Pixie says: Hello! Here's the seventh chapter! Thanks for the review, faves, and follows! You'll be seeing a bit more of Kurapika from here on out ;] Please let me know what you think!

Kurapika understood that this Relay plan had not been carefully thought out. Not many of these minor underground characters wanted to have anything with human trafficking to do, whatever form it came in, so the competition against him to get this girl, Leorio's friend, was quite low. However, they did end up earning over 29 million jenny, for this round, so it didn't all go to waste.

He sighed as he texted the amount to Leorio, who was lightning quick in transferring the money to Kurapika. The auction hall's lights were dimmed again, and Kurapika made his way backstage with Senritsu on his heels.

He found the girl sitting down on the ground with her back resting against the wooden wall. She was visibly shaking from shock, the cold, and over exertion, but no one from the auction crew paid her any mind. She was a commodity among commodities- not a living thing in their eyes. This realization made Kurapika's stomach twist with rage and disgust.

Before he and Senritsu could get to her, however, they were intercepted by the host.

"Congrats on your winning bid, sir," the man said with a false smile plastered on his face. "If you'd be so kind as to transfer the money to this account, you will be able to pick up your item."

Kurapika clenched his hands into fists when he heard how casual the host was. He kept his poker face on, however, and merely accepted the paper the host had offered him. He quickly transferred the money to the account, and the host's phone gave a satisfying buzz after a few moments.

"Thank you for your co-operation. We hope to see you again at the next auction," the man said, before gesturing towards the girl and bowing slightly. He then disappeared to deal with the next winning bidder.

The girl continued to stare blankly at the ground as Kurapika and Senritsu approached. Senritsu's face twisted in concern as she saw the girl's shaking and nearly lifeless form.

Kurapika gently got down on one knee in order to be at her eye-level, but the girl didn't move. She didn't seem very aware of anything.

"Kurapika- she's going into shock," Senritsu told him softly and he nodded.

"Nikita," he began, his voice soft, calm, but authoritative. "My name is Kurapika. This is my colleague, Senritsu. I am friends with Leorio. We're going to help you get home."

At the mention of Leorio's name, Nikita slowly lifted her head up to meet Kurapika's gaze. He saw now that she had been badly beaten up, but layers of make up had been used to cover it up. Her already fuller than normal lips were swollen and split, and he could see the faint hints of a contusion starting up around her right eye.

"Can you lessen your aura? You're draining yourself out," he asked her, but she shook her head very slowly. Frustrated, Kurapika sighed before dialing Leorio's number on his phone.

Within seconds, a freakishly hyper Leorio had answered, demanding to know if she was okay and what was going on. Kurapika had to hold the phone away from his ears to spare himself from the hearing damage Leorio would have given him. Senritsu chuckled softly.

"Leorio," Kurapika answered evenly. "Her aura won't stop flowing. What should we do?" he asked, and Leorio was very quick to reply.

"Give her the phone."

Kurapika did as he was told, pressing the phone against Nikita's ears gently. She didn't seem startled by the sudden touch.

"Nikita, are you okay?..." Leorio began to talk to her, and Kurapika was surprised to see tears well up in her eyes. They began to flow continuously as she listened to his voice.

"Leorio," she choked, her tears falling on her filthy sweat pants and soaking a circle on the material. "I'm so s-sorry," she stammered, and her eyes widened in sudden realization. "I-I think I k-killed some of th-them…I didn't mean it, b-but-"

Leorio cut her off almost immediately. "Nikita. We have to focus on getting you home first, okay? We can talk about what happened when we see each other. See the blond know-it-all next to you?" Kurapika didn't even flinch at that. "He's my friend. He'll take good care of you till you're back here. But we need to get your aura in order first, alright? Remember the first time I met you? We went through a guided relaxation together, right? Let's do that again. So, close your eyes…"

Kurapika and Senritsu watched as Nikita's breathing became less rough and her shaking diminished, but did not stop completely. They witnessed her aura get sucked back into her body. However, as soon as she had accomplished this, Nikita's head rolled onto the side and she lost consciousness.

