Accident #7 : Life Ain't Burger King (You Can't Always Have It Your Way)

Blue hair slightly swished back and forth as she let her petite figure sway in sync to the music, humming cheerily to herself with eyes closed.

"Neon," Light Nostrade called out from his seat, pouring another glass of wine and placing it down on the Ralph Lauren table in front of him as he waited for his daughter to come over and for once, sit down and stay still in one place.

Neon Nostrade, however, remained blissfully oblivious as she tiptoed her way through the granite podiums lining the 50 tables that dotted the dark room, giggling and humming continuously.

Attempting his best fatherly voice, Mr. Nostrade leaned forward and beckoned for his daughter again. "Neon, you have been dancing heartily ever since we arrived here. Won't you like some refreshments? Or a break, at least?"

"Are you gonna stay the night (we get burned)?

Doesn't mean we're bound for life (we never learn).

So-oh-oh-oh, are you gonna stay the-"

"Neo-"

"I'm coming, okay, Dad?" Neon snapped as she turned around, pink-glossed lips in a childish pout. "Even when I still haven't finished enjoying myself, I'm coming there right now." Muttering a few grumbles under her breath, Neon briskly moved away from the dancing crowd and walked to her father's table.

"What is it this time, Dad," Neon sighed aloud, flipping some of her blue hair back. "Another son of your business partner want to talk to me again? But I've already told them all, and you, that I'm not interested. I only have my sights set on-"

"The chairman of Genei Ryodan, you've repeated that countless times to me already," her father laughed lightly, cutting in mid-sentence. "And since it's your twentieth birthday tonight, won't you like to meet some people first before you go back to the, um, dance floor?"

Neon harrumph-ed sideways, childish pout still in tact. "Dad, the Delirium's Den doesn't HAVE a dance floor. This is like, a posh private party with only invited guests no more than sixty. So really, anyone can dance anywhere because the party is everywhere." Looking at her father just made Neon pout further. "And you won't even let me."

Guilt trip, Mr. Nostrade tried not to break a sweat as he recognized the warning signs of his daughter's incoming temper tantrum. Guilt trip, a little silent time, then her emotions will go off like a bomb, no matter the time and place.

Mr. Nostrade kept up the fatherly half-smile, although his lips were already twitching from the effort. "Now, now, daughter, it's your special day tonight: of course I'll let you do anything you want! When did I ever resist you? I'm just saying that you need to ...meet a certain person first so your birthday would even be more special. Consider it...one of my gifts, something of that sort. Don't you find that likable, Neon?"

"I've never found any of the match-making dates you've set for me as likable," Neon grumbled, hands now playing with the ends of her hair. "Tonight won't be anything new, Dad. I know that already. So could you please just let me spend my birthday my way, dancing and drinking to my heart's content?"

Mr. Nostrade tried again. "But the reason I insisted on getting us an invitation here, aside from the fact that their opening night is exactly on your birthday, is to make your, um, so-called 'dream date' come true!"

Fingers playing idly with hair stopped, dropping a little too quickly on her lap. Neon excitedly leaned forward, all traces of sulking gone. "Really? REALLY, Dad? You mean-"

Thank the heavens, Mr. Nostrade thought while nodding eagerly at his beaming daughter. "Yes, Neon. Your Mr. Chrollo is here. And in just a few moments, I will talk to him into arranging a date with you." He then picked up the almost forgotten glass of wine on their table, shaking it lightly. "Isn't that what you wanted all this time, dear?"

"Are you kidding?" Neon slammed her hands down on the table, face lit up with an ear-to-ear grin as she stood up. "It's EVERYTHING I've ever wanted! Thank you, Dad. You're the best! I forgive you for interrupting me tonight with the best gift EVER. I love you!"

Clapping her hands together, Neon starting bouncing on her toes, uncaring that she hit a daily news anchor's shoulder in the process. "Then I'm off to find your birthday present for me, Dad! I'll just come back here as soon as I find him, okay?"

"But he's still-" Mr. Nostrade tried to stop her overly-excited daughter, but Neon disappeared through the jiving bodies faster than the blinking lights overhead.

He and the others are still being interviewed by a few big-shot reporters. But then again, when did Neon ever care about something like that.

Child wants it, child thinks she should get it.

