Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter, much to my dismay
Story so far: Unexpectedly on Kurapika's part, Kuroro had dragged Tompa into the whole mess of stealing the Scarlet Eyes. Also, in the end Kurapika-Kuroro party parted ways with Gon's party once more as the circumstances forced Kurapika and Kuroro to spend more time in that country.
Chapter 18
JOURNEY IN THE EAST
"Explain yourself!"
Kurapika was close to screaming at Kuroro, but the latter seemed nonchalant about it. In a way, he was already used to Kurapika yelling and screaming at him. After all, he had been travelling with her for almost several months already.
Currently, they were already out of the Museum. Senritsu took the liberty of tending to Leorio, while Shalnark went off to meet up with his comrades.
"There is nothing much to explain. First, we needed distraction so that Coltopi could get the chance to copy the Eyes and so that was what the attack for. Second, we need a scapegoat so they won't try to track down those who attend the opening. It will be a problem if we get tracked down. Third, if the Scarlet Eyes is the only missing item, it will raise suspicion and they will try to track down people related to the Eyes. In the worst case scenario, they may track you down, since you are the last Kuruta alive and you are registered as Kurapika Kuruta in the Hunter Association."
Kuroro turned to give the livid Kurapika a full look in the eyes. He could see the seething anger in those oceanic blue eyes, but he could see that they were not on the verge of turning scarlet. He had deliberately let out of the fact of her friends helping out with plan, and he could only hope that she did not see through it. If anything, the girl was getting better in seeing through his play of words.
"Satisfied?" He gave him a pleasant smile, which she responded with a deep, hostile scowl.
"So why did you lie to me?" She harshly demanded.
"Lie?"
"You said you were not going to loot the place!"
"I never confirmed so. I merely responded to your statement; nothing more nothing less." He grinned smugly at her, and her visage never softened.
Kurapika had no qualms about Tompa being the scapegoat of the whole thing; after all, that slimy man could slither his way out of the troubles like he usually did. She was never fond of that man, anyway. She was more displeased by the fact that she had been careless with his play of words again. She had to remind herself again and again not to assume the implication of his words. She felt utterly stupid before him, and it irked her tremendously.
She had to grit her teeth and clench her fists to prevent herself from lunging at his throat in attempt to strangle him to death. Kurapika inhaled deeply and exhaled soundly. It was very apparent that she was trying to cool down herself that Kuroro could not help but to sigh at the scene.
"It's for your sake, Kurapika. Don't think too much of it."
As he said so, he patted Kurapika's silky golden hair lightly before he turned and walked away casually. Kurapika, instead of bristling with anger, had turned frigid the moment Kuroro did that gentle gesture. No, actually it was not the first time. There had been other occasions where he did so. Still, it was always something that she would never get used to.
For my sake? How…Even if she did not want to think of it, everything came to her without even much effort. All those meticulous planning was for her sake; he made sure that she would not get into troubles at the end of everything. Kurapika stared at the retreating back of the man clad in black; the back that she had gotten so used to see in her long journeys with him. Like it or not, she had to accept this one little fact that she had just discovered.
He was protecting her.
No, it can't be. She thought as she shook her head slowly. Ultimately, it's just for his convenience.
The airport was packed with tourists and staffs; both local and international. It was bustling with various activities; people walked briskly here and there, they greeted each others, they exchanged handshakes, hugs, and kisses, and many others. Amidst this throng of people was a ragtag group of six. Four of them had luggage with them, but the other two showed no sign of boarding any blimps.
"Kurapika, what are you going to do next?" Leorio asked, ignoring Kuroro who was standing slightly behind Kurapika. He did so to graciously allow her more private spaces with her friends.
"I guess we'll have to stay in this country for a longer while."
"Why?" Gon chirped in with the curiosity of a kindergartener.
"Looks like there are still some Scarlet Eyes in this country." Kurapika answered, her voice smooth and controlled. "I'm going to collect all of the Eyes here before moving on to the next destination."
"That's quite the workload. Tell us if you need any helps, Kurapika! We are your friends. You should ask us anytime." Gon enthusiastically implored the blonde.
"It's true, Kurapika. You should appreciate your friends more." Senritsu added.
Killua, all the while, had his eyes set on Kuroro. The man seemed to be in a trance or the like. He was not really paying attention to whatever was going on between Kurapika and her friends. He was sure, however, that the man heard every single word that was being exchanged among them.
It's a big guesswork, but it's worth to try…he thought.
Killua glanced at Kurapika's direction. She was still preoccupied by Senritsu and Gon, who were telling her to keep in touch as they had gone as far as buying a phone for her. He then took this chance to approach Kuroro and spoke softly with him.
