Disclaimer: Much to my chagrin, I do not own Hunter x Hunter, only some of the OCs.
Story so far: They finally arrived at Ryuuse-gai, and now was the rare chance to observe the notorious garbage-dumb city from up-close for Kurapika. At the same time, he had to put in his mind that the city was the place where Kuroro Lucifer grew up. And so a tiny-bit fragment of Kuroro's past was revealed here.
Chapter 4
ISHTAR
The sun was setting by the time they reached the Shooting Star City; Ryuusei-gai. The sky was dyed glaring orange, casting a haunting shadow upon the city. Kurapika walked close to Kuroro (unwillingly) as he observed the city life. He had expected the city to be very deprived and poverty-stricken, full of thugs and criminals. He imagined that the city would be dirty, with garbage overflowing everywhere, the pungent stench of rotting trash hanging in the air like dense cloud. What he saw held little evidence for his imagination.
Indeed the structures were poor and all the buildings were dilapidated, some had crumbled into a heap of debris, but the street was relatively clean, with only a few trashes lying here and there. Although the air felt a bit staler compared to the desert's open air, there was no suffocating smell. Kurapika was not too sure about the people, but he noticed a few different kinds of response as the duo marched down the street. The children usually gathered in a group, and they eyed the pair warily. The smaller ones would retreat behind the older ones, while the older ones; mostly the leaders of the groups, would scrutinize them with suspicions. The elders of the city either waved at Kuroro or nodded in acknowledgment to him. A few even exchanged brief greetings with him. The younger ones; those who were around Kuroro's age, looked at him with a mix of envy, or contempt, or admiration. Kuroro ignored most people, only returning greetings if he was greeted, and walked down the street with confident stride.
Kurapika, on the other hand, felt his stomach knotting uncomfortably. He had been receiving hostile and suspecting stares from the citizens, but he tried to ignore them with his best. Instead, he tried to memorise the path that they were taking; the turns, the buildings, the streets. He was jolted when suddenly there was a scream, and was stunned to see a small boy being chased by a grown-up. The boy was holding something close to his chest with both of his hands. Kurapika gaped at the outrageous scene, and out of reflex he attempted to help the boy but Kuroro refused to let him go.
"It's none of your business. After all, that's how life is here." Kuroro gestured at the cat-and-mouse chase of the man and the little boy. "The children are the more productive ones here, finding many things that can fetch good money from the Scavenger's Ground, while some of the adults prefer to rob them instead of scavenging for their selves."
"Have they no shame? Robbing from a child like that!" Kurapika was getting agitated. His eyes were still fixed to the dark alley where the boy and the man chasing after him had disappeared into.
"Do you notice that the children are all in groups?" Kuroro asked again.
"Yes. But—" Suddenly, a loud crashing sound and a man's scream were heard from the alley. Soon, Kurapika heard the cries of the children; cries alike those when children in his village were playing make-believe battles. Children started to pour from the alleys, the small boy ushered by a much older boy, the triumphant smile on their faces.
"None of the children work alone here. For safety and survival, they form groups. When one gets into danger, the others will come to his or her rescue." Kuroro said with bored tone, as if it was nothing remarkable.
Kurapika was only half-listening to Kuroro's explanation, while he observed the children. They were all dressed in plain and, surprisingly, relatively clean clothes. The older ones were better clothed. It was hard to believe that those children had to learn survival skills in such a young age, their rightfully blissful childhood robbed from them.
"Where are the parents?" Kurpika asked, eyes still glued on the celebrating children for their big catch of the day.
"Nowhere. Or rather, nobody claim to be their parents. Parents abandon their children as soon as they are able to walk and talk on their own."
"WHAT? How could they—" Kurapika turned to face Kuroro, to see whether he was just teasing him again or was telling the truth. Much to his dismay, Kuroro was not joking.
"That's for the sake of their survival here." Kuroro continued. "Those children sheltered and protected by their parents are not likely to see adulthood. Children here grow the hard way. The rule of this city is simple: survival of the fittest—and the smartest."
Kurapika gawked at Kuroro. He turned around and looked at the children again. He noticed that despite their harsh childhood, those children were still smiling and laughing. They were supposed to be playing and having fun, but instead they had to scavenge; as Kuroro had said, for their livings, they had to avoid, outrun, and outsmart the grown-up thugs, they had to work for their survivals. They grew up without knowing who their parents were. Comparing it to his own childhood, Kurapika felt so blessed that he had had an easy childhood, the massacre of his tribe put aside. Suddenly, something crossed his mind.
