Okay, sorry about the delayed update. I moved over the weekend, and I just got wifi back today. Of course the first thing I did was get on here and upload this for you guys. It was stressful, though. So much happened! First there's the move, then my guinea pig died (may her soul rest in peace), and then there was the stress of having so much to do with school and extracurricular activities...I'm actually suspecting I worried myself sick. I'm not one to worry, either, but yesterday I was down for the count. I got home and crashed in bed. I feel better today, though. Yesterday's nap did me good. But now I have to driver's ED, which I've insisted to my parents is unnecessary, and take a test I highly doubt I'll pass. Should be fun.

Enough about me, though. More about Corona!

When we take off, I be sure to have a window seat. There hadn't been any windows in the room we'd been in earlier, but the next room in has proven to host extravagant windows on either of its sides. I lean against the windowsill using my elbows as support and watch the rain run by the glass. Beneath us, another airship awaits Pakunoda and the two teenage boys. Giant stadium lights illuminate the landing pad, making it impossible for anyone to approach the airship unnoticed.

Nearby, Kurapika also watches out the window. He's on the exact opposite end of the room, however, and acts as if I'm a ghost. When nothing happens below us, I turn my attention to him. He doesn't even bother to glance my way. Tapping my finger on the windowsill, I release a bit of my aura in his direction. He doesn't even wince. I let my annoyance flow with my aura, finally getting a reaction out of him. All he does his raise an eyebrow, though.

I grimace, turning back to the window. A few minutes later, the three we're waiting for step into the lit area. Gon and Killua walk before Pakunoda, who steadily keeps pace behind.

I sigh, letting my eyes wander. So she's really not going to do anything. That's when I spy another figure, someone approaching the airship from behind the lights. I perk up, squinting to get a better look. When I see who it is, I relax my eyes and grin. If I was a dog, my tail would be wagging. I knew that joker was planning something!

"Hisoka!"

Kurapika whips his head to look at me, and I gladly point out the clown to him. As soon as Hisoka's presence has registered, he takes out his phone and quickly dials someone. Hisoka below us puts his phone to his ear. As he does, Pakunoda takes notice of him and starts to panic.

"What do you want?" Kurapika practically growls. I purse my lips to suppress laughter as he expresses such clear distaste for his partner. After a few seconds, he hisses, "Bastard!" Then, after a few seconds more, "Fine."

I don't ask until Pakunoda, Gon, Killua, and Hisoka have all boarded the other airship and it's begun to take off. "What's he here for?"

"To fight that brother you love so much," he replies, still staring at his phone.

"Now, when'd I ever say I love him?" I chide. Even as the words concerning Chrollo pass from my lips, my thoughts are on Hisoka. So he really is going to fight Chrollo? Does he know Chrollo can't come into contact with troupe members? If he does, he must've quit the troupe. Considering his personality, I wouldn't be surprised. Well, I'm all for their fight, cause I'd love to see that horrific clown taken out, but does he plan on fighting Chrollo while he can't use his Nen? Hisoka must not know about that part.

The flight takes forever, it seems. There's no entertainment! No music, no games, no TV...nothing! I can't tease Leorio, cause he's flying this thing, and I'm not sure I like this Melody chick, so I don't exactly wanna talk to her. I'd banter a bit with Chrollo, save for the fact that one, he can't talk with duct tape over his mouth and two, such 'bantering' with me would kill him. That leaves Kurapika, who I'm glad to converse with, but he's obviously not so keen about it.

"So...how'd you meet Gon and Killua?" I ask innocently. It's an innocent enough question, isn't it? But even so, I get Kurapika's glare in reward for asking it. "Oh, come on! It's not even like I'm asking you about your dead clan! Can't we just have a friendly little talk?"

"Don't mention the Kurta Clan."

"Excuse me for bringing it up. If you'd just answered my question, I woulda left them out of it."

He rubs his temple, massaging it as if he has a headache. "I met them while taking the hunter exam. Same with Leorio."

"And how'd you meet Melody?"

He shoots me an evil eye. "Work."

"Oh yeah, that Nostrade guy. Are you gonna be working for him for awhile? I mean, it'll kinda be suckish if I just follow you around while you're on bodyguard duty after all this is done."