"Say…Are you actually trying to find your real identity?"
Kuroro raised an eyebrow, not understanding the boy. "Explain."
"You are someone who puts the interest of yourself and your gang above all else, but you once commented about 'where the key to self-consciousness lies', back then in Yorkshin City. That is just contradictory."
"And?" He was getting amused by the boy's explanation.
"If you are ready to discard yourself to death, it may mean that you don't have any value of yourself. Or rather, you are never thinking of yourself. In other words, you are a completely selfless person."
"Should I take that as a compliment?" Kuroro said with a dry chuckle, and Killua swore that he could sense the coldness in his voice. It was a coldness that had never been present when the man talked with Kurapika, so far as he had observed. Despite that, Killua pressed on.
"Considering all those, and when you said that you simply want to help Kurapika… It makes me wonder: What do you plan to do with Kurapika? What are your plans about her?" Killua paused for a while, before continuing with even lower voice: "Are you trying to find out the motive of your actions?"
"You are sharp, Zaoldyk boy. It's true that I am finding myself thinking of things that I have never considered before. And I realized that it happened shortly after I started travelling with her. It intrigues me, so I want to see how far things will go."
"You are curious about the changes that occur in you?" Killua asked with his eyes growing wider in every second that passed.
"Hmm…" Kuroro put a hand over his mouth; his thinking gesture. "You can say so."
This guy is definitely weird! Killua thought to himself as he stared at Kuroro with wonderment.
Killua had a conclusion in his mind: that Kuroro Lucifer decided his missions based purely on his instincts, that he had no real, tangible motive behind his actions, that he was doing things for the sake of others, not for himself. And that was why his lack of self-consciousness. Regarding Kurapika, Killua suspected that Kuroro Lucifer was finding his means of discovering his self-consciousness via her, that the man was finding his reason of living through her, absurd as it might sound since Kurapika was someone who wished him dead the most.
"And to answer your question: I am just doing what I want to do, like I have mentioned before." He added calmly.
The expression of the motives…is certainly a troublesome concept. Why do people need to explain their motives into plain words? Kuroro pondered at the same time. After all, people are simply doing what they desire.
He looked up to steal a quick glance at the girl whom he had been travelling for the past few months. And I am simply doing what I desire.
"I don't know if it's appropriate or not." Leorio suddenly said with small voice, getting the chance as Killua was still lost in speech.
Kuroro heard him and turned his head to look at the tall boy. Leorio was speaking with his eyes looking down at his feet; the tell-tale sign of hesitance. Despite his old-man impression and look, he knew that Leorio was only a few years older than Kurapika. 19? Or 20 perhaps? Kuroro knew, from the corner of his eyes, that the short woman and Gon were still keeping Kurapika busy with their lectures or the likes.
"But please take care of her."
Leorio looked up to give Kuroro a full stare in the eyes. Kuroro could see the determination in those eyes, despite Leorio's obvious reluctance to say those words. Killua raised an eyebrow, while Kuroro suppressed a chuckle and instead maintained his mask of indifference.
"That is not what I expect coming from you."
"We used to be enemies, correct. But considering the circumstances, and Kurapika's personality, she won't let us look after her. She can be totally reckless at times, despite being obnoxiously smart and all-knowing. I guess you are more of the composed type, so you'll have to watch out for her."
"Your worries are unfounded." Kuroro flatly said.
"I can't help it! But all those aside," Leorio gathered his courage to take some steps further to approach the man. "If you dare lay a finger on her, I won't let you get away so easily."
"Now that's more like it." Kuroro smirked at him amusedly.
Leorio's jaws dropped unceremoniously upon hearing those words. Soon enough, his face was already burning in embarrassment. Kuroro was already heading towards Kurapika. He spared Leorio a final sideways glance, and gave him his answer.
"I only promise something that I know I can keep."
"Really, will it be okay to leave her with that incorrigible, fickle, dangerous man?" Leorio asked dubiously as he looked over the shrinking scenery of the airport from inside the blimp.
Truthfully, after a long while of pondering over Kuroro's last words to him, Leorio finally discovered what the man was trying to tell him. And it made him truly uneasy. The fact that Kuroro Lucifer was saying that he did not promise not to lay a finger on Kurapika just drove him to the edge of his composure, and perhaps sanity.
Damn, he didn't have to be so annoyingly cryptic, did he?
"There will be troubles. Definitely." Killua said deadpan.
"I thought you said we shouldn't worry about them?" Gon asked, as innocent and clueless as ever.
"What Killua is trying to say, Gon, is that it is inevitable for conflicts to arise between people. Even you and Killua get into fights from time to time, right?" Senritsu explained to him with her maternal smile ever on her round face.
