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: 4 months of not updating, gosh… What kind of author/writer am I? But seriously it goes to show how real life can get to you, I had actually miscarried on April and had to get a surgery in a hospital, so… yep, would be awhile before I'm considering a second child again… Alright, nothing else about me. This chapter is gonna be the introduction of the infamous Spiders, just they're criminals without Nen.

Italic font indicates a character's thoughts, singing or feelings.

He looks like a cross between four to five types of animals.

Horns like those of a male yak.

His face is like that of a dog mixed with a bear, and he had a black mane despite having brown fur all over his being.

Although he walks two legged like a person, his legs looked like it belonged to a wolf for it has paws instead of toes. The Beast is only clad in dark pants and a cloak so his bare, furry upper body shows.

Last but not least he wears a pair of old fashioned glasses. He is the oddest creature he had ever laid his eyes on.

''No, Kurapika! I won't let you do this!''

Kurapika regains his composure, letting go of the metal bars of Pairo's prison door, then steps into the same beam of light that had helped him to get a proper look at the sentient beast earlier. He takes a deep breath, trying to appear calm in front of the Beast. With determination and a resolve, he finally says, ''You have my word.''

The Beast threw his own cloak behind him, and said with finality, ''Done!'' He didn't bother to look at Kurapika and just walked towards Pairo's prison door to unlock it with an old, rusty key. Kurapika, who finally felt relieved that his best friend was being released, collapses to the floor with his hands covering both of his eyes.

No, not now, don't turn scarlet now.

He heard the door being unlocked, then Pairo clumsily rushing over him to pull at his arms.

'' Kurapika! Listen to me. I'm an invalid, a cripple! I'll probably die sooner than most people! I've lived my life— argh!'' The Beast roughly grabbed Pairo by the collar of his shirt. He quickly dragged the brown haired inventor outside, with the rain already stopped, and throws him into yet another talking object, a wooden carriage with wheels this time. He could hear Kurapika running after them while telling him to wait, but the Beast decided to ignore it.

''No, please spare my best friend! He's only one who could bring revival to our people again!''

''Pairo! You know that's not entirely true and it's supposed to be our death sworn secret!''

''You have more chance of continuing our eye's legacy than me so I'll do anything to keep you safe! You don't even know if this monster would eat you!''

The Beast felt curious at first as to what Pairo could be talking about, however once he had heard the young inventor implying that he's a cannibal, he growled in anger and ordered the wooden carriage to take him back to the town where he's from. ''Blonde boy is no longer your concern!'' The wooden carriage did as the Beast ordered and it started moving its two wheels on its own, without even needing a horse.

Kurapika, who was feeling utterly heartbroken, kept looking on until the wooden carriage slowly fades away into the dark woods where he knew it would eventually lead to the path towards the town they both had recently lived in.

He unconsciously sheds a few tears. While he is not one to cry easily, but he had always felt isolated when he's living with the towns folks due to them not understanding him fully, not knowing about his secret identity as a Kurutanian that inherited the much priced Scarlet Eyes, and even made fun of his interest in reading. He never knew that he could be feeling such loneliness even more now, being a prisoner in such an odd castle with a hideous beast as its owner.

Meanwhile, the Beast had walked up the stairs that leads to the prison chambers. Sources had told him that somehow, the blonde kid had kept to his words and did go into one of the prison cells. He felt that he should at least try to be friends with this kid. It's not often he meets someone interesting and yet loyal like Kurapika.

''Um… Master?''

''What! This better be good, Pokkles!'' the Beast angrily warned the talking candle whom he knew was trotting behind him.

Pokkles was nervous but nonetheless he can't help suggesting an idea, he did feel bad for the pretty-looking blonde. ''Since the lad is going to be with us for quite some time, I was thinking that you might want to offer him a more comfortable room.''

And, like always his master growled angrily at him. But he is used to the Beast's temper so he just shrugged and said, ''Then again, maybe not.''

Soon they entered the cell where Kurapika is. He had stopped crying, but he didn't turn to look at the Beast despite knowing that he had entered. Kurapika seems to be tired, and depressed at the same time. His large brown eyes looked bloodshot, with dark circles appearing under them. After a few more moments of silence between them, the blonde boy resentfully said to his captor, ''You didn't even let me say good bye. I'll never see him again.''

The Beast wasn't sure why, but those words made him feel a little guilty. Memories of his own childhood best friend, Pietro, who was long gone due to an unknown disease, resurfaced in his mind. It felt quite similar to the predicament that this blonde boy is going through right now. So in a way, the Beast knew how it feels like not being able to see a loved one again.

''I'll show you to your room.''

That did surprise his prisoner. Kurapika certainly thought that he will stay in this prison cell for eternity. ''My room? But I thought—''

''You wanna stay in this vermin infested room?''

''Not if I have a choice.''

''Then follow me.'' The Beast motioned for Kurapika to come, so that he'll be able to lead him to his new room. As they proceed, Kurapika begins to lag behind.

He looks at the hideous sculptures on the walls and the light casting shadows on them. Feeling a little spooked, he and runs to catch up with his captor, who is carrying a candle as a light source. The candle is Pokkles, of course, but only the inhabitants of this castle would know.

''Say something to him, you gotta win his heart.'' Pokkles whispered to the Beast. ''Shhh! Do I have to? He's my prisoner. It would be different if he's a girl though.''

Pokkles looked impatient and replied, ''Come now, the enchantress didn't say that you must love a woman. It could be anyone as long as it would break this blasted spell.''