"Was the Genei Ryodan formed the same way?" His question was just a whisper, but Kuroro heard it clearly.
"In a way."
They talked no more. Kurapika did not want to ask more things about the horrible lifestyle of the Shooting Stars City. He had seen enough, and had no wish to probe deeper. Kuroro, on his part, had no intention to actively educate the boy of his hometown. He believed that the boy was smart enough to understand the situation by observation alone. If there was something he really needed to know or confirm, he would ask. If he had not asked, then everything was fine. He was not going to play the spoon-feeding teacher role; as he believed that he was under no obligation to do so, unless the boy inquired first.
Another thought disturbed Kurapika. If what Kuroro said was true, then Kuroro had undergone the same childhood. Such unhappy and harsh childhood, Kurapika could not help but to understand why the Genei Ryodan people; at least those who hailed directly from Ryuusei-gai, grew up to be the heartless and ruthless people they were. They had been trained since the day they could walk. Kurapika tried not to sympathise with his enemy's bad childhood, but instead tried to focus on the heinous acts they had committed. Nevertheless, the image of Kuroro Lucifer as a boy, spending his childhood day as street urchin, always flashed in his mind every time he saw another boy passing them by.
"We are here." Kuroro announced, breaking Kurapika from his deep and dark thoughts. Kurapika looked up and realised that they were standing before a dilapidated building that appeared like an abandoned temple.
Kuroro stopped briefly, regarding the buildings with a look that Kurapika could only name as a reminiscing look. He deduced that the place had something to do with Kuroro's childhood, but said or asked nothing of it. He did not want to know more about his enemies. The more he knew, the more he would understand him. It made him afraid that he would learn not to hate the man. If that day came, that would be the day that he would lose all purpose of life. Wordlessly, Kuroro resumed walking and Kurapika trailed behind him, not more than 20 cm away.
They entered through the main door into a spacious hall. The temple had been grand in its glorious days, but now only chipped marble tiles and ruined wall remained to tell the tale of its abandonment. With sure pace, Kuroro crossed the hall and stopped in front of a statue. Kurapika scrutinised the marble statue. It had been terribly worn by the weathers that it was almost unrecognisable. Parts of it were missing, and Kurapika could not longer figure out the original shape of the statue. He leaned forward with curiosity; his eyes caught a pair of glinting red gems attached on the statue. They seemed uncannily clean and new; as if weather and time had not touched it. Kuroro observed him with amusement.
"Don't get too close to it, or it will bite you to death." Kuroro said, his tone far from a warning.
Before Kurapika could digest the meaning of his words, the ruby stones suddenly blinked. Kurapika gasped in surprise and jumped a pace away from the statue. He looked at the pair of gems and he felt like a fool. The gems had been a pair of eyes; a snake's eyes. The enormous snake slithered sluggishly from the statue, its scale blended perfectly with the background colour like a camouflage. It raised its massive head and hovered lazily in the air while sniffing the air with its long, forked tongue. It turned its attention to Kuroro, who was standing closest to it. Kuroro remained calm as the dangerous-looking serpent eyed him with its beady eyes.
You are bacckkssss…The snake spoke in a hiss.
Kurapika's eyes widened in shock and horror. Not again, he thought as he inwardly groaned in exasperation. Another magical creature. So far he had encountered a genie, a siren, and now a talking snake. What else would he see in the near future? Maybe the next time he saw a dragon, he would not be too surprised. Suddenly the world seemed big and new to the young Kuruta.
"Let us pass, Basille. We wish to see the Lady." Kuroro said to the snake.
Indeeddddss…The Lady has already informed me of your arrivallssssss…The snake flicked its forked tongue at Kuroro, who was unfazed by the snake's unnerving behaviour.
The snake uncoiled itself from the statue and dropped soundly to the dusty floor. It wrapped its enormous body about the statue, and with an otherworldly strength, dragged the massive statue from its spot to reveal a gaping hole beneath. The smell of musty air rushed out of the hole.