"Yeah…" Gon nodded.
"But I agree with Killua. They will be just fine."
"How can you say it so confidently, Senritsu? All I can see between them is impending bloodshed." Leorio said with narrowed eyes. "And verbal assaults."
Yeah, of course. They are both smart-mouthed. I'd like to see it when they are having some verbal arguments. That'll be quite the view. Leorio snorted in dry amusement.
"O-san, you are just too blinded with jealousy." Killua, who had already seen through Leorio, grinned from ears to ears.
But I'm more worried over the possibilities of that man being too possessive of Kurapika, seeing that they have travelled for so long and judging from his behaviour around her… Killua added in his thought, not daring to speak it out loud in case he might receive a very bombastic reception from Leorio. And I never thought that Kuroro guy can be so surprisingly dense, he thought again as he rolled his eyes quietly.
"W—WHAT?" Leorio was already fuming, but it was undeniable that his face was already blushing furiously.
"But Leorio," Gon spoke up again, "I didn't see any hostility coming from Kuroro."
"Not you too, Gon! Didn't you say that you despise the Genei Ryodan? So why are you siding with him now?" The lanky man was close to shouting in exasperation.
"N—no, I don't—"
"Gon does hate the Spiders. But Kuroro, as a person, is not so much as a despicable person as we once thought." Killua shrugged as he looked over the distant ocean below that they were crossing.
"Yeah. I don't think he intends to pick a fight with Kurapika." Gon said with vigorous nods.
"Gon, you are too naïve." Leorio massaged the bridge of his nose. "He may not feel like fighting her now, but who knows if that man changes his mind and decides to finish her off? He is dangerously fickle, I'm telling you!"
"Her safety is guaranteed as long as the bind is there, O-san." Killua said with slight exasperation, as he was getting tired to remind Leorio again and again.
"Yeah, but—"
"In any case, they have both changed. Their heartbeats have definitely changed." Senritsu turned to look over the window of the blimp, down towards the vast ocean below. "Especially that man."
"What's so different about him previously and presently?" Killua asked with a raised eyebrow. That man had always been hard to predict, and it had never changed in Killua's perspective.
"Previously, he seems hollow to me; like an empty casket. Maybe the reason why his heartbeats sound as if they are embracing death is exactly that: his life is empty, meaningless."
"Wait a minute. Are you trying to say that that cold man has finally found something, or rather someone, to cherish in his life, and therefore he is trying to live on because his life is now worth it?" Killua asked, although he had his suspicions that he was more than correct. If Senritsu confirmed his suspicion, he did not even need to look for the answer to that question of his.
Senritsu only turned to him and gave him a sweet, motherly smile.
"Heartbeats don't lie."
Killua pressed his forehead against the cool window of the blimp. As he closed his eyes, he could remember vividly the scene that took place just yesterday in the National Museum. It was very disturbing, and it vexed him that he could do nothing about the circumstances.
"Kalluto!"
Upon hearing his name being acknowledged by his beloved brother, the slim figure ahead of Killua obediently halted into a stop. Killua, likewise, skidded into a stop and waited until the boy willingly turned around the face him directly. Gon soon caught up with him and found themselves in the copse that was on the vicinity of the Museum.
"What's wrong, Killua?"
"It's Kalluto." Killua answered with strained voice. "My younger brother."
"Your younger brother?" Gon cocked his head sideways as he tried to remember. "I thought you have a younger sister?"
"No, it's a brother. Only he is a victim of my mother's fanciful obsession of dressing him up in girl's clothes."
"That's not it!" Kalluto turned around and protested. "You know that it's because I have a weak constitution, and so it is a charm to make me get better!"
"Feh. Superstitions." Killua snorted in scepticism. "Anyway, what are you thinking? Joining the Ryodan like that. Didn't Father warn us to stay away from them?" He barked at him harshly.
"At least my motive of joining them is not a rotten one! I'm trying to find our brother!" Kalluto retaliated.
"Which brother?" Gon innocently asked, but he earned a hateful glare from Kalluto.
"My younger brother, his older brother. The name's Alluka." Killua answered Gon briefly, before he turned back to Kalluto.
"You are cruel, brother Killua! How can you just abandon brother Alluka like that?" Kalluto demanded emotionally.
"Abandon him?" Killua raised an eyebrow. "Come on, give me a break. Alluka ran away from home, just like I did. That can only mean that he was fed up with the family and he merely wanted to get a new life. What's so wrong in it?"
"But what if something happened to him?"
"He is a Zaoldyck. He can take care of himself just as good as any of us can." Killua said coolly, although Gon did sense a tinge of worry in Killua's voice albeit so fine and faint.