''Darn it Pokkles, I'm not a dirty, perverted ass poking gay!''

Kurapika could hear the Beast talking to someone at this point but he wasn't sure if this sentient monster is actually talking to him, or, another weird object that this castle seems to contain, the wooden carriage being one example. So he hesitantly asked, ''Why do you mind if you're a homosexual? I had read in books that even animals could be attracted to the same sex.'' Heck, even someone with a respectable occupation like Kuroro is attracted to a guy like me…

''Hmm? Oh. It's not that I mind, but more like, I always knew I'm into women anyway.''

''With your appearance, I doubt any woman would approach you.'' Weird, is this implying that he is actually a human? I might try to find out later.

''Shut the fuck up kid. Mine your own business! The castle is your home now so you can go anywhere you wish, except for the West Wing.''

Kurapika looked intrigued and boldly asked, ''What's in the West Wing?''

The Beast suddenly stopped in his tracks and yelled, ''It's forbidden!''

They continued walking and soon they reached the room that has been prepared for the blonde. The door opens on its own, and light starts to spill in the room, revealing its pristine furnitures and expensive wallpapers. Certainly a much better place to be in, than the unhygienic prison cell.

''Now kid, if there's anything you need, my servants will attend to you.''

Pokkles used this chance to whisper to his master's ear. ''Invite him to dinner. Spend more time getting to know him, sir.''

The Beast somehow has something against people telling him what to do, but he knew that Pokkles only meant well for the sake of everyone who is cursed in this castle, so he obliged. ''You...will join me for dinner. THAT'S NOT A REQUEST, MISTER SMARTY PANTS!''

BAM!

The cursed prince leaves, slamming the door behind him. Kurapika, terrified and indignant at the same time, runs over to the bed and flings himself onto it and he buries his face in a white pillow. He is aware of his own strong emotional state, and he didn't want any of the servants who might enter into his new room to see his eyes flashing a bright scarlet.

A group of men and women gathered in an inn at the same night where Kurapika became a prisoner to a mysterious castle. It looked like they're having an important meeting, for each one of them have a serious look on his or her face. A familiar looking young man with jet black hair stands in front of them. He is none other than the famous antique collector, Kuroro Lucifer. Apparently he had paid the owner of the inn a large amount of gold, just so that he would call it a day earlier and get every customer to leave the place. No one is supposed to enter the inn except for the said group of people that Kuroro had chosen.

''And hence, pleased to have you all here to join me, ladies and gentleman. I have called every member of the Phantom Troupe here to discuss about the subject of my interest, the new blonde boy in this town.''

''He doesn't look like he would own a fortune though, so no point targeting him, or even robbing his house, Kuroro.'' Phinks, a man without any eyebrows, rolled his eyes after he said this.

''Fool. Kuroro actually wants him for a personal reason.'' A gigantic man with various piercings on his face, whose name was Franklin, replied to Phinks.

''So, what are we supposed to do with him, leader?'' Shalnark asked cheerfully. Despite his muscular frame, he has an innocent, boyish face.

The three women in the group, Machi, Pakunoda and Shizuku, sighed and looked dejectedly at their leader, Kuroro. They certainly didn't like the idea that the man of their dreams is trying to pursue another man and they can't do anything about it. It is an unsaid rule in the Phantom Troupe group that the leader's orders comes first, and would be absolute in most cases unless it involves the survival of its members. Since Kuroro trying to get Kurapika as his lover won't kill them, the three women just didn't feel like going against Kuroro.

''I want some of you here to disguise yourselves as ordinary people with mundane jobs. What sort of job is up to you. When Kurapika happens to walk pass by you shall talk to him about normal subjects, but eventually it will lead to me. Have him think that I'm not such a bad individual and perhaps it would be wiser to try to be friends with me.''

A man in a samurai outfit snorted. ''You really think we all have that much time stalking a kid and get him to like you, leader? What are we, matchmakers?''

''Nobunaga, I am not finished. I've already expected this coming from some of you. And yes, approaching Kurapika does have its benefits. He may not own valuable items, but he has no need for such trivial things, when he is literally a walking treasure.''

Everyone in the dimly lit inn perked up. Nothing interests them more than the chance of getting more gold. And they would stop at nothing, going against social norms and morals. They are in truth, criminals, who delve among the towns people. They are extremely skilled at hiding and impersonations, to the point where no one would suspect that they had committed any crimes at all. And with Kuroro's positive influence over the majority of the people in this town, it would help the group in many ways.

''So, you aren't actually in love with him, leader? But with the way you allow him to humiliate you this morning, I would have thought that you are.'' Machi, the pink haired girl asked.

Kuroro smiled slightly. ''It's to lower down his guard. For us to actually attack him would be fatal. We will be reported and targeted by the locals living here, since Kurapika is quite well known, despite being a loner around them.''

''Wow, and here you've got us all fooled too. That's too cool, leader.'' Shalnark cheerfully laughed.

''Hurry up and tell us already what do you mean by he is a walking treasure!'' Nobunaga yelled excitedly.

The leader of the group appeared to be in deep thoughts. ''Remember the group of tribes people with special eyes that we massacred this year? I have a strong feeling that both he and Pairo are actually the survivors of the Kuruta tribe. But I'll still need more proof about this.''

Please leave a review and let me know if it has possible plot holes. Its what I came up with in order to get the Phantom Troupe into a such a story. Arigatou!