Enteersss…The Lady awaitssss…It hissed again. This time, the snake was looking at Kurapika curiously. Unwilling to be seen as a coward, Kurapika braced himself and stood firm on his ground. The snake regarded him briefly and licked the air around the boy, before finally looked away from him and hovered about the hole.
"Come on." Kuroro tugged at the manacle.
"We are going in there?" Kurapika asked unsurely.
"Afraid?" Kuroro teased him, a mischievous smile on his lips.
"No." The boy snapped irritably at the older man.
Kuroro only chuckled. They stood by the hole and in perfect unison they jumped into the hole. Immediately, cold air bit Kurapika's face as they descended into thick darkness. Losing all sense of direction and sight, he only knew that they were still falling downwards. Kuroro seemed perfectly calm by his side, and Kurapika knew that the man was looking at him despite the blinding darkness. The free fall went on in what seemed like a forever, before Kuroro suddenly spoke up.
"Now."
Understanding the meaning of his one word belatedly, Kurapika braced his feet for the sudden landing late. Kuroro's feet touched the ground smoothly like a cat, but Kurapika's landing was loud. His legs screamed in pain as a paralyzing shock coursed up his legs, while he choked a loud gasp as he felt his leg bones 'compressed' upon impact. He wobbled but the chain linking his wrist to Kuroro's provided the support he needed from falling flat to the ground. Kuroro noticed the strong pull from his right wrist and looked at Kurapika with a raised eyebrow; a gesture that Kurapika was getting annoyed at.
"You okay?" He asked. His voice echoed softly in the damp darkness.
"And why do you care?" Kurapika muttered rudely, feeling his legs as the pain was going away. Secretly he thanked the pitch darkness, because had it been as bright as daylight, Kuroro would have seen the expression on his face; which he was dead sure looked like a complete fool.
Kuroro shrugged and waited until Kurapika seemed okay with his legs. They resumed walking in darkness together, the only sound heard was their footsteps. The dark underground reminded Kurapika of the underground cave in the unnamed ruin where Hassamunnin the genie was sealed; and where his bombastically tragic fate of being stuck with the accursed Genei Ryodan leader started. After a few minutes, finally Kuroro broke the silence.
"It seems that Basille likes you." He said absentmindedly.
"Who?"
"Basille. The snake. She is a basilisk appointed as guardian of this place, and usually won't allow anyone to enter except those she knows. But she lets you pass without even questioning or testing you."
"Oh, I'm so honoured." Kurapika said sarcastically. "But who are we seeing, to have a basilisk as a pet?"
Kurpika's suspicions rose again. Whoever they were going to see, it had to be someone powerful. Basilisks are the real deals. He overheard the mafia bosses once challenging each other to capture a basilisk alive. Kurapika had thought that it was just some legend, since nobody had ever caught a basilisk alive. Why, those who encountered one mostly died from their lethal breath and gaze.
"Ishtar, the Lady of Ryuusei-gai."
As he mentioned her name, suddenly they already reached the end of the dark tunnel. An imposing door stood before them; relief was carved unto the door, telling an ancient story forgotten by Man. Kuroro knocked at the door and waited. The knocking sound echoed in the cold darkness.
"Enter." A soft voice was heard clearly from the chamber behind the door, as if the door was non-existence and the person was speaking directly to them. Kuroro pushed the door open, and a gush of clean and fresh air escaped from the chamber. A whiff of sweet smelling fragrance escaped from the sealed chamber, and it immediately relaxed Kurapika's tense body.
Kuroro walked into the chamber, dragging the relaxed Kuruta along. As they entered, the massive door closed by itself behind them. Kurapika looked around the chamber. It was a great, spacious room, with sparse furniture. In fact, the only furniture in the room were the ridiculous number of cushions of various size, colour, and shape piled on the floor by the walls, and maroon curtains of different size and thickness. There, at the end of the chamber between two great curtains, a lady was sitting comfortably on a pile of king-sized pillows and cushions.
The woman had a regal air around her, with a mass of black curly hair framing her ethereal visage. The hair fell on her shoulder and covered half of her face, the colour a stark contrast against her deathly pale skin. She was holding a hookah on her right hand, faint wisp of smoke escaping from the ancient looking pipe. Her eyes were a pair of flawless obsidian orbs, with a depth that knew no end. She wore a black tube dress, with silk scarf draped over her delicate shoulder. The skirt of her dress was overflowing on the floor, hiding her legs. She looked at them with interested eyes.