The drive to Regent Hotel, where Leorio and the others were staying, was uncomfortably silent, thought Senritsu. The frustrated heartbeats of her colleague starkly contrasted that of their passenger sprawled over the backseats. Hers were soft and desperate, and the girl's gasping was only amplified in the silence. It seemed that even though she had collapsed from shock and exhaustion half an hour ago, her body still hadn't recovered enough to stop her heavy breathing.

"This was a ridiculous detour," Kurapika said gruffly after a few more minutes of silence, and Senritsu sighed deeply in relief.

"It was your idea to drive her to them," Senritsu noted.

"I don't want them having anything to do with my work. Plus, if they saw us with them, it would have been risky. They might have been associated as body guards alongside us, making them an unnecessary target," Kurapika replied, still gruff as he made a sharp turn.

Senritsu saw him steal a glance at Nikita through the rearview mirror. And his heartbeat changed pace.

"Hmm?" Senritsu asked, motioning for him to speak his mind.

Kurapika sighed, yet again. "I haven't had much contact with them, so I don't know when she showed up. It just feels strange to hear all three of them fuss over her like that," Kurapika told Senritsu, knowing that it was pointless to lie or keep quiet. She'd get the gist sooner or later.

"She does seem special to them. Not to mention, her aura was something extraordinary," Senritsu agreed.

"Yes. But something feels off. I'm worried that this might be a trap of some sort," Kurapika added, and Senritsu furrowed her eyebrows.

"I didn't detect any hint of deception in her heartbeat. Then again, I didn't ask her directly, but she seemed genuinely relieved and happy when she heard your friend's voice on the phone," Senritsu told him, and Kurapika shrugged.

"We're almost there. Let's just get this over with as soon as possible and head back to the boss."

Within a minute, Kurapika had parked the car in front of the hotel. He saw Leorio's figure sprint through the doors to greet them. Before Kurapika could even step out of the car properly, he was bombarded by questions.

"Kurapika, it's good to see you. How is she? Is she hurt? What happened?" Leorio asked, breathless from his sprint from his suite.

Kurapika sighed softly before opening the door to the backseat. Leorio's breathing hitched as he saw her frail body over the seats.

"Her tibia has been rebroken," Kurapika stated plainly. "And her immense aura has had a negative toll on her body. She's fatigued and will need a few days to recuperate physically. I don't know about the extent of emotional damage though."

Leorio gave Kurapika a sad smile. "Rebroken? They did this to her? You'll have to tell me everything, but let's get her inside first. As for emotional trauma- don't worry. She's strong. She'll pull through." And with that, he ducked his head into the car and took the girl into his arms. The sudden tactile sensations were enough to pry Nikita out of her desperate rest. She opened her eyes slightly and was met with the bespectacled gaze of Leorio.

"Leorio…" she said softly, her voice wavering slightly with exhaustion. "Where am I?" she asked, looking around dazedly.

"We're getting you back into the hotel room now. Climb on my back," he instructed her, turning around. She didn't hesitate to put her weak arms around his neck and he hoisted her up, being careful with her leg. Kurapika and Senritsu watched as she buried her face against his back, tears of relief quietly flowing out of her.

Just as Leorio was about to make his way into the hotel lobby, a familiar figure came dashing out to greet them.

"Mr. Paladiknight! Nikita!" Seif's voice called out, his eyes wide at the scene. Two dangerous looking people, along with a concerned Leorio and a broken Nikita did not seem like a good thing.

"Seif, it's alright-" Leorio began, but before he could continue, an authoritative Kurapika stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"Sir, everything's under control and taken care of. Please do not get yourself involved," Kurapika told him, and Seif's eyes widened as he glanced from Kurapika to Leorio.