"But—"
"No buts, Kalluto. Get away from the Spiders, it won't do you any good. Besides, how can you search for him when all you do with them is just to go around stealing and killing?"
Upon hearing those, Kalluto's face was contorted into a mixed expression of great displeasure and mild anger. He straightened up and pulled his expression into that of a cold one. With his chin held high, he threw the Eyes to Killua, who caught it with ease.
"Danchou told me to give it to you." He said while emphasising on the word 'danchou'. He then began walking away.
Killua had his eyes fixed on his brother's retreating figure, and a confused look was apparent when he saw the sudden change of Kalluto's demeanour.
"Oh, and brother?" Kalluto stopped and spared him one cold stare. "Don't say things about people when you don't know anything about them."
With that, Kalluto took off and disappeared from their sight. In that fleeting moment, Gon noticed that the coldness in Kalluto's stare was identical to that of Killua's when he is deeply pissed off. Well, after all they were brothers, weren't they?
"That man has predicted this." Killua suddenly said. "He arranged it in such away so that I would run after my own brother, got the Eyes, and gave it to Kurapika later."
"Really?" Gon said in a surprised gasp as his mouth formed a big 'O'.
"Heh. Kurapika should really be careful around him. Such a sly man." He muttered to himself. "Come on, Gon. We should give this to Kurapika. She'll be happy to get this back."
"O—okay…"
And so they returned to their Ryokan and put the Scarlet Eyes in Kurapi
Evening was falling and two people were busy packing their backpack in their rented room in a certain Ryokan. According to schedule, they had to depart as soon as possible to reach the next prefecture where their next target was located. A knock suddenly came to their sliding door, interrupting their silent activity. With Kuroro's permission, Shalnark slipped into the room. As usual, the youth bore the ever present grin on his cheeky face.
"I've got some news." He announced. "Which one do you prefer, bad news first or good news first?"
"Bad news first." Kuroro answered calmly like it did not matter.
"As requested." He nodded, as if he was not going to disclose some bad news at all. "Well, apparently some of the Scarlet Eyes in this country have been lost from their owner. So, bad thing is it will be harder to scour the land in search of those Eyes since we are completely unfamiliar with the terrains."
Clouds of gloom quickly took their place around Kurapika's head. She hung her head low upon hearing that news; it would be indeed a very daunting task to comb the whole country to look for those Eyes. Kuroro, however, did not look as troubled as Kurapika was. If anything, he seemed unaffected by it.
"And the good news?" He asked with composure.
"The good thing is you can take your time to get those Eyes without worrying about the new moon, and well…" He made a crooked, unsure grin. "Kurapika doesn't need to go through all the troubles of stealing those Eyes?"
"Relieving her of her moral burden, is that what you want to say?" Kuroro chuckled in amusement upon seeing that his Spider was actually concerned about the chain-assassin.
Instead of giving him a verbal answer, Shalnark only gave a sheepish grin. Kurapika stared at Shalnark in pure disbelief. Why would he take that as good news at all? It shouldn't concern him so he shouldn't include it as any news at all. If it was Nobunaga, he would have gladly taunted her with the fact that she would have to literally look in every nooks and crannies of the country for those Eyes, just to spite her. It was true, though, that Shalnark was the one Spider who had visited them the most from time to time. Was he getting too familiar with her, or what?
"Well, in any case, I'll try to look more into this matter. See if I can get more information on the whereabouts of those Eyes. I'll inform you as soon as possible, Danchou." Shalnark stated confidently as ever.
"Very well. You are dismissed." Kuroro nodded.
"Then, see you soon!" Shalnark chirped as he turned away.
As soon as Shalnark was gone, Kuroro frowned slightly. Things sure had gotten more complicated. Kurapika sighed in defeat.
"What now?"
"What indeed?"
Those two lines were exactly as they muttered a few months ago in the cave where Hassamunnin had first cursed them with the bind. It made them feel that they had returned to the beginning and had to start over again. It was true in a sense, since they were starting from a scratch there in a foreign land.
"For now, I guess we need to stay in this Ryokan until we hear more from Shalnark." Kuroro finally said after a while of silence as he folded the pieces of paper and stuffed them into his pocket.
Kurapika could only accept it with slumped shoulders. In the end, they had to go to the receptionist and said that they wanted to stay longer for indefinite time. They spent the evening quietly, each of them busying themselves with their own activities. Kuroro buried his nose in a book that Shalnark had recently brought for him. Kurapika, meanwhile, was trying out her new phone; a present from her friends. They had also given her their contacts beforehand.
"Having troubles?"
