Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter

Story so far: After some days of self-retrospect, they finally reached the first town. They encountered Hanzo, who invited them to his country to attend the Grand Opening of the National Museum there. With intention to get the Scarlet Eyes there, they set off to that country, only to run into some problems yet again.


Chapter 16

ONSEN!


She looked past the thick, broad window of the blimp, down to the miniature-sized towns below the thin cumulus cloud. She was going to retrieve yet another pair of Scarlet Eyes, and of course with Kuroro Lucifer in tow. The bind was still annoyingly there, and although she wanted to deny it, Kurapika had to admit that having more and more personal space was surely a nice change to have. For example, right at that very moment, they were sitting facing each other, both seated in the luxurious sofa of the business class that the blimp provided.

"It's unusual that you are willing to spend a handsome amount of money just to get this private room." She remarked with slight suspicion.

"Well, I am not exactly a frivolous person, and at the same time I am not stingy as well." Kuroro shrugged while putting down his glass of wine. "Although it would be wonderful if we had used your Hunter License; we could get more than this."

"Excuse me, my Hunter License is absolutely useless since the day you brilliantly faked my death. I am not going to risk getting discovered by Nostrad by using it even for once! Anyone with Hunter License and the right amount of money can track down any usage of other licenses across the world." Kurapika complained.

"I know, I know. Shalnark told me all those already." He leaned back against the cosy sofa and relaxed.

"But I was wondering…Why don't you just get yourself a Hunter License? The whole process will be a breeze for you." Kurapika asked with a frown.

"I have no special need of it. Besides, by joining the Hunter Organization, your name will be recorded. I hail from Ryuusei-gai, so unlike you and Shalnark, politically I do not exist. I prefer not to have my name recorded anywhere. I value secrecy and independence." He gave Kurapika a lopsided smirk. "Besides, with or without a Hunter License, I can get whatever I want."

"How conceited."

Kurapika rolled her eyes in vexation and turned to look down at the civilization below the crowds of clouds out there. Kuroro was right, of course. He was overqualified to be a Hunter, and he was clearly able to get his hands on whatever he wanted, no matter how elusive and hard to get the items were. Her thought then wandered to a certain issue that they had just dealt a few days ago.

"Will Fino be alright?" She absentmindedly mumbled.

"She'll be fine." Kuroro took a sip of his wine again. "We've explained everything to her and she looked anything but excited."

She sighed again, this time out of exasperation due to a certain man's placid attitude. She knew that he might have just calculated everything, but still it grated her nerves to see him so carefree and laid back. In all honesty, it made her feel inferior and unprepared.

XXX

It was just as Kuroro said; a few days ago they decided to store the Scarlet Eyes temporarily in the Prancing Pony Inn. They had gone there, greeted the owner politely, and dragged Fino into one of the rooms and then told her all about their circumstances. It was a bold move, but there was no other choice. Rather than wasting their time with silly dilly-dally talk, as Kuroro said, they should just get down to business. They omitted, however, the part about Nen. Time was scarce enough at that moment, and so they had not explained about Nen and all to Fino, although Kurapika made a promise to herself that she would teach Fino about Nen someday in the future.

"I see. So that's what it's all about…" Fino nodded in understanding.

She did not seem frightened, and Kurapika was somewhat amazed by it. She had expected Fino to have a kind of violent reaction towards the genie and bind matter, being the country girl Fino was.

"So, where are these things you want me to keep for you?" She asked them with expecting eyes.

"Here." Kuroro showed her the floating eyeballs, and expectantly, Fino screamed her lungs off.

"Eyes?"

Kurapika sighed as her shoulders sagged in weariness. She had never liked it when she had to tell the story of her clan's again and again. "Well, you see…" Then she briefly told her history and her objective of collecting all 36 pairs of the Eyes, although she purposely let out the fact that Kuroro was the one who murdered them.

"Oh , I get it." She said with rather calmer voice, yet her face was down with gloom. "I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. That's a very daunting job, Kurapika. You're lucky to have Kuroro with you."

"Yes, very lucky." She muttered sarcastically as she gave a sideways glare at the man in question. "But I'm sorry to impose on you, Fino."

"Big deal!" Fino laughed and waved her hand in front of her face, dismissing Kurapika's uneasiness. "Besides, I'm happy that you trust me."

And so that was how they stored the first three pairs of Scarlet Eyes in Fino's inn.

XXX

"Besides…" Kuroro suddenly added. This grabbed Kurapika's attention and so she turned to face him, as she awaited his next words. "It's a safety measure as well."

"Safety measure?" Her brows were instantly knitted into a deep furrow.

