Yeah, so, my best friend and my ex crush just got together. I swear I'm not bitter about that, as bad as that sounds. They're pretty much a perfect pair. That, and everyone in our friend group saw that coming a mile away. I can't count the number of times we told her that she and him would make a great couple. I'm honestly happy for them. I couldn't have chosen a better boyfriend for her. If there's anything that makes me sad it's the fact that she has a boyfriend at all. That means I just got bumped down on the importance ladder. Well, I'll just have to take comfort in knowing I hold the second place spot. I can already hear people saying 'Getting a boyfriend doesn't change how important the best friend it' and stuff like that, but lets face it. The entire point of a lifelong partner is that they're your best friend. Oh, and while I'm on the topic, I might as well add that I broke up with my first boyfriend a few months ago.

Wow, that was a depressing intro. Sorry. Go on and read.

"You sure he's here?" I ask for the final time, gazing up at the hotel. It's a bit far from the auction house, and it's not listed as a hotel with ties to the Nostrade family. Even so, the man in black next to me nods. Well, he can't exactly be lying to me. "Fine."

Before I walk in, I jerk the pin out of the back of his hand and tuck it in my pocket. I don't have to bother glancing back to know the guy has woken up, confused. This little pin is something like a memento from my mother. Or, I guess it'd be more accurate to say it's from her killer. Anyhow, back then, I had no idea what Nen actually was. I just knew that this pin sticking out of her body had the same glow that I sometimes exuded, so I took it. The glow it had faded after a few days, but I kept it anyway. It was only after I met Shalnark that I figured out it was a manipulator's tool. It's useful, though. Since I'm not a manipulator by nature, I can't seem to create my own darts to use, so I have to steal from someone else. I only have the one, though, so unless I want to 'borrow' some from Shal, I'd better not lose it. Not only would he probably decline lending out any, but if he actually gave me some I'd owe him.

I stop at the receptionist desk, picking a lollipop out of the mug sitting on the counter as I staunch my Zetsu. The lady behind the counter finally notices me after I do, setting down her phone.

As I stick the candy in my mouth, she asks, "May I help you?"

"Uhuh, yeah, I'm looking for a boy my age named Kurapika. He's affiliated with the Nostrade family, and I was lead to believe he's in here. What floor's he on?"

"Ah," the woman laughs uneasily. "I'm sorry, Ms. That information isn't available to anyone at the moment."

"I don't care if it's available," I clarify. "I came to see him, and I'm going to see him. Now, either you get me into contact with him, tell me where he is, or I'll kill you where you stand. Got it?"

"M-Ms! There are no weapons allowed-"

"Who said I'd need a weapon?"

Her hands shake as she searches my eyes. I keep eye contact, sucking the lollipop casually as I wait. Finally, she reaches for the phone. I crunch through the candy, startling her.

"O-one moment. I...I'll call Mr. Nostrade."

"Do anything funny," I finish the lollipop, "and you won't live till the end of your shift."

Gulping, she dials a number and raises the phone to her ear. "Yes? This is the receptionist, Mr. Nostrade. Yes, I understand….I understand, but there's a girl here who wants to see someone under your- Yes, I tried, but sir, she…."

Impatient, I hold my hand out and motion for her to fork over the phone. After only a second of hesitation, she hands it over and I put it up to my ear. With my other hand, I begin unwrapping a second sucker.

"...absolutely no one-"

"Helllooo, Mr. Nostrade," I greet. Immediately, he clams up on the other side. "I understand you're reluctant to see me, but I'm not here to see you. I mean, I don't even know you! I was told Kurapika is here with you. If you would just tell me where he is-"

"Who are you?"

I hiss, "Doesn't matter! I have no business with a weasel like you! Seriously, if you just tell me where Kurapika is, there won't be any trouble. I just wanna talk! You see, I gave Kurapika my number, but he just won't call me! Since I don't have his number, I've got no choice but to do stuff like this. Who are you, an ugly old man, to stand in between a young girl and her love?"

Although muted, indicating he pulled the phone away from his head, I can hear him yelling, "You'd better get your girlfriend in line, young man! I have high hopes for you, but I don't want your little girlfriend digging around in our business!"

"Sir, I don't have a girlfriend!"

"Just tell her to go away!"

After a moment of silence, "Hello?"

"Kurapika!" I've already memorized the sound of his voice. It wasn't that hard, since he was such an interesting person. "Hey, it's Corona! And by the way, I never said you were my boyfriend. Your boss just assumed what he wanted." Well, I did call him my love. It served it's purpose of creating an amusing scene.

"Corona?" Shock evidently lies in his voice.

"Yes?"

"Why are you here? Are you here, in this building?"

"Indeed I am," I confirm, "so why don't you tell me where you are? I'm here cause I have something you might be interested in knowing. Oh, and if you don't see me now, I won't tell you anything. It's not like I can hurt you or any of your comrades, remember? You made sure of that, didn't you?" Although I can't really feel it, the Nen blade is still there, still over my heart, just in case he's able to feel if it's been removed.

"I'm about to go to a meeting, but I can come see you after it's done," he informs me.

"Ooo, a meeting?" I inquire, interest piqued. "What nature of meeting? It's not one of those boring ones where you all sit around a large table and listen to each other drone on, right? Is it? If it's not, I wanna come!"

"No, you can't come."

"Hm...maybe you should know that information that I have has to do with a certain two thirteen year olds you might just know. If you know them, I think you'd really want to hear what I've got to say."