A recently familiar voice suddenly broke their concentration in their activities and both looked up in alert. They had not detected a single presence before, not until they heard the voice. In the garden that their room overlooked was Suzaku, dressed in the exact same attire as he had worn during their first meeting. His visage was that of an amused expression, and his eyes were glinting with curiosity.
"And how does that concern you?" Kuroro asked calmly.
"Excuse my intrusion, but I am here to offer my assistance."
He was so polite and refined that Kurapika could not refuse his presence, even as he took a seat on the terrace right in front of their room without permission. Kuroro gave the Oriental Phoenix a measuring glance, before he approached him and took a seat near him. Kurapika followed him, but she sat furthest from Suzaku.
"And what manner of assistance are you offering us?"
Suzaku smiled charmingly at him, but instead of answering Kuroro, he turned to Kurapika.
"Girl, do you still have the charm that I gave you?"
"Huh?" Kurapika blinked. She then hurriedly tugged at the string that was looped around her neck and soon enough produced the charm that he spoke about. It was a necklace with a lone magatama made from a material that Kurapika could not recognise; it had a sandy colour, yet it felt like tusk upon her touch. Suzaku gave it to her the night they first met on top of the hill that overlooked the downtown festival.
"Yes, that one. Pray take great care not to lose it for it is not easy to obtain that particular one. Although the two of you are armed with your own protective charms," Suzaku continued as he took Kuroro's hand and fingered Kuroro's ring delicately with his thumb, "I am afraid that they will not be of any help here, in a land where your charms do not belong to."
"Thank you for your kind advice." Kuroro said flatly as he drew his hand away from the other man's clutch.
Hilarious as it might look, Kurapika dared not to laugh out loud. Instead, she suppressed even the smallest snort of glee and maintained a cool face. She returned the magatama necklace to its previous spot beneath the fabric of her clothes.
"But why is it that I am the only one given this charm?"
"Do I take that as a notion that you wish him to be equally protected?" Suzaku teased her. "How sweet of you."
"N—no!" Kurapika protested furiously, but her face was already betraying her by turning faintly scarlet.
"Fret not, young lady, for your companion here does not require any form of protection for the time being as he is not in immediate danger." Suzaku waved a hand playfully.
"Immediate danger?" Kuroro narrowed his eyes.
He looked at Suzaku, and the latter turned to smile at him. However, Kuroro could see that beneath that carefree visage that the man donned, there was a degree of seriousness. He meant what he said, and Kuroro was sure that if this humanoid mythical creature deemed the situation as dangerous, it had to be seriously dangerous. He even went to a great length of giving Kurapika a special protective charm, after all. What bothered Kuroro was the implicit meaning behind Suzaku's words; that there was a great danger that threatened Kurapika, but he himself was safe from it. What would it be?
"I only hope," Suzaku said again, and this time it seemed to be directed to Kuroro, "that my fear is groundless."
"Your fear?" Kuroro looked at him with more questioning gaze. What could have made the highly respected Suzaku of that country so agitated?
"Well!" Suzaku suddenly stood up and clapped his hands. This gesture took Kurapika off-guard slightly, and Kuroro even blinked in surprise. "In any case, shall we meet tomorrow morning at the northern gate of the city? From then onwards, your guide I shall be."
"Do you even know what we are after?" Kurapika asked incredulously.
"Certainly so. After the commotion you have caused in the National Museum yesterday, one will wonder if none of us know of you and your quest pertaining the Scarlet Eyes." Suzaku laughed heartily, and his laughter rang like the chimes of bells.
"Us?"
Suzaku only responded to Kurapika's whimsical question with a mystifying smile. He swept his arms wide and soon he was engulfed in golden lights. Instinctively, Kurapika and Kuroro covered their eyes from the blinding light.
"If you have no objection, tomorrow noon it is, then."
That was Suzaku's final words before he took his leave. Kuroro hurriedly opened his eyes and for a fleeting moment he caught the golden trail that Suzaku had left behind as he flew away.
Having no choice in the matter and seeing that there was no better option, both agreed to follow Suzaku's instruction and meet him in the northern gate. When they reached the place, the said man was already waiting for them. Kurapika was half-anticipating him to be dressed up in the same attire, but Suzaku had wisely donned a somewhat normal attire; an oriental-themed one.
"I have taken the liberty of investigating the matter, and my effort bears fruit." He immediately said with his velvety voice, after proper greetings of some sort had been exchanged briefly. "Of the five Scarlet Eyes scattered in this land, two of them are lost. You have one in you possession from the National Museum, there is one in the west and another one in the east."
"And so what do we do now?"
"We are going to visit the west first, it is closer than the east from here."