~O~O~O~O~

Chrollo drowned the Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Burgundy wine as if it was mere water. Calming the natural instinct to jerk his whole body away whenever somebody got too close for comfort, Chrollo smiled his professional smile: a smile that solely meant business and nothing else.

Unfortunately, most women were slow-witted to acknowledge his purpose as it is but quick-witted to interpret it as something else.

Women.

"Ne, ne, Kuroro-kun: have I told you already that your smile is too dazzling? You should smile more often! Hmm, I wonder what makes you smile a-oh, I know! Since you're fashionable like me, why don't we talk about clothes and preferred brands? I have a feeling we love the same fashion designers!"

Topping the said list of women was one of tonight's VIP guests, the only heiress of Mr. Nostrade who is the head of the elite Nostrade family and Nostrade Corporations: Neon Nostrade. Childish, immature, bratty Neon.

"I'm wearing a dress called Predict by Mikaelo Liscrossa. Don't you think the orange and silver tones compliment each other really well? Mik-kun said he named this dress as Predict so I 'could predict stunning enchantment with this divine dress'! Strange, I know, but I love the sound of it!"

As Neon huddled nearer to his side, cooing as a bee would to its honey, Chrollo maintained his grimace well-hidden.

Or maybe half of it. At the other side of the animal-skinned sofas sat Shalnark, silently mouthing a, "It's her birthday today, Danchou, please just bear with it a bit more" while sweatdropping. He then turned his attention back to a woman with glasses who was obediently jotting down in her little notepad. "So Mr. Shalnark, what inspired you to establish yet another club in the heart of Yorkshin?"

Shalnark looked at his Danchou one last time before smiling his usual smile at the private reporter. "Hmm, I guess during our business trips with Danchou? I mean, I just took one look at this place and decided that the people here-the truly rich people here-might need some fun to spice up the humdrum atmosphere. After all, socialites wearing Jimmy Choos and jewellery don't want to rub up against the kids in their sneakers and jeans, right?"

"Very true, Mr. Shalnark," the woman nodded, jotting down again in her notepad. "Entering here, we have noticed the amount of billionaires over here is staggering. From famous musicians, company owners, actors...impressive, really. Especially when it's just the first opening night."

"I know right," Shalnark answered lightly, toying unconsciously with his Vertu Signature Diamond phone. "When I made that speech after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, there were already lots of guests giving me their business cards and you'd already know that more than half of them are-"

"How about you, Kuroro-kun?" Neon's high-pitched voice almost made Chrollo wince. "I've always adored those fashionable fur coats and long-sleeves of yours! Oh, and also your dark blue suit tonight...who made that? Gosh, I would love to meet your personal stylist!"

"I don't have any, Ms. Nostrade," Chrollo replied formally, taking another sip from his wine glass. "I wear what I want when I want it."

"Well, that's good then!" Neon giggled enthusiastically. "For a moment there, I thought the rumors about your secretary and you as an item were true. Now that you've cleared things up for me, our date for next week is still on, right?"

What date, Chrollo raised one eyebrow. But realizing that the question was a useless one and would only make Neon babble on some more, he let it slide and opted for another question. "Rumors about my secretary and me, you say? I apologize if my ignorance will rub you the wrong way, but...what could those rumors be? And from whom did you hear them?"

Chrollo chuckled softly then, shaking his head as if saying "never mind". "Oh, I really apologize if I'm not up-to-date with recent news and I'm asking you so many-"

"No, no, it's nothing, it's fine!" Neon was quick to shake her head and raise her hands up. "Nothing you do can EVER rub me the wrong way, you know! Just read it from this month's Paparazzi Press issue, that's all."

Bingo.

"They hinted that you were...hmm...getting cozy with your female secretary too much. They said that the next issue will fully elaborate on your relationship with her, photos with her...my gosh, it was a really tempting sneak peek, you know? Although I don't think there's anything to be worried, since I know Pakunoda and you personally anyway and...oh my gosh, I didn't notice that we already ran out of drinks!"

Neon started wiggling her fingers in the air, until a waiter rushed in front of their table. "Where's the waiter? Waiter! Refill our drinks please? Two more Romanée-Conti Grand Cru Burgundy bottles for me and Kuroro-kun here."