Kuroro kept walking in an easy stride across the chamber. Her dark eyes were fixed on the woman. Kurapika followed close behind him, unsure of how he should behave. One glance, and he knew that the woman was not someone to mess with. Perhaps it would be best to let Kuroro handle the situation from now on. Kuroro stopped as he stood in front of her, and now that they were just a few metres a way from her, Kurapika realised that the faint fragrance that he inhaled earlier was much stronger. He recognised it as sandalwood fragrance.
"What are you waiting for? Grab some of those pillows and settle down. This is your home, after all." The woman said as she motioned towards the pile of cushions scattered on the floor while she cocked her head sideways with amusement on her face. The amused smile she had was so identical to Kuroro's that Kurapika almost cringed rudely at the sight.
Without saying anything, Kuroro took some of the pillows quickly and sat down. Kurapika reluctantly did the same and settled down. He looked at Kuroro, and then to the woman. The woman looked at him with great interest evident in her dark eyes.
"It is highly unusual of you to bring a companion here. And an unusual person, no less." She said, her voice high and pleasing.
"He is Kurapika, the last of the Kuruta tribe." Kuroro introduced the boy, the first time he spoke since they entered the chamber. Kurapika flinched as the man mentioned his tribe, but the fact that Kuroro sounded wary did not escape Kurapika's keen observation.
"Oh? He is the last survivor?" There was a slight emphasis in her sentence. "And I heard you went all the way to Rukuso Region to drive the tribe into extinction by harvesting their priced eyes. What are you trying to do, take responsibility?" She slipped the hookah into her mouth and inhaled the sandalwood-fragranced incense.
Her words hit Kurapika like hammer. He tensed up and his face bleached. Kuroro sat motionless by his side, undisturbed by Kurapika's rigid manner. He frowned slightly at her, as if unhappy by her small dilly-dally talk.
"Ishtar, you know what I am here for. With your True Vision…" He said with even voice.
"Of course, Kuroro. Of course I know." She waved a hand impatiently. "Entertain me for a while, won't you?" She waited for a response, but when she saw none forthcoming, she sighed "Who did it?"
"A genie called Hassamunnin."
"Hassamunnin?" She frowned. "He is supposed to be sealed. You two broke the relic." She accused them mildly.
"We did." Kuroro nodded. There was a slight pause before he added, "While we were fighting.", as he cast a quick glance at the Kuruta sitting next to him. Kurapika ignored him and stared at the woman with unreadable expression.
"I see." Again, she inhaled the incense. The smoke escaped her thin lips like a thin curtain of smoke. "You want me to dissolve the spell." It was more like a question than a statement.
"Yes." The man responded curtly. Kurapika glanced at him uneasily. Somehow, he had the impression that Kuroro was not happy to be in the room with the woman, although he looked as calm and composed as ever. It was like he wanted to get away from her presence as soon as possible. He had never seen this side of the cold and ever-composed man. Was he terrified of her? Him, the annoyingly unbeatable leader of Genei Ryodan?
"Kuroro, my boy, it is not that easy. There are rules that we have to abide by; rules that not even I can violate." She said dramatically with mock exasperation. "But I can make the conditions less…confining."
"That's good enough. And I need information…"
"On how to find Hassamunnin and make him remove the spell." She finished for him "Of course. I will give you that." She nodded impatiently. "Now off you go to the dreamland."
With that, she blew a thick smoke of her sandalwood incense towards them. The smoke surrounded them, and both of them choked and coughed as they involuntarily inhaled the strong smelling smoke. In no time, Kurapika felt his head spinning and dizzy, but at the same time it felt nice; as if he was floating.
"What—" He lost his awareness and slumped against the soft pillows. Kuroro coughed and gave Ishtar an annoyed look, before finally succumbing to darkness.
Ishtar looked at the two for a moment, regarding them with solemn eyes. Her gaze lingered on the sleeping Kuroro, and she sighed heavily. She pinched the bridge of her nose and massaged it gently. A soft slithering sound was heard, and a giant snake coiled itself around the lady. Its enormous head hovered in front of her face, its beady ruby eyes blinked at her curiously.
Why are you upseeetttssssss? It hissed as it licked the air with its forked tongue.
"I wish he doesn't treat me like I am a plague…" She stroked the snake's head affectionately. "But it was my fault that he hates me now." She mused quietly.