As he said so, Suzaku began to walk in the direction of the dense forest that was lying not far from the border of the city. He had purposely left out the little fact that he actually knew the whereabouts of the two lost pairs of Scarlet Eyes.
So the three walked in silence towards the forest; both Kuroro and Kurapika did not question the direction to which Suzaku was taking them. They knew that being a celestial creature, Suzaku was bound to the power of his speech; he was bound to follow it down to the letter. If he promised to help them, he would do it. They trusted him enough to let themselves be blindly guided by him.
"We are going to take a shortcut." Suzaku suddenly declared as he stopped in his track.
"And?" Kurapika asked slowly. If they were going to take shortcut, Suzaku could have just walked on without saying anything. It was not really necessary to announce it.
"Well, it is imperative that I warn the two of you beforehand, since the shortcut we are going to take is not any ordinary path." Suzaku turned to give her an enigmatic smile. "Come along."
They followed after him as he stepped towards a certain location. Near his feet were two uncanny small stacks of stones that stood almost like tiny landmarks. Suzaku stood just one step away from those stones and stared into the darkness of the forest that was before him. He lifted an arm as he started to chant almost inaudibly. Kuroro and Kurapika looked on curiously; Suzaku was certainly up to something extraordinary.
When he seemed to have finished chanting, there was a gust of wind blowing from the small imaginary path squeezed between the two stacks of stones; as if the wind had blown from a small alley between two massive buildings. Kurapika and Kuroro could practically see the air vibrating and twisting as if it was heated, but it was only for a fleeting moment. The next second, everything had already returned to normal.
"Behold the Ghost Path that I have just opened for you." He said proudly as he moved away to allow them full view of the said path.
Kurapika went frigid while Kuroro narrowed his dark eyes. There, between the two stacks of stones, time and space had seemed to be tweaked and a door leading to another dimension seemed to have opened. While the scenery was generally the same, there was undeniable air of eeriness and the stench of wandering spirits was almost suffocating as thin spooky fogs floated about.
"The Ghost Path you said?" Kuroro asked with his gaze still fixed on the small gate between the two landmarks.
"Yes. There is no place in this country that this path cannot reach. However…" He said as he stepped into the said path with his hand beckoning at them to follow after him.
Kuroro and Kurapika exchanged a quick glance of wariness, but nonetheless both unanimously decided to move on and faced the 'challenge'. After all, it was a 'no pain no gain' situation. Once they stepped into the path, the gate behind them closed and they found themselves in the same forest, but in a different space; there were thin white mists swirling about them; moving and dancing as if they were alive. Kurapika wrinkled her nose as she caught the smell of burning incense; it was the type that was burned in front of the altar of the deceased and during the funeral ceremonies. Kuroro looked around and spotted some hunched figures walking around with their heads hung low. He was not sure whether it was his eyes or because of the fog, but those figures seemed to be transparent.
"As how it is appropriately named, this is part of the world of the dead but only a small section of it. And so be warned and never stare for too long at those dead spirits because once they fancy you, in one way or another, they will fight to keep you here with them."
"So why are we taking this road again?" Kurapika asked with strained voice as a spirit had just brushed past her; no, it had just brushed through her.
"Granted that you do not lose your way, you will reach your destination very much faster. As long as you are with me, I can guarantee your safety." Suzaku said confidently and he began to walk again.
Almost too hurriedly, Kurapika trailed after the Oriental Phoenix. Kuroro silently followed behind. Now and again he stole some furtive glances at the residents of the Ghost Path. They seemed fairly normal looking; at least they looked humane enough despite the ghastly aura surrounding them and the heavy glooms that hung like a kind of backdrop around them.
"In too many occasions, unlucky humans stumble into this realm. It will be a good fortune if they manage to find their way out, but if they dawdle in this realm for too long a period, their living spirits may have deteriorated too much that it will be a toilsome task to mend them." Suzaku said quietly and sadly, for he had seen too many of such cases.
The two humans listened to his stories quietly. They were wise enough to perceive that they were in the situation where they were practically at Suzaku's mercy. If he wanted, he could just abandon them there for the dead spirits to feed on. For a few moments they continued their spooky journey, when suddenly Suzaku looked up and stopped. Kuroro and Kurapika almost instantly and in synchronization halted just behind him.
"What's wrong?" Kurapika asked warily.
"It seems…" Suzaku turned and smiled apologetically to them, "that I must leave you for a moment."
Kurapika's eyes had seemed to widen so drastically that Suzaku had to quickly add:
"But I will make sure that you reach your destination safe and sound."
