Unconditional Loyalty
Summary: Kurapika is a Kurutanian beauty but keeps it a secret for his and Pairo's safety, he's also the bookworm that doesn't fit in among the towns people, and Leorio is the cursed prince all thanks to his own attitude. Both are from different worlds, yet they suffer from the same feeling of isolation. A parody of Disney's Beauty & The Beast. Alternate Universe setting.
Disclaimer: I certainly do not own anything of the Disney franchise, and I don't even own Togashi sensei's wonderful works for the Hunter X Hunter anime and manga. This is purely for fan entertainment, and to fulfill my craving for writing a Leorio and Kurapika centered fanfic.
Pairings: Leorio and Kurapika, slight Pokkles and Ponzu.
Author's note: MINNA! Forgive me, I know its been 4 months since I last updated, but real life has caught up with me. Christmas, and then Chinese New Year, and the baby son being sick, and lastly I'm preggars so there's so much to do. I'm so sorry. To make it up to everyone who had been waiting, I made this chapter much, much longer, and this time there are more happenings between the characters. At last, Kurapika meeting with Leorio here! Hope you all will enjoy it.
Italic font indicates a character's thoughts, singing or feelings.
Kurapika was sitting cross-legged while getting his mind into his new book's story plot when suddenly there's a knock on the door.
It must be the tax collector boy, Killua.
Sure enough it's the well known white haired boy who got himself quite popular in the town with his mysterious air, and not forgetting his love for anything that tastes like chocolate. Collecting tax from the townsfolk has been his family's business for decades.
And lately the people had been gossiping about the rumors that Killua had taken over his eldest brother, Illumi's place to do the family's business right after Illumi left the household to start his own assassin career. Killua didn't particularly enjoyed doing this job, but he knows fully that his whole family depended on him so he can't complain.
While tax collectors are notoriously hated by the majority of the people, Kurapika's kindness and level-headed attitude didn't prevent him from seeing some goodness in the white haired boy. So it's natural for Killua to choose Kurapika and Pairo's house LASTLY to collect their taxes, as he puts it, 'will make the day seemed better after getting rude glares from those idiots.'
''Hello again Kurapika! Oh hey, where's your buddy?''
''He left for the inventor's fair so I'm here to keep house.''
''Well let me in already and that will be 500 zennies.''
Kurapika had to chuckle at this sarcastic but quite adorable side of Killua. He knew that the younger boy hated to admit that he just likes to come in because he needed someone to talk to, and also, because Kurapika will often leave a chocolate cake on the kitchen table. It didn't take long for the two lads to make some small talks while Killua greedily munch on the chocolate cake. However their conversations were interrupted as they heard a few knocks on the door.
''You know what to do.'' Kurapika whispered to Killua.
''I hope I could fit into your cupboard. Tsk.''
Then Kurapika nonchalantly called towards the door, ''Who is it?''
''It's just me, Kuroro Lucilfer.''
What does that egoistic bastard want this time?
The blonde boy opens the door, and was surprised to see Kuroro standing at his doorstep, wearing a grand, expensive black blazer. He also carries a bouquet of red roses. If his eyes are not tricking him, he swears that he could see a short, fat man hiding behind the bushes that are planted just outside his house. Tompa? Kuroro actually brought him here too? But what does someone like Tompa get from all this nonsense?
Kurapika refrained from rolling his eyes and decided to play innocent, just to see where this is going.
''Kuroro-san, what a pleasant...surprise.''
''Giving people surprises is my forte. You know, Kurapika, there's not a girl in town who wouldn't love to be in your shoes.''
''What? Do I need to tell everyone that I'm a boy again?'' Kurapika sarcastically asked.
''My point is, you're lucky that I have set my eyes on you. You hold a special place in my heart, and for that reason your gender becomes irrelevant. This is the day your dreams come true.'' Kuroro sweeps his black tresses charmingly as he said those flirtatious words.
''What do you know about my dreams, Kuroro Lucilfer?''
Kuroro plops down in the same chair Kurapika had sat on earlier, and take his new book. He begins to flip through the pages of the book and said, ''I can give you thousands, or even millions of these books, as my wealth permits it. You longed for an adventure? Easy, I'll take you to places that you've never been before.''
''Again I'll refuse. I'm not one to waste someone's fortune.''
''No, Kurapika. See it this way. It doesn't look appropriate for rich men to court their lovers, only to make them stay in mansions. Surely it helps to give themselves better impressions by spoiling their lovers.''
''Hmph. Imagine that. It's nice of you to treat me with luxuries while you'll continue on putting down other people,'' Kurapika takes back his book, places a mark in it, and puts it on the shelf nearby.
''I'm not certain why other people should matter to me. They're all boring simpletons to begin with,'' Kuroro mockingly yawned. Then without warning, he swiftly walked towards the shocked blonde boy and corners him until there's no chance for him to escape.
But unfortunately for Kuroro, Kurapika is just as good as him when it comes to planning for strategies. The antique collector was stunned in return when he saw his prized possession flutters his long, thick eyelashes at him. Even Kurapika's normally serious voice turns… adoring? Sweet? What is going on?