Basille looked at her with her great eyes, and then turned to the two sleeping figure.
What about the child with him? She asked as she slithered towards them. With one swift movement, Basille surrounded the two in one complete loop of her massive body. It hovered about Kurapika and observed him quietly.
"Ah, yes… Basille, bring them closer to me." Ishtar put down her hookah and straightened up. The snake obediently dragged them; the two of them together with the load of pillows, closer to Ishtar so that she did not have to get up in order to touch them. She leaned forwards and touched Kurapika's face delicately. She traced his jaw line with a long finger, until her attention fell on his earring. She touched it gingerly and observed it closely. When she was satisfied, she pulled back and inhaled a round of her sandalwood incense. As she puffed out a screen of thin smoke, she pulled out a small box from among the pile of cushions. She opened it and produced a small vial containing deep blue liquid. She leaned forward and opened Kurapika's mouth. With a small pipette, she put a drop of the liquid to his tongue.
"Wake up, child." She whispered to him. In no time, Kurapika stirred and groaned.
His eyes fluttered open and he clutched his head. The spinning sensation was still lingering, and his body felt strangely relaxed. It felt as if he had been awaken from a very deep slumber, and was having a sleep hangover. Kurapika shook his head to get rid of the clouds in his head, but still it lingered. The sandalwood incense was making him rather sleepy as well.
"Why are you doing this?" Came the pleasant voice from right in front of him.
As Kurapika looked up, he was confronted by Ishtar's gypsum pale face. There was a curiosity in her big eyes, and she was peering at him closely.
"Doing what?" Kurapika asked back.
"Assuming another self, instead of living as your true self. What are you planning to do?"
Kurapika's eyes widened in shock. He stared into the endless abyss of her eyes, they sucked him in, coaxing him to tell the truth, telling him that lying was futile. Kurapika's mouth parted slightly, but no words came out.
"I can see the truth, child. My True Vision betrays me nothing." She straightened up and drew the curtain of hair that concealed her other eye. It revealed an entirely white eyeball, with faint swirling silver threads, like the colour of fine marble. The colour seemed alive on its own, endlessly swirling and coiling, revealing another dimension. Kurapika gulped hard as he saw it; he knew that the woman before him was someone on completely different level. And inhuman.
"What are you?" He asked in a quiet whisper.
Ishtar gave him a mystifying smile, but did not answer him. "That's for you to find out. Although I doubt you can find it out on your own." She chuckled amusedly. "But back to my question, are you really okay with this?"
Kurapika looked at her warily. Knowing that the woman could see the truth, no matter how eloquently one lied, really put him under great pressure. Especially when she was asking for top-rate classified secret. Somehow, he understood why Kuroro did not like being around her. When she stared at him, it felt like he was being peeled layer by layer like an onion, all his defence useless before her, until she finally reached the core of his soul, where all truths were laid bare. His soul felt naked before her. When he looked at those marble eyes, the stripped-off feeling was intensified. He had to look away from her.
"Ah, pardon my intrusion." Ishtar let go of her hand and her hair fell back to cover her milky eyes. They then fell into a deafening silence. Ishtar took her time observing the Kuruta's reaction to her words.
"You are lying to your self, and I don't think it's healthy. What drives you to do such pitiful action?" She asked again, this time her voice was much gentler, and there was a hint of concern.
"Pitiful? This is for my own safety." Kurapika answered. Oh, the incense was making him light-headed.
"Safety? So that you can survive long enough to get your revenge on the Genei Ryodan?" Ishtar took her hookah and inhaled again.
"Yes. I need to make them pay for killing my entire clan. Before that, I will never be able to rest in peace." He answered monotonously, like a rehearsed speech.
"Hmm… Even by sacrificing your true self? Isn't that the same as killing your own self? Your soul is tortured by the shadow of your past, by the hatred that haunts you like a plague, and by your own self-denial. Why deny your true self? You will regret this in the future." She said in a quiet, serene voice. She closed her eyes briefly. "Your body may still be alive, but your soul may be dead at one point of time. Are you okay with that?"
"…I have made my decision." Kurapika pressed his eyes closed and gritted his teeth. He knew the price was heavy, but it was not like he had any other better choice. Ishtar regarded him for a while, judging him quietly.