In the midst of the haze of her fatigue, Nikita managed to open her eyes and meet his gaze. She smiled softly, in what she hoped was a reassuring way. "Seif, it's fine. I just hurt my leg again. I'll be alright by tomorrow," she told him, and he couldn't help but gulp down his words at the sound of her voice. He had no idea what was going on, but if Nikita was with Leorio, she should be safe. So, he nodded and stepped back, allowing the four of them to head inside.

On the way, Senritsu gave him the key to their car and smiled apologetically. "She's in good hands," she told him, and he nodded again.

The ride up the elevator was quiet and tense, with everyone focusing on the sound of Nikita's laboured breaths. The ring sounded as the elevator door opened, and Leorio led them through the red-carpeted corridors to the suite he had rented.

A second after opening the door, Killua had taken a hold of Nikita and put her onto his back so swiftly, the action could barely be seen. Without a hello, he made his way to her room. Nikita was startled by the sudden change in movement, but when she opened her eyes and saw pure white hair, she drifted peacefully to sleep, knowing that she was still safe.

Kurapika and Senritsu stared after the boy as Gon stepped into view. "Sorry about that. Hello, Kurapika! Long time no see!" He then turned to the shorter woman beside him. "I'm Gon," he introduced. "And that was Killua."

"Senritsu," she bowed her head slightly before staring after the boy again. His heartbeat was troubling her.

Sighing, Leorio made his way to the coffee table and ushered them all to sit. He poured himself a glass of wine and offered the two visitors. Kurapika politely declined, while Senritsu took him up on his offer.

"I think Killua feels slightly responsible for the whole thing. I'll have a look at her when he's done settling her in," Leorio explained, which had Kurapika raise an eyebrow.

"Responsible how, exactly?" he asked.

"He was with her when she was kidnapped. They took her right under his nose after distracting him with a poisoned dart. I don't think he's at fault, but that doesn't change the way he's thinking." Leorio sipped at his glass, before running a hand through his hair. "So, who should begin?" Leorio asked, and both Senritsu and Kurapika shared a glance.

"Perhaps it would be wisest if you start," Senritsu suggested. "To begin at the beginning."

Killua tried to lay Nikita down as gently as possible onto her bed. She didn't stir, so he took it as a good sign, though in retrospect it could have meant that she was so out of it, she wouldn't have felt him banging her head with a hammer.

He turned on the night lamp by the bed and was surprised by what he saw up close. Nikita was sprawled on the bed, her long dark brown hair escaping her bun in messy locks over the pillow. He saw that make up had been used to cover up the beating she had received, but some of it had begun to fade with time and sweat, revealing bruises and split, swollen lips. Quietly, he made his way to the bathroom and wet a small towel, before returning to her side.

He was aware of how fast his heart was beating with relief. She had been placed under his care, and he had failed to protect her when she needed him most. He began to softly wipe away most of the make up from her face and neck, and his breath hitched as more and more evidence of her abuse was revealed. He knew that by tomorrow they would be gone, but that didn't stop the anger seeping into his chest.

He knew that her leg was broken again, from the angle that it stuck out in as she lay on the bed. Silently, he formed a plan in his head. They would not get away with this so easily.

As Leorio finished his story, Kurapika and Senritsu retold the events of the evening. Leorio's face contorted with rage at the mention of how they had snapped her leg in half again, but Gon was caught up with something else.

"What did you say the man was called?" Gon asked, when they were done.

"He was a doctor. I don't recall his first name, but his last name was Matts," Kurapika answered, and Gon gave Leorio a pointed look.

"Could it be Rojai Matts?" Leorio asked tentatively, and Senritsu nodded immediately.

"Yes, that was it," she told them.

"I'll be heading out," Killua's voice suddenly called from behind them. Everyone turned to look at him, but his eyes were hidden under his hair. "I've got some… errands to run," Killua said ominously.

"Want me to come with you?" Gon offered, but Killua shook his head.

"No, thanks. I'll take care of this on my own." He made his way to the door. "She's asleep. I wiped most of the make up off of her, but I couldn't do anything about her leg."