As if answering to its cue, a creaking sound of wheels could be heard echoing throughout the narrow alley where they were standing at that moment. Soon enough, a hazy figure of an ox-carriage could be seen from distance. As it drew nearer, Kurapika's eyes widened yet again at the scene she beheld.
Looming before her was an ox-carriage with a huge misshapen woman face in front, blocking any entrance into the carriage itself. Despite being described as an ox-carriage, it had no oxen attached to the carriage at all.
"What…" Kuroro started as he stared at the grotesque vehicle with disbelieving eyes.
Oooh…Suzaku-samaaaa… The woman face spoke, her high-pitched voice trembling in unearthly delight. It has been so looong… So very looong…
"This is Oboroguruma. She will take you to your destination in my stead."
I will follow any duty you give me with all my heart…The woman wailed in what seemed to be fondness towards Suzaku. Anywhere, anytime…My beloved Suzaku-samaaaa…
"Good girl, Oboroguruma." Suzaku chuckled and caressed the woman's cheek without a single tinge of disgust in his expression, gesture, and speech. "You will take them to Saikyo?"
Anything for you, Suzaku-samaaaa… The woman said again in her slurry voice. She then turned her face to Kuroro and Kurapika; who in unison stiffened once she laid her massive, evil-looking eyes on them. Enteeer, my guests…
Without even a single word of warning, the woman opened her mouth wide open and lunged at them to swallow them whole. Out of reflex, Kuroro seized Kurapika's waist rather too roughly and jumped away from the 'assault'.
"Oh dear…" Suzaku covered his mouth with his hand while donning an innocently shocked expression.
"What was that for?" Kurapika screeched while she was still dangling by her waist in Kuroro's arm. "Suzaku!"
"I apologise for not explaining to you, but that is the method that Oboroguruma uses to carry her passengers." He said with amused chuckles.
Honoured guests, please do not make my task harder…The woman face said in a rather threatening gesture as she frowned at them and approached them slowly, her wheels creaking in a ghastly manner.
"It doesn't look all that safe." Kuroro commented dryly.
"Well, the result justifies the means, no?" Suzaku smiled at them and this time round Oboroguruma made sure not to give them any chance to run away.
She swallowed them whole and full with her gaping mouth and even licked her crimson lips with delight, as if she had just tasted the finest cuisine served before her.
"Now, Oboroguruma, do not disappoint me." Suzaku patted the huge head once again.
Never, Suzaku-sama…I'd rather die than to let you down…She leaned towards Suzaku's hand as she enjoyed the affection.
"Well then, off you go. Tell them that I will contact them as soon as possible." He said as he patted the carriage twice with more strength, as if to encourage her.
I will… Take care, Suzaku-samaaaa…Oborogurumo bowed her head and drove away into the thin mist and finally disappeared.
"Now…" Suzaku turned and walked away. "I wonder what Kirin-sama wants to discuss with me?"
How do you feel, honoured guestsss? The voice reverberated in the small room which was the inside of the Oborogurumo carriage.
Kurapika felt that she was hearing another version of Basille's slithery voice.
"Do we look like we are in any comfortable positions?" She muttered in great annoyance as she lamented on the fact that she was lying on the wooden floor supine with Kuroro ON TOP of her. That was exactly how they found themselves inside the carriage right after they were swallowed by Oborogurmo.
Well…
"You! Get off!" Kurapika barked at Kuroro.
"Don't scream to my ears, Kurapika. I am not deaf." Kuroro said as he picked up his body from on top of Kurapika and adjusted himself so that he sat with his back leaning against the wooden wall of the carriage.
Kurapika scowled fiercely at him, but said nothing to verbally abuse him like she usually did. The reason was because it was not the first time that Kuroro was on top of him and she did notice that the man seemed to have no qualms in touching her; but she was too embarrassed to directly complain to him about that matter. Conclusively, she decided to keep it to herself while bombarding him with glares only.
Briskly, Kurapika seated herself with her back against the opposite wall facing Kuroro. They stayed in silence for a while, keeping their counsels to themselves.
We have arrived at you destinatiooooonn… Oborogurumo suddenly announced, and they could feel the carriage decelerating smoothly into a stop.
"So fast?" Kurapika blinked in surprise. It was only some passing minutes and they had already reached their destination.
I do not disappoint Suzaku-samaaa… Oborogurumo said, pleased with her achievement. She then opened the back door of the carriage and they actually got to get out of the infernal carriage in a normal way. Kurapika begrudgingly thought that the demonic spirit could have at least let them enter in the equally sane way.