"I thought it would be best to put you and Nobu in separate rooms. I don't want you two to engage in meaningless quarrels, like before."

The moment Nobunaga had spotted Kurapika with Kuroro in the airport, he almost lunged at her throat with her katana ready. Fortunately Machi was there, so she dragged him back before he could wreak any havoc in the airport and gave more troubles to their Danchou. Kurapika, on the other hand, was giving Nobunaga a hard time by jeering at him with obvious contempt. Kuroro had to drag her away before she could verbally assault Nobunaga with her most caustic remarks and aggravated the situation.

"Why, thank you so much for your kind consideration." Kurapika said sardonically as she leaned back against the sofa.

"Don't mention it. I'm doing it for my own sake as well."

Kuroro put one leg above the other knee and was totally relaxed in everything. Truthfully, if he was to stay in the same place as Nobunaga, the latter would endlessly ranted negatively about Kurapika, and he did not like it; not even for a bit. He had known the chain-assassin more than anyone else, and he knew that she was anything but an agreeable companion when dealt properly; her sarcasm habit aside. If anything, he actually enjoyed her companionship.

"And speaking of that, why in the deuce are you letting them to tag along?"

"They insist on coming. Besides, I heard Cloud Hidden Village is Nobu's and Machi's supposedly home place."

"I thought they were born in Ryuusei-gai?" Kurapika raised an eyebrow.

"They were among the babies who were dumped to the city." He said with offhanded demeanour, as if it was nothing big.

"Oh." It was all that she could say in response. Technically, Nobunaga was one of the Spiders whom she really despised, and Machi was the one she would try to avoid due to her piercing coldness and indifference, but after hearing this little fact, she could not help but to feel a tiny-wee-bit of sympathy. Well, she would tolerate them for the moment. They were, after all, visiting their home country after so many years.

"Let them have a vacation, once in a while." Kuroro added as he sipped his wine.

"Aren't you all always on vacation?" She said with rather scoffing tone.

"Well, I guess…" He chuckled with a small, amused smile tugging at his lips. "But, we may need them for backup if we are going to get the Eyes no matter what."

"Liar. You just want to loot the place." She said in a derisive manner, and at this Kuroro raised an eyebrow. She might have somewhat accepted Kuroro as a person; being by his side constantly for a few months already, but the Genei Ryodan as an organization she still despise it with every fibre of her being.

"I am not so much a conceited person. It's the grand opening of the National Museum, surely you can imagine how tight the security will be?"

"What's this? Are you saying that you mobilise the entire gang just to help me get the Scarlet Eyes?" Kurapika asked in disbelief. Really, the man just kept surprising her with his whimsical antics and irregular behaviour pattern. Or was it just her who was not prepared to accept his kindness?

"You can say so." Kuroro shrugged, as if it was really nothing big. "I did promise you to collect all the Eyes, didn't I?"

Kuroro might not notice it, since he was busying himself to admire the scenery outside the blimp, but Kurapika was turned stiff the moment she heard him saying that promise. She could not get that particular sentence out of her head, whenever she despaired over the daunting task of going around the world to collect every single pair of the precious Eyes.

Really, I don't understand this man…She wondered.


"Yo, Kurapika! Welcome to the Cloud Hidden Village, my hometown!" Hanzo greeted her with open arms.

"Thanks for fetching us, Hanzo." Kurapika said politely. "And sorry to make you arrange our accommodations."

"Oh, don't mention it! Everything's set and ready for your service, Ma'am!" He said with a thumb up.

Kuroro and Kurapika exchanged a quick glance to each other. Both mentally agreed that Hanzo adapted to the fact that Kurapika was a girl so quickly that it seemed unnerving. By the time they reached the airport, it was already evening.

"The opening will be in two more nights. I proposed to you to come earlier because there will be festivals and bazaars before the event. So I was thinking of letting you to have a taste of the festivals here. Not to mention that you definitely have to try out the onsens (Hot Springs) here. I have reserved a room in one of the best Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn with onsen) around here." Hanzo continued to ramble on.

At the mention of onsen, Kurapika stiffened. For some unexplainable reason, she had a bad feeling when she heard that word. Suddenly, Nobunaga rushed forward and grabbed Hanzo's hands.

"You are a local here? Tell me more about this place! This is my hometown, too, but this is the first time I've been here." The samurai said with glittering eyes.

"Really? It's good to be home, isn't it? If that is the case, then come with me! I'll show you around to your hearts' content!" Hanzo replied with equal enthusiasm.

"Then, Danchou, I'll be off for a while!" The samurai grinned at Kuroro with wide smile, but turned to reward Kurapika with a venomous glare. "And don't you dare pull some stunts, brat."