''Kuroro, sir, I'm speechless. I really don't know what to say,'' Kurapika gently puts his left hand on Kuroro's right shoulder while his right hand slowly reaches for the doorknob that he could feel poking into his small back.
''Say you love me.'' Kuroro was getting to close to kissing Kurapika on the lips and it made Kurapika panicked but he quickly regained his composure and started acting quick.
''I'm very sorry, Kuroro-san, but I just don't deserve you,'' and right at the moment Kurapika twists the knob and the door opens outward, Kuroro loses his balance so he trips over the door steps and he fell into a puddle of mud that had been formed right outside Kurapika's house. It had rained yesterday so the muddy ground isn't dried up completely yet.
Tompa, who had been hiding in Kurapika's bushes that were planted by the sides of the house, took this as a queue to come out and helped Kuroro up. He had to control himself from laughing at Kuroro's muddy appearance, knowing that the antique collector would hurt him in ways he cannot comprehend.
''Hehehe, ahah, so, how did it go? You got him right? Just as I predict will happen!''
Kuroro angrily pull up Tompa by the neck collar and give him a glare that could kill. ''You are paid to keep watch until Pairo left the house. You have no business to stay around like a busybody.''
After Tompa profusely apologized, fearing for his life, he was dropped to the ground and Kuroro walked away from Kurapika's house, never felt so dejected, not to mention embarrassed in his whole life before. Tompa quickly runs in the opposite direction that leads to his own house.
Later Killua came out from his hiding place and he rolled on the floor, laughing madly about the whole 'courting' incident. ''You should see the way he fell down! Serves the pervert right! Can't believe that the high and mighty Kuroro Lucilfer would get tricked like that!''
However Kurapika didn't find it funny; instead he was indignant and infuriated. ''Can you imagine Killua, he asked me to be his dirty gay lover! ME! The lover of that vain, insensitive…''
Mister Lucilfer, can't you just see it,
Mister Lucilfer, your little boy toy?
No sir! Not me, I guarantee it,
I want much more than this provincial life...
The Kuruta boy walks into the pen and feeds the farm animals while Killua just look at him. Then Kurapika runs off singing into an open field overlooking a beautiful valley.
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere,
I want it more than I can tell,
And for once it might be grand,
To have someone understand,
I want so much more than they've got planned…
All of the sudden, he could hear a familiar clucking sound, and Birdie showed up, running towards his blonde owner. Kurapika could tell the giant hybrid bird was in a great fear, so he petted its back gently to calm it down. Killua walked towards the bird as well, wondering what could be the problem with his friend's loyal pet.
''Birdie! What are you doing here? Where's Pairo? No… he's not with you! We have to find him, you have to take me to him!'' Kurapika wasted no time and he climbs on Birdie to ride on him, while bidding Killua goodbye. Killua looked worried but nonetheless nodded, and realizing that it's getting late in the evening, he decided to just go back home. His family is probably waiting for him to come with the collected tax money.
After a few hours of riding on Birdie, and relying on the fresh foot prints formed on the slightly muddy ground that looked like it belonged to Pairo, Kurapika was shocked to see the foot prints stopped at a castle's entrance gate.
What is this place? For some strange reason I haven't heard of anyone in town mentioning about a castle before. Something else is up and Pairo might be in there.
The blonde Kuruta gets down from Birdie and tied him to a nearby tree, assuring it that he will come back. Slowly he enters the gate and sees muddy shoe prints on the castle's concrete floor. More than ever he is convinced that his best friend is inside this building. Carefully he opens the castle's large front door, peeping into the dark room. He sees nothing but a few furnitures placed randomly.
Meanwhile without Kurapika knowing, there are actually two more occupants in the dark room, Hanzo the clock, and Pokkles the candle.
Both of them are discussing about the earlier events that involved Pairo who was locked up in the prison chambers.
''Couldn't keep quiet, could we. Just had to invite him to stay, didn't we? Serve him tea, sit in the master's chair, pet the pooch.'' Hanzo sarcastically remarked to Pokkles.
Pokkles crossed his arms, and replied, ''I was trying to be hospitable.''
Their discussion didn't last long because soon they jumped in surprise at the sound of a person's footsteps in the room they're in. Then they could hear a young person's voice that asked, ''Hello? Is anyone here? Hello? Pairo? Pairo, are you here?''
Of course the voice belonged to the ambiguous looking young lad, Kurapika, as he ascends the grand staircase and searches for his best friend. In just one night, this castle has a second visitor, and both Hanzo and Pokkles aren't sure of what to do.
At the castle's kitchen, Miss Mito the teapot is standing next to a tub of hot water. She was preparing to give the teacups turned children some washing, when her nephew, who is also her adopted son, Gon, yet another talking teacup, come hopping in and shouted, ''Mito-san! There's a boy in the castle!''
''Now, Gon, I won't have you making up such wild stories.''
''But really, Mito-san, I saw him!''