There's silence on the other end. Then, "Corona, would you be willing to be hired as an assassin?"

I blink, pausing with the lollipop in my mouth. "Assassin?"

"To guard against another attack on the auction. If you're willing, I'm sure I could convince Mr. Nostrade you're a worthwhile investment and you could come up here."

I grin. "So, you do know them."

"Are you willing or aren't you?"

"Well, I'm certainly qualified as an assassin, if I do say so myself. If the troupe attacks, though, I'm not gonna fight them. It's against the rules. But I suppose you're not offering the gig because you'll think I'll be a real ace card. You just wanna know what I have to say about Gon and Killua." It's possible none of the troupe will come tonight, anyway. I haven't heard anything about them planning to come, but, well, who knows? Chrollo can be a bit spontaneous sometimes. "Alright, then. Why not? Sign me up as an assassin."

"We're on the forty third floor."

Buzzzz

I hold the phone away, staring at it in disbelief. He actually hung up on me! Giggling, I hand the phone back to the receptionist.

"Did you hear that? I'm being hired by Mr. Nostrade, so there's no reason to report me as a suspicious person." Silent, she receives the phone back. Before I go over to the elevator door, I steal another sucker and stick it in my pocket since I'm not yet finished with my second one.

The elevator walls are all mirrors, making it seem endless with its reflections. I press the button for the forty third floor. As the doors slide shut, classical music floats through the enclosed space. It's not a piece I recognize, but I hum along like I know it anyway. If anyone could hear me right now, it'd be pretty obvious I've never heard this song before. Although my destination is forty three floors away from my starting point, it doesn't take long for the elevator to settle to a stop and the doors to reopen.

The opening doors reveal two people. One is an older man in one of those mafia suits, but the other has that beautiful blonde hair I like so much. I smile, the stick of my sucker protruding from between my teeth.

"This is her?" the man asks.

"Yes," Kurapika confirms. "Corona, this is Light Nostrade, the person who hired you."

"Pleasure to meet you," I greet him, sickeningly sweet. Ugh, high society manners...I hate it when people expect you to use them. In light of my distaste, I refrain from offering my hand to shake. Mr. Nostrade seems skeptical, but unbothered by my refusal of physical contact.

I step from the elevator and remove the candy from my mouth. "So, what's up with this meeting. You told me I was being hired as an assassin, but you never told me what the meeting's about. It better not be boring."

"It doesn't matter," Kurapika shakes his head. "Because of you, we're late."

"What's wrong with being late?"

"Come. Unless you want me to rescind your job offer," Mr. Nostrade threatens, "we'll head over now." He walks in front of the two of us. As we're walking, I remember my extra sucker and dig it out of my pocket.

I hold it in front of Kurapika. "You want one?"

"No. Regarding what you were saying earlier, though, what was it you had to tell me?"

"Oh yeah, that." I replace the lollipop in my pocket. "Well, there was a bounty placed on a good portion of the Phantom Troupe's heads, and your little buddies got themselves caught up in it."

"What happened to them?"

"They're not dead, relax. Actually, other than Gon's right hand, they were unharmed last I saw. The hand injury came from arm wrestling, too, in case you were wondering."

"...That's all you had to say?"

"Well, none of that's the important stuff." I can almost feel him bristle at my disregard for their safety. "What I wanted to tell you was that Nobunaga's keeping them at the base. It's probable they'll be let go after Chrollo returns, but Nobunaga wants to recruit the two."

"Recruit them?"

"We did just lose a member," I remind him. "Honestly, though, I think Chrollo would rather you join instead of either one of those kids. You're the one who managed to kill Uvo, after all." After taking one glance at his face, I continue. "Yeah, I thought as much. You didn't strike me as one to accept the offer. Even if you refuse him, though, he'll still find some sort of replacement. That's how the spider works."

"And," he searches for assurance, "you're sure they'll be fine?"

I shrug. "Fairly sure. As sure as I can be, when it concerns the troupe."

"Why did you tell me this?"

"Because I thought you might care. Do you? I'm not too experienced with the whole 'caring' thing, so I might be wrong. Was I wrong?"

"...You were right."

"Then there's no problem! And now I get to spend time with you! It's a win-win!"

We've stopped outside of a room, Mr. Nostrade reaching for the handle. Before we enter, Kurapika casts a sideways glance at me. "Why are you so interested in me?"

I stop sucking on my lollipop, the question actually causing me to pause. Why am I so interested in him? Well, there's the fact that he was able to take down the physically strongest member of the phantom troupe. I also really liked the magnificent red color of his eyes. Those are both completely understandable reasons….but I feel like those aren't the roots of my interest.

"...Maybe," I consider, "...Maybe I like the fact you seem to care so strongly. That's something I've never been able to do."

I had to do the lollipop thing. I don't know why. It just seemed like a necessity. Also, the phone thing. One thing I like having my characters do is hang up on whoever's on the other end before the other end can realize what's happening. It makes me feel like my characters are empowered. So every time I read the part where Corona gets hung up on, I can't help but laugh a little. It just felt like something Kurapika would do to her. So, how are you guys liking the story so far? Is it progressing too fast, or too slow? I'm a bit worried it has a slow progression, but that can be useful for building characters. How about predictions, then? Who thinks what will happen? It's always kinda cool to see where you guys think the story might be heading. As always, I look forward to hearing any thoughts you might have.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!