With that, the two grown-ups walked away hands-in-hands, drown in their enthusiastic little world. Kurapika was glad that Nobunaga would be away for quite sometimes, since the samurai had been glaring daggers at her all the time while his hand was steadfastly curled around the hilt of his katana, ready to strike her at any given opportunities. Kurapika shook her head in disbelief, but Kuroro only chuckled amusedly.

"That's good for him." He only said. "Machi, do you not want to go as well?" He asked as he turned to the woman.

"No, I'll pass. I'm not interested." She said, with her characteristic indifference. All that mattered for her was everything related to her Danchou and the Genei Ryodan. Other things did not interest her.

Kurapika gave him a cursory look, before she finally looked away to avoid his questioning gaze. At that fleeting second, she thought she detected a genuine care in his voice. Kurapika knew that Kuroro Lucifer cared for his subjects in the organization, but she had not perceived it to be that benevolent and bona fide. It was unsettling, but why did she feel somewhat familiar to it?

"Danchou." Shalnark called out in an attempt to ask for any order.

Ah, right. We have a problem at hands here…Kurapika felt an urge to slap her forehead in exasperation, but she refrained herself from doing it. She braced herself as she turned around, just as Kuroro did.

Standing in the middle of the airport, just out of the immigration department, the whole Genei Ryodan gang was present. Yes. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. If Kurapika was entitled with a one-word comment, she would give a definite DISASTER. Not only that they were all dressed in a very conspicuous manner, their behaviours were not any better as well. They had no luggage whatsoever, as well. Kuroro sensed her uneasiness of having the whole gang around, and so he gave the usual order:

"Disperse."

With that one word, they all vanished from the place, each one of them going their separate ways.

How effective. Kurapika begrudgingly admitted. The Genei Ryodan, albeit consisted of rogues and criminals, was extremely orderly and effective, unlike many others organization. She knew that it was all only possible under the leadership of Kuroro Lucifer, and she knew full well that Kuroro might as well be the eternal leader of the Spiders; nobody else could rival him.

"Shall we go to our lodging?" Kuroro asked good-naturedly.

"Yeah…" She said sullenly.

Kuroro raised an eyebrow. "What's with the bad weather?"

"I…" She was reluctant to say it out loud, for unrealistic fear that it might come true when the words escaped her mouth. "…have a bad feeling about this lodging."


"I thought so." She muttered as she held her breath.

Kuroro had to agree that things did not seem as colourful as it should have been. No, correction, things would get overly colourful with all the noises and commotions that could be easily foretold.

"Kurapika!" The childish voice that unmistakably belonged to a certain spiky-black-haired boy rang across the lobby of the hotel.

Gon dashed from the reception counter, leaving behind his other two friends, and skidded into halt right in front of Kurapika. Kurapika wanted to back away, still feeling uneasy, but she knew that gesture would only make things worse. So, she rooted her feet to the solid ground.

"Gon, it's been a while." She said with weak smile.

"Yeah! How are you doing?" Gon asked with blazing enthusiasm and complete innocence, that Kurapika could not help but to smile a bit brighter.

"I'm fine, as you can see." She said kindly. "And how are you and the others?"

"Kicking and alive as any horses can be." Another voice answered this time.

Kurapika looked up and spotted Killua strolling lazily towards them. He stopped right in front of them, next to Gon, and stared at Kurapika for a while.

"Yo." He said as he held up a hand casually in a greeting manner.

"Killua." Kurapika addressed him, slightly awkward as she mentioned her name. She still remembered the outburst that the livid Killua had. It was a vivid memory that she could not forget.

"I see you are getting along well." He said dryly. He cast a hard glance at Kuroro for a while, before looking away.

"Jealous?" Kuroro could not help but to blurt it out as he pocketed his hands casually. Kurapika was going to give him a piece of her mind about it later, he was dead sure of it.

Surprised, Killua blinked and his mouth gaped but he soon recovered and rewarded Kuroro with an intense glare. Kurapika herself was thoroughly caught off-guard by Kuroro's unexpected reply, and it sounded defiant, no less. It was as if Kuroro was deliberately challenging Killua.

How childish! She exclaimed mentally. She had never seen this side of Kuroro before.

She observed the two in disbelief as they engaged in a glaring contest, while Gon was at loss on what to do as well.

"Erh…Killua?" He squeaked.

"What?" Killua asked curtly, his voice snapping like a dog's bark.

"Umm…I think Leorio is in trouble over there. Look, he's waving at us to get back there." He muttered as he tugged on Killua's sleeve.