Mito would have none of it and take it as one of a child's way of getting her attention. ''Not another word. Into the tub to clean yourself.'' She lifts up Gon by the base and put him into the tub. But someone else came into the kitchen seconds later to confirm that Gon is indeed telling the truth about a second visitor. This time it's a feather duster that has a female sounding voice. Everyone knows her to be Ponzu, who works as the castle's cleaning maid when she is still a human.
'' A girl! I saw a girl in the castle!'' Ponzu excitedly exclaimed to Mito. Gon pokes his head out from the water filled tub and said, ''See, I told ya! Oh but Ponzu, it's a boy…''
Back to the dark room where Kurapika first entered, Hanzo and Pokkles had hid behind a wall to peek at their new guest; to them it looked like a pretty girl in a male outfit. ''Did you see that? It's a girl!'' Pokkles happily said to his clock companion.
''I know it's a girl. So what? She has to leave this castle soon.'' Hanzo wasn't as enthusiastic.
''Don't you see? She's the one. The girl we have been waiting for. She has come to break the spell!'' Pokkles wasted no time and proceeds to follow after the blonde visitor.
After walking pass a few more large rooms, Kurapika advances down a narrow hallway, still not noticing that the talking clock and candle are following him. Hanzo and Pokkles sneak up behind him and open the door that leads to the prison chamber where Pairo is being kept. The door creaks open and Kurapika hears the sound, feeling puzzled. He swears that no one is here, and yet the door somehow opened?
Hanzo hides behind the door to the prison chamber and Pokkles rushes off to keep following Kurapika. Kurapika decided to try calling out again to see if there's anyone around. ''Hello? Is someone here? Wait! I'm looking for my friend!''
Total silence. It made Kurapika's heartbeat race. He wondered again how a door opened if there's not one living person nearby. ''That's funny, I'm sure there was someone...I-I-Is there anyone here?'' At this point Kurapika had walked pass a few prison cells, all of them had doors made of thick, strong wood.
A boy's voice echoes from one of the prison cells. It belonged to none other than Pairo! ''Kurapika? Why do you come here?''
Kurapika quickly run to one of the prison cells where he knew Pairo was locked into. The prison's door is made out of hard wood, with metal bars in the middle as its window. ''Oh, Pairo! I almost can't believe this!''
''I should say that! How did you find me?''
Kurapika didn't bother to answer him; instead he holds both Pairo's hands to examine his state of health. ''Your hands are like ice! We have to get you out of here!''
''No, I want you to leave this place.''
''Who's done this to you?!'' the blonde yelled indignantly. Kurapika was too emotional to calm his own voice down. He didn't realize that this would cause himself to be heard by the Beast, the master of this castle. The Beast who was downstairs had been hearing Pairo talking to another unknown person, thus he rushed up to the stairs that eventually will lead to the prison chambers.
Fuck… Yet another intruder? Won't these bastards leave me alone?!
Pairo looked frightened at this point, but not for himself. He didn't want Kurapika to end up being locked up here too. So he tried to reason with his blonde friend again, ''No, you must go now. Before that monster sees you!''
''Whatever monster it is, I won't leave you!''
Suddenly, the Beast grabs Kurapika's shoulder and whips him around. He dropped to the ground and looked all around him in anxious curiosity. He tried to make out the Beast's appearance but it was too dark outside Pairo's prison. However he could make out a tall, large furred being wearing a cloak.
''What are you doing here?!'' roared the Beast.
Kurapika choose to be bold and asked back,''Who's there? Who are you?''
''The master of this castle!''
''I've come for my friend. Please let him out! Can't you see that he's sick?''
''Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!''
''But he could die. Please, I'll do anything!''
''There's nothing you can do. He's my prisoner.''
''Wait! Take me, instead!''
The Beast was about to yell back in anger at first but after he heard those selfless words coming out from the blonde, he was surprised. ''You! You… would take his place?''
''No! You don't know what you're doing!'' It was Pairo's turn to yell.
Kurapika then decided that this is the right time to make a bargain to the Beast, ''If I did, would you let him go?''
The cursed prince had to think for awhile, if having this beautiful blonde staying in the castle would benefit him. At last he figured that its less of a hassle to keep this beauty compared to the boy who obviously have weak legs and eyesight. ''Yes, but you must promise to stay here forever.''
Right after this Beast agrees to the bargain, Kurapika ponders the situation and realizes he still can't see the captor. So he started to ask for this weird, humanoid creature to come closer to a light source, just so that Kurapika could see how he actually looked like.
Back in the Kuruta village, we are used to all sorts of strange animals and creatures, I wonder if he would at least looked like any of them.
The Beast reluctantly drags his legs, then his whole body into the beam of light that is near the blonde. And, finally being able to see him from head to toe, his eyes growing wider until he can no longer hold in his own shock and fear. Kurapika gasped, going back towards Pairo's prison door and hold onto its metal bars.
Will I even survive in this castle with such a hideous, hostile creature as its master?
I appreciate reviews and criticism, and thank you everyone once again for your patience.