"I see." She said as she blew a thin curtain of smoke.
"Don't tell anyone." Kurapika suddenly said, with urgency in his voice. "Especially him." He said with a much quieter voice as he glanced at the still sleeping Kuroro. Ishtar let her eyes lingered about Kurapika for a while, before nodding.
"Very well."
"May I ask you something?" Kurapika asked again, his voice unsure.
"Ask me, and I will answer if I can or if I see as fit." She said with the subtle authority in her tone. Kurapika hesitated for a moment, and then glanced again at Kuroro tentatively.
"Are you his mother?"
Ishtar blinked at his question, and stayed muted for a few seconds before breaking into the most captivating yet sorrowful smile he had ever seen of her. She chuckled softly.
"I wish I were." She said in an almost whisper. "I raised him, but the boy won't call me mother. I don't think he will ever do." She shook her pretty head and her curly mass of black hair bounced about her face gently.
"You raised him? But he said children were abandoned here in Ryuusei-gai." Kurapika frowned at the contradiction.
"Indeed that is the unspoken law laid by the citizens. In his case…" Her voice trailed away and her gaze fell on Kuroro. She looked at him with longing eyes, but sighed once again. "I won't tell you anymore."
"Huh?" Kurapika had thought that the lady was eager to tell him of her relation with Kuroro, but suddenly something occurred to her and she changed her mind.
"Regarding his past, his childhood, his history, it is not my right to tell them to you. If you want to know, ask him." She said firmly, her tone decisive.
"Oh…"
Somehow, Kurapika was rather disappointed. It was not like he was eager to know Kuroro better, but he had been confused, befuddled. Here, in front of him, was a woman, a refined lady, who was inhuman (so far he could tell), yet was very gentle and mother-like towards Kuroro, the ruthless and cold-blooded killer, who had murdered his entire clan just for their eyes. The presence of a mother figure did not match Kuroro's bloodthirsty nature of a murderer. Something was not right of his upbringing, or his past, and it bothered him. He wanted to know why. What had moulded him into the murderer he was? He also noticed Kuroro's effort to set a distance between him and the lady, while the lady tried to bridge the chasm. It was ironic, and it definitely irritated him. Kuroro had taken her for granted, while Kurapika was craving for a mother figure himself; for his mother had been brutally murdered 5 years ago by Kuroro's order.
"Well, I am done talking with you." Ishtar inhaled another round of her incense and blew it towards Kurapika. Again, the smoke surrounded his head and it cajoled him into a dizzying sleepiness. Before he succumbed into deep slumber, he heard Ishtar's distant voice.
"Don't worry, I won't tell him of our secret little talk."
"How many years has it been?" She leaned against the soft pillow behind her and closed her eyes. "Ten?"
"Close to it." Kuroro answered coldly. He had been surprised to find himself in close proximity to her when he woke up from his incense-induced sleep. But then again, he really should not have been surprised.
"And you never visited me, not even contacted me once." She sighed.
Kuroro said nothing, but merely looked at the sleeping Kuruta. He had never deliberately observed the boy closely when he was sleeping, but this time, he noticed something. It was either he was hallucinating due to her incense, or he was just seeing it for the first time. The boy looked very feminine when he was sleeping; no scowls and frowns, just the innocent face of 17 years-old boy. It was like he had transformed into an entirely different person. Ishtar noticed his sudden interest in the boy and chuckled.
"Tell me more about that child."
"…There is nothing more that I can tell you about him. I've told you all I know. Now enough of this small talk." He demanded impatiently.
"Impatient as ever, Kuroro?" She shook her head dramatically once again. Kuroro gave her a glacial glare, but said nothing. She sighed again. "Fine, fine. You are such a difficult child."
Before Kuroro could protest, Ishtar blew another curtain of smoke to induce sleep in him. As soon as Kuroro had fallen into deep, undisturbed slumber, Ishtar straightened up. She looked at the magical manacles linking the two sworn enemies.
"Come out, Hassamunnin. I know you are there."
You got me, lady. You are as sharp as ever. You have my utmost respect. A ball of faint blue light extracted itself from the magical chain and floated in the air. The small genie appeared in a puff of blue smoke and bowed at her in a gentlemanly manner. Ishtar laughed at his pretended good nature.
"Don't try to woo me, Hassamunnin. You know it will not work on me." She smiled at him. "Now, let's get down to business, shall we? You know what I want."