True enough, Kurapika could see Leorio looking at them with uneasy expression. It seemed that he was trying to detach himself from the reception counter to have a little chat with them, but the receptionist would not allow him. Or it might be another problem, who knows?

"Ceh. That O-san (uncle) is really useless when we leave him alone." Killua finally broke the eye-contact first and turned to walk away. "Let's go, Gon."

"Yeah, right." Gon grinned uneasily as he trailed after his best friend. When they were a few paces away, Gon turned around and waved vigorously at Kurapika. "We'll see you again, Kurapika."

Kurapika could only wave back at him in silent, although she did force a smile just to appreciate the boy.

"That's a really hostile friend you have there." Kuroro said once they were out of earshot.

"You are the one who provoked him first, you dunderhead." Kurapika hissed at him fiercely.

Just as he anticipated, Kurapika continued on rambling about his attitude and so on; which he generally ignored as he took care of their registration. When everything was done and all, the maid ushered them to their appointed bedroom. It was a spacious Japanese-style bedroom, with a sliding door that led to the open corridor on both sides, with tatami (a kind of straw) floor, and across the corridor was a neatly done Japanese garden.

"The futons (Japanese bed) are stored in the drawer here." The maid explained as she slid the sliding door open to reveal a storage room containing their necessities. She continued on about the other functions and features available in the room, before finally she stopped at a small drawer.

"The 'protections' are here, should you need them." She said in a husky, sensual voice as she gave soft 'ohohoho' laughter while concealing her mouth in a shy pretence.

At the mention of 'protection', Kurapika's face blushed furiously that even she could feel her ears burning hot in embarrassment.

"We are not going to need them." Kuroro said in flat voice nonchalantly.

"Really?" The maid clamped her mouth with both hands now, seemed surprised and she even blushed slightly as she misunderstood the meaning of Kuroro's words. Kurapika, on the other hand, felt like she was going to melt into jelly out of overloading pure embarrassment.

"Then, I will take my leave." The maid gave a trained, polite bow before she excused herself. Kurapika swore she could hear her excited voice as she encountered another maid and gossiped about them 'not needing any protections'. They remained in standing position; Kuroro was appreciating the room while Kurapika was laden still in the aftershock of witnessing the maid's misunderstanding.

"Can you not say any unnecessary comments when it can give any wrong implication?" Kurapika was close to screaming at him, who seemed unperturbed by the whole misunderstanding.

"Oh, come on, Kurapika. A man and a girl sharing a room for two nights three days, what else can they assume? Family relations are impossible, judging from our different looks. You should be getting used to it by now." Kuroro said with a shrug as he dropped his backpack to the floor and stretched his body leisurely.

"Then at least don't make matters worse!" She exclaimed as she trailed after him like a puppy.

"Simmer down, kid. Why don't you go to the onsen to cool down your head? An evening such as this is perfect for onsen time. You definitely need it."

"Excuse me! The bind can only span 5 metres at most, for your information. How am I supposed to go to onsen when I'm stuck with you? I don't have any choice in that matter." She pointedly said.

"So you really want to go to the onsen, if possible?" Kuroro turned to fully face her, as if challenging her.

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then let's go."

"I—what?"


Kurapika hugged her slim figure with the most insecurity she could ever have felt in her entire life. She was literally half-naked there, with only a piece of white towel to barely cover her body from her chest to her mid-thigh. Even when she already sunk her whole body up to her neck, she still felt terribly naked. She had not paid any attention once they entered the Ryokan, so she had not noticed the notification that the Ryokan had mix-gender onsen. Even if she knew, she had not expected to have Kuroro dragged her into the onsen. What more, the old couples lounging in the bath were talking about them!

"Oh, what a lovely young couple." One of the old women said in an excited whisper.

"I wish I were that young again." The other one said with dreamy voice.

Why on earth did I relent, anyway? Idiot! Her face was already flushed beetroot from embarrassment of those talks by those old ladies.

"Your face is already red." Kuroro, who was sitting less than 5 metres away from her, commented.

"It's the heat." She said evasively as she inched away from him. It was a perfect excuse since the onsen was really hot.

She had to admit, thought, that it was really nice to immerse her worn-out body in the hot, steaming water with sulphur fragrance. It was a lovely outdoor onsen, with bamboo trees around them and bamboo fences that separated the men-only, women-only, and mixed-gender baths. The bath was made from natural elements; it was layered with soft-edged pebbles, with the large ones as the wall for the guests to lean on as they relaxed themselves in the hot water. Kurapika was extremely lucky that the particular onsen allowed towel in the water, since most onsens prohibited that. She would rather die than to dip naked in the same water as Kuroro.