"I'll take care of that," Leorio said, and with that, Killua was off.

"I almost feel sorry for the doctor now," Gon said gingerly at the prospect of what Killua was about to do to him.

"He had it coming," Leorio replied shortly, angry at the fact that a doctor, someone he had trusted, who had been in the same line of business that Leorio hoped to be in one day, had done such a thing.

"Leorio," Kurapika began sharply, leaning over and touching his fingers together in thought. "Are you sure you are doing the right thing? You are a hunter now, both you and Gon, and Killua is a member of an elite family of assassins. These are grounds enough for someone to try to infiltrate you and gain your trust, only to stab you in the back later."

"I've had that in my mind," Leorio said, smiling softly. "But I don't think she's capable of that. I am relying on my gut and that of Gon's. If he doesn't sense anything wrong, then I trust him. Killua has also taken a liking to her, and he's the most suspecting of us," Leorio explained.

"Gut instinct is not a good way to justify your trust in this girl. A good spy could easily fake conditions such as these," Kurapika countered.

"But what about her aura?" Gon asked innocently. "It's different. We think she might be from another world. I've never seen or heard anything like it before."

"You haven't been a nen practitioner for long," Kurapika tried to joke with a smile, but it fell short. "I can't come up with a good explanation for her aura, but what I'm trying to say is that you should keep your guard up. You've already lost money because of her. Don't lose anything else- especially your lives- trying to protect her."

"Are you suggesting that this whole auction could have been staged?" Leorio asked, incredulously.

"It's plausible. So keep your eyes open," Kurapika warned them. Just then, his phone began to buzz and he cursed as he got up. "Excuse me," he said bluntly, before making his way to the kitchen.

"I guess I should go bind her leg," Leorio said, and Senritsu stood up with him.

"I'll help," she said, and he smiled kindly at her offer.

In her bedroom, Leorio tried to bind her broken leg to the best of his abilities without a cast. Senritsu helped him as much as she could.

"He worries for his friends, even if he might seem a bit… aggressive with his warnings," Senritsu told Leorio, and he smiled slightly, knowing she was referring to Kurapika.

"He has changed, but I'm glad to hear he still cares. I haven't heard from him in a while," Leorio said softly.

"He's been busy with his personal affairs, this job being one of them," she told him, and he nodded.

"Can't stop him once he's gotten his head in, eh?"

Just then, a light tap was heard from the door and they both turned to see Kurapika standing there, looking slightly pissed off.

"The boss wants us to stay here for a while," Kurapika stated bluntly.

"Why?" Senritsu asked, and Kurapika had to stop the urge of rolling his eyes over the boss's reasoning.

"He's into solving problems that don't exist whereas I prefer preventing them. He thinks it's a good idea to stay here since we're between them and the airport, as well as the desert. If something were to happen, we could react quicker than the rest."

"I see…" Senritsu said. "Then, I could go down and rent a room," she said, as she began to stand up.

"Or…" Leorio suggested, nicking his head at the two beds on the opposite wall of Nikita's room. "This might be safer for you guys, right? We have two empty beds anyway, if you don't mind sharing with Nikita, and you won't have to use your names to book any rooms. More economical, too," He said, and the two of them shared a glance.

"I don't think you understand what you're getting yourself into-" Kurapika began but Leorio scoffed.

"Oh, please, I've been stuck with those boys for barely two weeks and we've gotten ourselves into heaps of trouble. Not to mention people might be looking for Nikita and others like her. I don't think you're even able to make life more difficult for us than it already is."

Kurapika didn't like his argument, but he knew it would be safer not to use their names, especially since both he and Senritsu were new recruits of the Nostrade family. Their names and descriptions were not up on the Hunter website yet, and he would like to keep it like that for as long as possible.

"Fine," Kurapika sighed. "Senritsu, what do you say?"

"I think it's a splendid idea."

And so it was done.