Tsk, I bet the boy learned his manner from you. The genie pouted and crossed his arms across his chest unhappily.
"You think so?" Ishtar leaned back against her pillow lazily, but inwardly she was happy to hear that. "Now for the business."
I won't break the bind. I want to see how their story will end. The genie stated firmly, and nothing would change his decision. Besides, I stay true to my spell!
"I know as much, boy." Ishtar inhaled and exhaled her incense. "But even I am interested in how their relationship will develop. Sworn enemies bound by chain that intertwined each other's life. One dies if the other one dies. How ironic."
So what do you specifically want me to do?
"What can you do for me?"
Hmm…The genie turned around and regarded the two sleeping form. Maybe I can do something about the chain.
Ishtar raised an eyebrow. "Elaborate."
You see there. He pointed at the magical chain. They are restricted to the chain in their wrist. I can change the restriction to involve the entire body parts, not only their wrists.
"Meaning they can now move their hands freely and are still restricted to the distance of their link, but in a more flexible manner."
Yes. Be it their legs, or arms, or even hair, as long as they are in the allotted space the link gives them, it will be fine. The genie nodded.
"Hmm… That's good enough. Do it."
With a pout due to annoyance of being ordered around, the genie turned around and did his work with a swipe of his hand. The chain disappeared, but in exchange, their entire body was surrounded by thin layer of Hassamunnin's aura (or curse, as they dubbed it). Satisfied with his handiwork, the genie turned around to Ishtar to await some praises.
"Well done." She said. "Thank you for the answering my request."
Oh, it's nothing really. I will do anything to please you, my lady. Again, he bowed respectfully. But I really have no idea why someone of your office would want to invest most of you time and energy to raise a mortal child. He said again as he looked at Kuroro with a new interest. Why?
"Why, indeed?" She put a hand and leaned her chin against her palm, her elbow rested on the fluffy pillow while her other hand was still holding the hookah. She closed her eyes and recalled the night that she had met Kuroro for the first time. The rain, the lifeless bodies, the blood, the look on his face, those eyes. She still remembered all vividly, as if it was only yesterday.
"Maybe I fell in love with him at the first sight." She whispered to herself.
With a kid? Now Hassamunnin sounded genuinely surprised, if not mortified. I never knew you are a paedophile.
"Not in that sense, you idiot." Ishtar glared daggers at him. The genie shuddered as her eyes penetrated him. If looks could kill, he would have been mutilated into unrecognisable pieces by then.
Well…If you have nothing else to do with me, I'll be off…
"Hassamunnin?" She called at the genie before he dissolved into a blue smoke.
Yeah?
"You'll be keeping an eye on them?"
Of course.
"Come to me immediately…" She hesitated for a second. "…if it happens…"
The genie regarded the lady for a while. The regal woman, Lady of the Ryuusei-gai, eyed the sleeping Kuroro Lucifer, head of the Genei Ryodan, with a motherly look. And she was not even a human. The genie's face softened.
I understand. You really do care about this kid, don't you?
"He is my boy." She smiled gently.
Say… The genie looked hesitantly at Kuroro. Does he know of what you really are?
"No, he doesn't."
I wonder what he will feel…A mischievous yet thoughtful smile graced his impish face. If he knows that he has been raised by a Medusa?
Author's Note: For those who anticipate humours, I'm sorry if this chapter is very dark and is lacking humours. We're talking about Ryuusei-gai here, so I think it can't be helped (I guess?). Lots of things to explain here. First, Scavenger's Ground is the name of the garbage dump where the Ryuusei people scavenge for goods. I just dubbed it on my own =P Also, Ishtar's the name of some goddess, but she's not a goddess in this story. Sandalwood fragrance is also said to attract snakes, so yeah, I think it'll be suitable since Ishtar is a medusa and she has a basilisk as a pet. This past of Kuroro is entirely made up by me, so for those who disagree with this, forgive me…-_ - Isthar is an enigma, no? Hehehe… As for her first meeting with Kuroro, I'll write it down on another chapter. The True Vision is also made up by me.
Next: Ishtar warned Kuroro that an abnormality might happen with Kurapika, but would not say exactly what. Which left Kuroro wondering about it. Who would have guessed that his wonderings would be answered so soon, and so accidentally?