Kurapika hugged her knees tightly, still feeling insecure despite the towel and the thin fume of the hot water. The water was slightly murky due to the sulphur, not to mention the fume; it was enough to conceal her half-nakedness, but still it bothered her. Then again, she might really need the hot dip. It helped her to relax her tense nerves and her sore muscles after the long hours of flight and the tiring on-foot journey that she undertook with Kuroro.

"So nice…" She sighed contentedly.

"I told you that you need this." Kuroro said with a small grin.

She ignored his smug reply and immersed herself deeper into the steaming water, when an odd thought came across her mind. In an instance, she blushed furiously. Kurapika then turned very, very quiet. Extremely so, until one might thought that she had seen a Gorgon and had turned into a stone. Kuroro raised an eyebrow at this odd behaviour. She seemed to develop quite a habit of turning very still in a flash.

"What's wrong?"

"I…" Her eyes were fixed to the murky water, and she hugged her knees even tighter. The flush deepened on her face. "…won't get pregnant by this…Right…?"

Kuroro gawked at her; literally. That was the first time he ever did that in his whole life.

"Kurapika." He said with drop dead serious tone. "That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard in my entire life."

"Well, excuse me!" Out of reflex triggered by boundless embarrassment, Kurapika splashed the hot water towards Kuroro.

"Oh!"

When she realised it, her guilty hand was already airborne, and Kuroro head was already entirely dripping wet. Slowly but surely, he raised his hand and swept the remaining water off his face. Kurapika, meanwhile, lowered her arm and had her eyes bulging out in dry anticipation.

"You…" He started as he uncovered his face, "are asking for troubles, young lady."

In that split moment, she was totally paralyzed by his look. It was not murderous, it was not evil or malignant or whatever. It simply…paralysed her. She was so stunned, both physically and mentally, that she did not even notice the 'aunties' giggling at the other side of the bath. The only reason they did that was because they saw Kuroro inching towards Kurapika in a very…compromising manner (for her standard, at least).

Just before she could say or do or react with anything to countermeasure Kuroro's peculiar act, she heard a ruckus from the other baths. She was about to ignore it and focused on the imminent disaster, when the incoming conversation that she overheard grabbed her full attention.


In the men-only bath, two boys with contrasting hair colour ran towards the calm water of the onsen and jumped.

"Hot springs! YEAAA!"

SPLASH.

"O—oi! Kids, behave yourself!" Leorio hurriedly caught up after them, ready to scold them senseless for making such a big ruckus in a quiet, peaceful onsen. It was supposed to be a place for mediation and relaxation, not a place for rowdy kids like the two of them to play roundhouse.

"You're noisy, O-san. We're the only ones here." Killua protested, already he was soaked from head to toe.

"Still, there are other guests in other baths. Don't disturb them!" Leorio hissed in annoyance.

"Yes, yeeees." Killua said with dragged voice as he settled himself next to Gon at one side of the steaming pool of sulphur water.

They calmed down after a while, and it was peaceful for a moment.

"I still can't believe that Kurapika is really a girl." Leorio finally spoke up.

"Well, get used to it." Killua said crudely. "Rather than that, I still find it difficult to accept that she is still going around with that Kuroro Lucifer."

"But Killua, they can't do anything about it, right?" Gon said, trying to mellow down Killua's temper.

"Still…" Killua sank further into the hot water and pouted. "She could have asked us for help to collect those Eyes. Why must it be Kuroro Lucifer? Does she not think of us as her friends?"

"Oy, oy. Don't say it like that." Leorio reprimanded the younger boy. "She must have her own reasons. Although I have to admit that I don't like the idea of her travelling with that dangerous man, either."


Kurapika stayed very still as she eavesdropped to their conversation. She understood their annoyance and worry, but it was not like she could help it. She was desperate to find those Eyes, and she had no idea when they would finally break the bind. Unconsciously, Kurapika's body had sunk even further into the steaming water, that the water level had reached past her chin. Somehow, she felt very dizzy, and all conversations around her became jumbled-up clusters of words.

"Kurapika?" Kuroro finally noticed this oddity. He approached her carefully, fully knowing that she was very wary of being near anyone in such half-naked state. She might punch the light out of him if he stayed too near to her.

She did not answer, and it alarmed him because her face was already as red as a lobster, and her eyes were already unfocused. He knew right away that she was about to pass out from the heat. Without any warning whatsoever, he slipped a hand below the crook of her knees and another hand to support her upper torso. Bridal style, Kuroro fished Kurapika out of the hot bath and rushed her out of the place. He was careful enough not to let her towel slipped, though. The whole thing caused a mild commotion among the guests who were present there.