As soon as they were out of the carriage, they could see the small gate that led to the human world. Both hurriedly make their way out of the Ghost Path and Kurapika was secretly relieved that they were out of the ghastly place for good. They found themselves standing on top of a hill facing a great city down the hill. Kurapika marvelled at the grandness of the city, and so did Kuroro. The city was magnificent in its ancient structure and architectures, especially with the twin-towered castle that stood majestically at the heart of the vast city. Kuroro knew then; the moment he laid his eyes on the castle, that the Scarlet Eyes were definitely there.
Oborogurumo, being a spirit and thus was unable to get out of the Ghost Path easily, looked at them with contemplative look on her grotesquely misshapen face. After a while, she finally made up her mind.
A piece of advice well-meant from me, honoured guestssss… Oborogurumo suddenly said with a degree of seriousness in her voice.
Kurapika and Kuroro turned to face the demonic spirit who was lingering at the gate of the Ghost Path.
Beware of the Spider that invested this region… And then she disappeared into the Ghost Path once more. The path soon closed behind her, and everything went back to normal. The wind blew peacefully around them, and the atmosphere did not show any hints of dangers whatsoever.
"Spider, she said?" Kurapika asked with dubious voice and a deep frown to Kuroro.
"Spider, she did say." Kuroro nodded, although his expression was that of a befuddled one as well.
"Well, there is one right here." Kurapika muttered wryly as she turned to walk away towards the city just below the hill.
Kuroro only raised an eyebrow at her attitude and said nothing else. He merely followed Kurapika down the hill in silence.
They were scarcely out of the hill when they ran into yet another trouble.
After a few paces down the hill, suddenly Kurapika felt something tugging at her shoulders. She tried to shrug it, but it persisted. Suddenly, just so suddenly, she was roughly jolted and soon found herself airborne. Kuroro, who was tied to her by the means of the bond, was dragged along. Out of surprise, Kurapika cried out.
It was a hilarious scene for any present viewers; two very different people in appearance bouncing in the air as if they were two fishes that got caught in a fisherman's bait. It was not at all hilarious, however, for the two of them. Kuroro landed on the solid ground gracefully on his legs with a soft thud, but Kurapika's feet never touched the land. When he looked up, he saw her hanging upside down among the branches of tree with fine silky threads weaving themselves around her swiftly. The bind had extended up to a good 6 metres by then; and ample space to allow Kurapika hanging there while he was safe on the ground.
"What—" She began, but was cut off by the eerie giggles of another female.
Ohoho… Look at what I have caught. A pretty little girl full of energy… The silky voice said, so smooth and velvety that it raised the hair on Kurapika's nape. So deliciously full of life essence and power…
A lady dressed in fine, jet-black silk-floss kimono appeared from the darkness of the forest and on top of a tree branch close to where Kurapika was hanging upside down. Her movement was slick and swift, as if she belonged to the tree and was used to moving among branches despite her refined look. Her skin was deathly pale, and her deep black eyes were faceted like that of an insect. Her impossibly long hair was draped over her shoulders and past even the branch of tree where she was standing on. Instead of long eyebrows, they seemed to have been shaven and replaced by two black, uncanny dots on her forehead where her eyebrows were supposed to be.
Within several rapid movements, Kuroro was already behind the scary lady with his stiff fingers touching her nape in a slicing position; ready to decapitate her whenever he wished.
"Let go of her, Jorou-gumo." Kuroro said with a very dangerous edge in his voice. Kurapika blinked when she heard this drastic change in his tone. She had never heard him sounding so menacing before. Moreover, he seemed to know the woman.
Ah… The creepy lady sighed sensually as she turned to look at the man with her wholly-obsidian-black eyes.
She looked at Kuroro with great interest as she smiled alluring at him. Kurapika shuddered when she saw that smile; instead of seductive, it was more venomous. Her beauty was deadly, and Kurapika was sure of it. The woman parted her thin, heavily rouged lips and cooed:
If it isn't the Anansi boy.
Author's Note: I know that there are many contradictories about Kuroro here, but I can't help it. He is not really a simple character after all. Even if this is my fic, he still belongs to Togashi-sensei, and I still don't understand his character fully. I hope that slacker of a mangaka can quickly finish the Chimera Ants Arc and starts doing something related to Kurapika and the Genei Ryodan. Just a trivia, Saikyo is one of the ancient names of Kyoto. Also, regarding Alluka, I know it may not be accurate, but that's what I saw from the forums in the internet regarding the fourth son of the assassin family. And the charm that Kalluto spoke about, it is an ancient Japanese belief that if a boy with weak body is dressed in girl's clothes, he will get better.
Next: The creepy woman called Kuroro the Anansi boy, and he called her Jorou-gumo, which meant Spider Lady. What did she mean? Was she related to Kuroro in anyway? And what would become of poor Kurapika?