Neon's cheerful obliviousness to serious matters nearly urged Chrollo to hit himself with one of his antique books. Repeatedly. "Could you remember who was in-charge of that 'sneak peek'...or who will be in-charge of the upcoming issue?"

"Waaa...hem, I can't re-mem-ber," Neon replied replied in a sing-song voice, lively blue eyes scanning the 1000–year-old saur tree top table in front of them. "I only remember that they were boasting of more gossip and more pictures to come. Gosh, I am so buying the next one! Maybe on our date next week I'll pick up a copy, since it's already March by then?"

More gossip, more pictures to come.

Meaning, those people are still on the prowl for more information. Really, he should've known.

"Eh?" Neon rested her chin on her hands, still droning on. "I heard Shalnark say the bottle service here is impeccable. Two minutes have already passed and our wine still isn't here."

"An unfamiliar group of journalists stopped by during your appointment with Mr. Sakamoto's daughter, Danchou, " Pakunoda was the first to greet him as he walked into his office days ago. "They said they are representatives from the Paparazzi Press, a journalism firm. When I heard the name they were associated with, I forbade them to personally interview you and immediately sent them away , despite the fact that they seem to be new faces."

"A second, more personal background check?" Chrollo asked, not looking up from the papers he was signing.

"Naturally, Danchou," Pakunoda replied as she readily brought out a folder. "And if you would allow me to add, I personally think I have made the right decision."

"In sending them away?" Chrollo asked, reaching out for the folder. "I would have done the same, so there is no need to worry."

Nudging Chrollo with her shoulder, Neon asked, "'Ne, Chrollo? Did Shalnark talk to you about that five-minute policy he set? Do you think he'll really fire a waiter if within five minutes, the drink still isn't served? What do you think?"

I think there has to be a law for not being courteous enough to mind, or rather, "respect", the boundaries someone set for his personal space, especially when he's in deep thought. And yes, whether you're a birthday celebrant or not. "I do hope it doesn't lead to that, Ms. Nostrade," he shrugged nonchalantly. "It's opening night, and I'm sure everyone would like to see everything flowing smoothly."

Biscuit Krueger, Leorio Paladiknight...the list went on as he lightly breezed through the papers. However,a picture of the mess-maker who spat out amusing obscenities at him was nowhere to be found.

So she wasn't really included in that group, eh, Chrollo thought, contemplatively putting a finger near his smirking lips. Too bad for her, then.

And too fun for me.

"Wah, you really think that?" Neon pouted at him. "I was hoping to see someone break that policy, honestly, so I could see for myself if it's true or not. That would be fun, you know! And appropriate too, if you ask me. The customers here are no ordinary people, so the service HAS to be impeccable. The crowd demands it. Myself included!"

But then again, different kind of reporter or not, the way she defended the "journalists" from Paparazzi Press definitely showed her loyalty and closeness to the ones involved in hunting him down.

"Will this be all?" Shuffling one last time through the folder's papers, Chrollo looked up expectantly at his secretary.

"Is there something amiss, Danchou?" Pakunoda asked, noting his searching eyes. "I could run another background check on ALL their employees, if you are-"

"Not necessary," Chrollo held up a hand. "I doubt they have gotten enough information to make the article they need anyway."

Chrollo's instincts for tonight begged to differ.

More gossip, more pictures to come.

These third-rate journalists would stop at nothing to squeeze out more money from him. Hadn't he learned a lesson or two from his childhood already?

Chrollo narrowed his eyes calculatingly, formulating together the incomplete bits and pieces of information from Neon and from his subordinates in the past few days.

Since Pakunoda attended another business meeting in his stead, he needed someone to discreetly run over tonight's guest list without causing the slightest fuss.

Machi. He needed Machi.

~O~O~O~O~

When Kino Muriyama balanced the silver platter with two bottles on his arms, catching a glimpse of his wrist watch as he straightened up, he immediately paled.

Squinting through the darkness filled with the people he admired (not even the wild neon lights could conceal how famous those faces are), Kino tried to keep his composure up and swiftly waded through the crowd.

4 minutes, 4 minutes.

Almost there, almost there. Just four tables away then turn left. Their table is located at the Den Royale, that slightly elevated spot there with a gold python skin as designs and exclusive portraits of a shapely woman hanging on the wall.