Kuroro did not realise, however, that his voice was heard by the three people bathing at the other bath.


She felt dizzy, extremely so. She felt as if she had fallen asleep in some active volcano crater or the likes. She started to sweat, and it was getting uncomfortable. She squirmed in her sleep, trying to get into a cooling position, when her body caught a breeze. It was a steady breeze, and directed towards her. It felt nice. Kurapika's eyes fluttered open once she felt comfortable enough. She found herself in a bedroom, her body was dry and she was clothed in a sleeping yukata. Her hair was still damp, though.

"You're awake." A bass voice stated.

"Did you—"

"The maids dress you up." He quickly interjected before she could scream in indignation.

"Oh…" She muttered, and added with smaller voice, "My head's spinning." She felt like her brain was being boiled, and that her whole body was burning.

"Of course. What were you thinking? Were you trying to cook yourself?" He snorted in amusement.

Kurapika turned her head to observe her surroundings further, and it was only then Kurapika realised that the gentle breeze she had been feeling was from the fan that Kuroro was using. He sat next to her with one leg propped up to support his one elbow while his other hand was used to slowly fan the heat from the onsen out of her. He was wearing an identical sleeping yukata as hers. Kurapika stared to the ceiling of their bedroom, her eyes had a faraway look.

"I don't need friends. The only thing I rely on is my own strength, and I live solely for this purpose." She said, her voice barely a whisper.

He was silent for a moment. He knew why she suddenly uttered such thing. With her only friends questioning her like that, she might as well try to self-suggest herself that she needed not concern herself too much about what her friends might think about her. She was trying to detach herself from her emotions. He was also aware of 'this purpose' she was talking about.

"If you don't need friends, it's your choice. Then again, even your own strength is just as feeble as friends are." He said softly after a while.

"What do you mean feeble?" She asked, slightly insulted by his remark but she was too weak to get angry.

Despair was her motivation, and hatred was her fuel. Phoenix's voice rang in his head. Both, however, also become the manacles that tie her down.

As long as your strength comes from your hatred, it won't do you any good. That was what he wanted to say, but he kept it to himself. She would not listen to it, no matter what.

It starts from you, and it ends up at you again. He could literally feel Pheonix's mocking smile at that time. As long as you live, Kuroro Lucifer, she believes that this burden will never disappear. So it's up to you whether you will free her of the chains that bind her or not.

Kuroro pondered about it. Come to think of it, if he died, then Kurapika's burden would be lifted. Then again, if he died, Kurapika would lose the aim of her life, wouldn't she? After all, avenging her tribe was parallel with killing him and his Spiders. If he lived on, she would keep living on for the sake of fulfilling that revenge, albeit the life itself would be a suffering for her. Which one was better, for her to lose the purpose of her life or to continue living haunted by revenge?

Why do I care so much about it? He suddenly snorted in amusement. It was not like him to care about others outside the Genei Ryodan circle. When it came down to this now, Kurapika's fate was literally up to his decision. Begrudgingly, he had to admit that the Phoenix was saying the truth.

"Kuroro?" Kurapika asked hesitantly, for the man had suddenly turned very quiet and reticent. She could see the subtle confusion that he had on his expression, and it was really unlike him to be bothered at all. It might also be her who was hallucination due to her 'boiled' body.

Responding to her call, he turned to look at her. He took his time to study her visage; her pale skin, her golden hair that had reached her shoulder by then. He also took notice that she had gotten thinner by a lot. Earlier, when he rushed her half-naked form from the onsen to their shared bedroom, he took note of how feather light she was. He barely used any strength to lift her up. He knew that she looked thin for her height, but he never expected her to be that thin. When he looked at her eyes, they seemed to squirm uneasily under his gaze. He could not blame her; after all, the original relationship between them was that of the murderer and the victim, the avenger and the target of revenge. There was nothing sweet in their relationship, even right at that moment it was all due the curse that Hassamunnin put on them.

But is it a curse, or is it a blessing? Is it a boon, or a bane? More importantly, do I wish it to be different?

Deep in reverie, Kuroro absentmindedly reached out and brushed Kurapika's flushed cheek gently with the back of his hand. She did not even do so much as a flinch or a twitch. In fact, she actually leaned her head towards his hand, embracing the coldness. Her skin was surprisingly smooth; as if it was the first time that he had ever touched her. No, he had touched her on many occasions, but he had never paid attention to such details.

"If you don't want to rely on your friends, then you can at least rely on me. After all, I'm not your friend." He said in a husky voice, as if it was not meant to be said or heard. Kuroro himself was not sure on why he was saying that.

