowledge.
The chime attached to the door of the café rings and the pleasant voice of the waitress welcoming the costumers reached Akayuki's ears. In reflex, she turns her head towards the door expecting a blonde Kurta but to her disappointment it was a "lovey-dovey" couple who entered the café. She released the breath she didn't realized she was holding and tears are threatening to fall from her eyes. She's starting to doubt if Kurapika would really show up and meet her as Lot didn't really gave him the chance to speak during that one-sided phone conversation. Besides its already passed 3 o'clock, the time Lot allotted as the meeting time.
To tell the truth Akayuki is not yet ready to face the other Kurta. Sure she really wanted to see him but between being confined in the hospital, undergoing various tests and assure her hyperventilating mother that she's okay, she didn't have enough time to collect herself for the possible confrontation. She even doubt herself if she had really seen Kurapika on the party and not just hallucinating. The reassurance she got that Kurapika was not a product of her unstable mind was Gon, Killua and Leorio confirmed the other Kurta's existence and that they were friends with him.
Recollecting Gon's stories about Kurapika, a small smile grace her visage. So many things have had happened to Kurapika that sometimes she can't recognize the Kurapika within Gon's stories. That's another thing that frightens her, Kurapika's change. She's aware that she, herself, had changed, but she hadn't expected change on him as he was dead to her until recently.
The chime rings again at the same moment Akayuki's third coffee arrived and her view of the door was blocked by the waitress. When the waitress finally leave, her eyes went wide, her mouth gaping with her cup forgotten mid-air as she saw Kurapika walking towards her. She wasn't aware she had put down her cup to the saucer hastily, not until some of its contents spilled to her crisp, brand-new skirt.
Kurapika sat across Akayuki, composed and his face not betraying whatever is on his mind. The girl, however, was fidgeting on her sit. She was also trying to look at anything but Kurapika though she's failing miserably as she peeks at the chain user every now and then before darting her eyes elsewhere.
How should she strike a conversation with him?
"It's been a while, Akayuki. Or should I call you Kirara now?" Kurapika suddenly said startling Akayuki. For a moment she forgotten how to breathe.
"You can call me whatever you want." She answers in a small voice.
"It's Akayuki then."
Akayuki glance once again at Kurapika's direction. She's happy that someone's calling her by her real name after she assumed her new identity but the way it sounded after Kurapika uttered it sadden her. His voice was gentle but also distant.
A waitress approached them and offer Kurapika the menu. The blonde didn't even touch the menu but ordered a cup of latte. The waitress retreats discreetly.
"You . . . You've dyed your hair."
Akayuki was dumbstruck. They would talk about her hair? Maybe Kurapika is also as nervous as she is about this.
"Hmm." Akayuki nods then captures a lock of her hair between her fingers. "Well, I've always wanted to have golden hair like yours, my dad's and my brothers'."
"Your father loved your white hair. And it suits your name – your real name."
The girl snorts. She could feel the atmosphere starting to get light between them. "Only the 'snow' part of it. My mom was eccentric enough to name me Akayuki just because it was snowing and I was covered in blood when she gave birth to me." And now Mom is . . . . She was not brave enough to finish her sentence even inside her head.
"But that name would really suit you now. Akayuki – a snow-haired girl with red eyes. A rare Kurta."
The girl's eyes widen for a fraction at Kurapika's words. With her red eyes and snow-colored hair, a hair color very rare among Kurta clan who has usually blonde or brown hair, Red Snow would certainly suit her. A slight blush color her cheeks. "I guess you're right."
The waitress decides to appear with Kurapika's coffee. That effectively cut off their conversation and the tension was once again back in the air.
VARIOUS reactions were garnered at the voyeur's table. Lot was crying dramatically and mumbling about how his mistress is finally becoming a lady while Leorio is being irritated on how Kurapika conduct in front of the other Kurta. Gon and Killua were busy eating parfait though the raven-haired boy had a pleased smile on his face as he watch the two Kurta through his peripheral vision. Killua is starting to think that Gon had become a sucker for 'happy' reunions since his reunion with his own father.
THE silence was starting to get deafening for Akayuki. She wanted to continue talking with the other Kurta in front of her but doesn't know how to start. Damn, it was too easy to talk to him before! She then become crestfallen. Well, that was before they lost everything and stained their hands with blood in the name of vengeance.
It was Kurapika who once again broke the ice.
"How did you managed to survive the Spider's attack?"
Akayuki look at Kurapika. His face is still impassive though she could see the shadow looming behind his tinted eyes. She gathered her composure before answering.
"I was out of the village when the troupe attacked. Mom had requested the Elder to permit her to bring me to the city for medication since my heart condition was worsening and the tribe's resident doctor can no longer help me; not with the limited technology and medicine the village of our clan could offer. The request was granted although there's a condition. Only Mom and I could go to the city since my mother was originally an outsider while I still haven't manifest my red eyes at that time. The Elder thought the clan's secret would be safe that way."
"I didn't knew anything about this."
"Of course you don't." The female Kurta laugh dryly. "The day you took the second part of the examination was also the day of our departure towards the city. I wanted to wish you good luck but my body won't allow it. It may be late but how did the examinations go? Did you pass it?"
A mirthless smile make its way to the male Kurta's visage. "I passed thanks to Pairo. It was also thanks to him that I'm still live today."
Pairo, their common denominator. Her cousin and his best friend. She should have known that despite his weak body Pairo won't let Kurapika down. A sudden gore memory invaded her mind. Akayuki's body started to shake and her eyes were diluted and unfocused. She also started muttering something Kurapika didn't catch.
"What did you say? Hey, are you alright?" He then ask when Kurapika saw how pale suddenly had become. The girl though seem not to hear him.
In record time the bald bodyguard was on Akayuki's side trying to calm her down before she lose control and let her Nen power burn the entire building down. Gon, Killua and Leorio follow after Lot. The shift in the situation confused Kurapika.
DURING the whole duration of Akayuki and Kurapika's conversation, there was another pair of watchful eyes observing them. He made sure that his Zetsu was up to avoid detection especially with his murderous intent raging wildly inside him. From his vantage point he could see clearly the variety of emotions played on the female Kurta's visage.
'Oh no, please don't make those kind of face. Not in front of him.'
When Akayuki started trembling, that was also the time that he lost his control that let his bloodlust slip for a moment. The Hunters and the bald bodyguard felt the malicious intent but before they could pinpoint where the aura was coming from, he was already out and gone from the café.