Can you say truly rich?

3 minutes, 3 minutes.

Kino could almost see the blue-haired lady, grasping her companion's arm rather intimately. Mr. Chrollo scored another socialite date, maybe?

Alright, time to put th-

Kino wasn't sure what happened, aside from the loud smash and a female voice cursing, "Gadzooks!" resounding in his ears.

When Kino Muriyama came to his bearings, he found himself kneeling on the floor, his silver platter in front of him, now empty.

When Kino Muriyama looked up, he saw a dark-haired woman kneeling in front of him as well, the wine bottles in front of her, now shattered.

"SARDING HIGH HEELS SARDED UP MY SARDED FEET! That Ma'am Bisky and her duckspunking sense of...cripes, are you okay, Sir? Ugh, the camera almost got wet by these MOTHERSARDING wines! Can you stand up, Sir? Sir?"

"Yes, yes," Kino replied absent-mindedly, looking around. I can stand up.

5 minutes. 5 minutes.

Actually, I don't think I can now.

AUTHOR'S CORNER:

Hisoka: *building his sixth pyramid card* But doesn't that give poor Kino~chan more time~Five minutes plus five minutes is equal to ten minutes and~

Author: *staring at Hisoka with a WTH look* Nice try, Hiso-kun. Nice try on being funny. Personally, I'm proud of this chapter. And I'm so excited for the next chapter: my OC will definitely curse up a storm again. Girl power, yesh! *pumps fists up and forward like she's exercising* *hits Hisoka's pyramid card*

Hisoka: *silently looking down, sitting still like a creepy statue* Author~chan~

Author: HURREH SHITLINGS! I am so...I didn't mean...I'll just...beta my own chapter, thank you for everything! *knocked her seat down as she ran away*

Hisoka: *gathering his playing cards on the floor with an "I'm-turned-on" smile* Ooopssieee now~look what my dear Author~chan just left behind~ *reaches for the laptop with a wider smile*

Hisobae taking over for the next chapters doesn't sound too bad either, right, Hunters? Or am I just biased. *facepalms*

Gosh, I can't wait for the next chapter myself. I'm also looking forward to Erena meeting Chrollo, Neon and the others and what kind of shit will go down this time, hahaha! XD I hope you guys are having fun reading it as much as I had fun writing it. Whenever I gather the courage to re-read my previous chapters, man, I can't believe I'm putting our fave Danchou in a rom-com. DEEEEYM. X)

Answering Reviews, my fave part XD :

sunlightxiii = I hope I'm not making you cry. I've already made many people cry because of my ENTP cruelty, pleaaase don't! XD I'm trying SO HARD not to get distracted by the chocolates given by our neighbor from the U.S. here so...here's your chapter, cheer up my bruh! And I'm so glad everyone's buying my relationship with Hisobae as if it's true. XD *sits like a boss* FVCK YEAH, Machi. Look at me now. XD

Niomi Nicole287 = Whew, thank you for understanding! And as for Bisky in the previous chapter...her fangirling tendencies and, uh, "treasure hunter" self really showed up, 'ne? XD You know what they say: once a fangirl, always a fangirl. Hahaha! XD

Alright, just additional notes before I schwing off, I mean, I SIGN off:

(a) You can see Neon's dress for this chapter here: (www . great glam pd - predict - orange. cfm)

I just found it funny that while I was Googling dresses that would fit Neon, I saw the name of this dress. And since in the original HxH series...yeah, you get it already, I know. *winks* I own nothing, though.

(b) I based off Delirium's Den from Singapore's most expensive club for them rich kiddos all over the world: Pangaea. I read Forbes' article about it, so there you go. Again, I own nothing. Personally, I am not a fan of clubs. And while I love listening to party music, I'd rather party in my room and eat, read books, stuff like that. XD And about the five-minute policy of firing the server when the drinks take much longer than that? Yesh, that's from Pangaea too: actually, their real policy is within TWO MINUTES! Like WTF, them poor waiters... :O

(c) Shalnark's phone here is also on the Top 10 List Of Most Expensive Phones In The World. Just Google it.

(d) I just got Mighty Bond Instant Glue all over my fingers while trying to fix my earphones. Oh wait, you didn't need to know that... XD