Kurapika was already dozing off when the words escaped Kuroro's mouth, as her eyelids were already half-closed. She heard all those, but she dismissed the statement as one of her hallucinations. She even thought that his cool touch on her cheek was just another hallucination. Thus, Kurapika drifted off to slumber as her body tried to cool down the heat.

Kuroro deliberately let his fingers lingered on her cheek as he traced the contour of her face. She was so young, strong yet frail at the same time. He had seen her breaking down a few times, and it was more than enough for him to learn that she was a strong shell on the outside, yet her inside was just as fragile as any other tragedy-stricken person.

"Em…Excuse me?"

The soft, hesitant voice broke Kuroro from his reverie.

"Come in." He merely said, as he could not leave Kurapika's side at the moment.

The door was slid open, but even with his back towards the door, Kuroro knew that it was Gon who had politely come and asked permission to enter. Also, he noticed that out of the four, the spiky-haired boy seemed to bear the least resentment towards him. He did hear from Machi, Shalnark, though, that the particular boy actually despised the group judging from the attitude he gave Nobunaga and Feitan when he and Killua were captured.

"Is Kurapika okay?" He asked timidly. Personally, Gon did not understand Kuroro and his way of thinking. He tolerated Kuroro because the man seemed to be taking good care of Kurapika. Besides, from his point of view Kuroro did not seem to mean any harm to her at the moment.

"She'll be fine." Kuroro responded. "Why have you come?"

Gon did not answer for a while, but he eventually spoke up. "We heard the commotion just now, in the bath."

"And?"

"Well…We asked around of what happened, and…" Gon's voice trailed away.

"Are you worried about her?" Kuroro asked as he turned around to face Gon.

Gon seemed slightly taken aback by the question. "Of course! She is my friend." He said with incredulous tone, as if the answer was so obvious that Kuroro needed not ask it.

"That's good to hear." Kuroro said with slight smile. Despite the dimly lit room, Gon noticed the small gesture, and it piqued his curiosity.

"Em…"

"Kuroro is fine, Gon." The man said, knowing that Gon had been lost on how to address him.

This time, Gon was surprised that Kuroro addressed him by his name, but he recovered quickly. "Kuroro, why are you helping Kurapika?"

He asked it with such innocence, that Kuroro could not help but to chuckle. "You always ask me difficult question. Why, you asked? Let's see… Well, simply put, we have agreed on a truce between us."

"A truce?" Gon's eyes widened.

"I will help her collect all 36 pairs of Scarlet Eyes, and in exchange, I will have her full cooperation in our attempt to dissolve this 'curse' and when everything is done, she will leave us alone, and so will we leave her alone." Kuroro calmly stated it to Gon, who was listening intently.

"She promised not to hunt you down anymore?" He asked again, his big eyes growing in size in every second.

"In a way, yes, perhaps."

"Perhaps?" Gon blinked and cocked his head sideways in open bewilderment.

"You see, our truce is only in effect as long as the bind here remains intact and the 36 pairs of eyes are still scattered around the world. Once the bind is broken, and she has all of the Eyes, there are always chances that one of us may break the truce. It is not a life-long truce. No truce has ever been." Kuroro explained.

"Don't you agree, the Zaoldyck boy over there?"

Gon stiffened and a sweat trickled down his temple. An annoyed 'tsk' was heard from behind the sliding door next to Gon, and Killua stepped forward to reveal himself.

"How did you find me out? My Zetsu was perfect." He said with a slight pout.

Without answering him, Kuroro only gave him a mystifying smile. "Your other friend; he is a doctor, right? Why don't you call him over and have him take a look at her." He said good-naturedly as he gestured at the sleeping figure of Kurapika.

"Right!" Gon beamed and dashed to fetch Leorio.

Killua stayed rooted where he was standing. He gave Kuroro a questioning look, and Kuroro welcomed it without looking away or anything.

"Why? I still don't get it. You don't get anything by helping her so much. Even the truce itself is too far-fetched a reason for you to do so much for her." He importuned with suspicion. "Knowing you, you are the type who put the interests of yourself and your group above everything else."

"Are 'why' questions always your favourite ones?" Kuroro remarked with slightly annoyed tone. He did not like to explain himself; most of the time when he did so, people did not understand him, so what was the point of telling them anyway?

"Just call this precaution. We don't want her to get into more troubles than she already does." Killua said flatly.

"I'm just doing what I want to do." Kuroro said finally.

"You want to help her? But she means harms to you and your group." Killua asked with confusion clear on his childish face.

Kuroro smiled at his befuddlement. He had expected it. Nonetheless, he could not answer him. It was a question that even he had troubled answering. Why, why, and why? He did not know. He just felt that he could not leave her alone, that he had to do something. Atonement for the crime he did against her 6 years ago? Perhaps.

Don't worry, you will want to free her. Phoenix's voice, once again, rang in his head.

Maybe, but why? What significance does it hold to my interest? Kuroro thought.

"Why, indeed?" Kuroro covered his mouth with his hand in a pondering gesture.

"Are you…" Killua was reluctant to say it, but he had his big suspicions. "…feeling responsible for her?"

Kuroro turned his head and looked at him with blank expression.

"No. That's not exactly it." He finally said after a long pause.

"Then what?"

Kuroro had no time to answer Killua's question, when Leorio noisily came into a halt just in front of their room, his medical kit ready in his hand. Gon was trailing behind him like a loyal puppy.

"Kura—GLOMPH!"

Before the lanky man had the chance to give out a yell with the capacity to wake the dead, Gon had clung from behind him and gagged him.

"Not so loud, Leorio! Kurapika is sleeping!" The younger boy whispered intensely.

"Right. Sorry." Leorio scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.

"Tsch, O-san, you always embarrass us every time, everywhere." Killua grinned with playful mockery.

"Shut up, you little runt." The bespectacled man made an ugly scowl that was characteristic of 'Leorio'.

Without being asked, Kuroro good-naturedly shifted aside to give the medical student some space to attend to Kurapika's medical need, if there was any. Leorio sat beside Kurapika's futon and set about to examine her, but he gave Kuroro a wary glance beforehand. Leorio worked in silence and gently so as not to upset Kurapika from her much needed sleep.

"Zaoldyck boy." Kuroro called Killua with low voice.

Killua did not answer him, but he turned to look at him with slight wariness. It looked like the boy was no longer as distrustful as before towards the Spider Head.

"You mentioned something about her not asking you for help in regards with the Scarlet Eyes, correct?" The older man asked with his dark eyes glued to Kurapika's sleeping figure.

"I did. What of it?" Killua asked. He had his guess about what the man was going to ask though.

"Then, would you like to participate this time round?"

Killua frowned in suspicion at Kuroro's sudden generous offer. Killua knew that Kuroro was not someone who whimsically offered someone to join his operation, not to mention the past relationship between them and that man's gang. He definitely had something in mind. As Killua considered the 'fishy' offer, something clicked in his mind.

"Agreed, but on one condition." Killua answered with a wide grin plastered on his cheek face.

"That is?"

"You must get Kurapika to go to the festival tomorrow night."

Kuroro raised an eyebrow. Simple as it might sound, when it involved Kurapika everything seemed complicated for him. Considering the situation, she would not be in the mood to go to any festivals.

"Fine." He finally nodded. It would not hurt to try to persuade her. Besides, he was quite curious about the festival itself.

"Then it's settled. O-san, are you done yet?" Killua sauntered his way to Leorio, who was crouching over Kurapika's sleeping form.

"Yeah. She's fine. A good rest is all she needs. Look at her, sleeping soundly like a piece of rock." Leorio said lightly as he packed his things into his medical bag.

"At least she doesn't snore like you." Killua grinned.

"I don't snore!"

"Denial. You snore like a dinosaur. Come on, Gon! We have things to do!"

"Eh?"

With that, Killua dragged Gon away from the room, leaving Leorio behind. Leorio looked at Kuroro nervously, since he knew of what the man was capable of. Although he often boasted himself for being the most physically active among his colleagues in his medical school, among these people, he felt like an ant before Man. He scrambled his way towards the door, but before he made his escape, he looked at Kurapika once more. Lastly, he shot Kuroro a reluctant glance and he closed the sliding door behind him quietly.


"Killua, what did you talk with Kuroro?" Gon asked curiously as they made their way to their bedroom.

"I'll fill you in with the details later." Killua said impatiently as he dialled a number in his cell-phone.

Gon only blinked in confusion. He observed Killua as the silver-haired boy plastered the receiver of the cell-phone on his cheek, his face obviously eager. When his call was finally answered, his face lit up and there was a gleam of excitement in his cat-like eyes.

"Senritsu, it's me."


Author's Note: Soooomehow, I just felt that I must pitch in the onsen part =P Sorry if it isn't too detailed. But do you all see Kuroro starts being more honest with himself? Yeeee, I'm so sorry for the late update because I've been busy with my university application. Troubles just never cease to come my way. Tsch…

Next: What kind of plan did Killua have in mind? He even called Senritsu, Kurapika's ex-colleague and friend. Things would get more interesting as old (good and annoying) friends gathered for expected (and unexpected) reunion.