"And why," he inquires, "do you think you'll be following me around?"

"Because I want to," I state simply. Hey, if he doesn't like that, too bad. He brought it on himself. If he'd left me able to stay with Chrollo, I might've chosen to stay with my brother longer. He sealed his own fate. "I've been wondering about that outfit of yours, too. What's up with it? I like it, it's cool, but it's the first time I've seen clothes like that."

"There's no need for me to answer that."

"Oh, is that so…?" I wonder, absently adding a bit of a threatening undertone to my words. The flash of red in his now brown eyes signifies he's caught my drift. I can't attack him, but nothing is preventing me from prodding into his past and awakening unpleasant memories for him.

"They're the traditional clothes of my clan," he replies reluctantly. His voice clearly conveys the message End of Story.

I bite back the rest of my questions, understanding that I'm pushing it. Still, I add, "They suit you."

Eventually, the airships begin their descent. The location is in the middle of nowhere, a rocky landscape with no signs of life. Each airship lands on opposing ends of a large, flat rock, and opens its hatch to let off its passengers. I go to follow the other three off the ship, but Kurapika stops me.

"You stay here."

"I'm seeing my brother off," I counter, meeting his unwavering gaze. Like that, both of us stand still. He breaks first, conceding. With that, Kurapika, Melody, Chrollo and I all take our leave of the ship.

Then there's just the eight of us, four facing four, on each side of the rock. Kurapika and Killua both have phones in their hands, by their ears. Before the exchange begins, Kurapika briefly hands over his phone to Melody after ordering Killua to hold his phone over his heart.

"There's nothing wrong with him," she assures the chain user, turning the phone back over to him.

"Alright, then let's begin," Kurapika declares. The chains vanish from around Chrollo, as if they were never even there, and he begins walking towards the other side. Similarly, Killua and Gon move at the same pace to rejoin their companions. As I watch Chrollo getting slowly farther, he removes his duct tape and throws it to the ground before casually stuffing both hands into the pocket of his fur lined coat.

I'm gonna miss cuddling up against him and that coat of his. It was so soft...

I jump when a hand touches my arm, wrenching away. Melody retracts her hand, whispering, "I'm sorry."

"Whatever you're thinking," I growl, "you're wrong."

When each side has gotten their respective people back, our group files back into our airship. The second the hatch has closed behind us, Gon collapses to the floor.

"Ah, that was scary!"

Killua laughs, plopping to the floor beside his buddy as Gon begins to laugh with him. Melody smiles at the two contently, and I definitely don't miss Kurapika's sigh of relief.

"Hey, you," I tap Gon's back with the back of my foot to get his attention. "A man should never admit he's scared."

"Ah! Corona!" He scrambles to his feet just to do nothing, staring up at me. I, in turn, stand and look down back at him. Then, he grins widely. "Did you help out Kurapika?"

I smile, chuckling softly. "Yeah, I did."

"Thank you!"

I stumble back a step when he wraps his arms around my waist, then burst into laughter. "Don't thank me. The one I helped wasn't you! You should tell your blonde friend to try thanking me!"

"You didn't thank her?" Arms still around me, Gon glares at Kurapika playfully.

He still hesitates for a moment, but only a moment. Under the criticism of his younger companion, he relents. "Thank you, Corona."

"You're just gonna have to repay me," I snicker. "I'm just going to assume I'm not going to hear any complaints about me tagging along after you."

He tries to hide it, but I can hear his groan. "How long do you plan on sticking around?"

I think. "Until I find something I like better. You're pretty interesting, though, so don't plan on something like that coming along anytime soon."

"Am I a thing now?" he complains.

"The object of my interest, yes."

"Kurapika," Melody speaks. "It might not be so terrible to have her on our side for awhile."

"She's a spider, though!" Killua exclaims. "Are you telling me after all of this, you're fine with just casually having a spider with you?"

"What," Kurapika inquires, "makes you think that I'm okay with it?"

"You shouldn't be so uptight, Killua." I extend a hand to him, Gon stepping aside. "Come on, just shake my hand. I look forward to seeing you at the cafe in a few days."

"I'm not going."

"Killua!" Gon scolds. "We promised!"

"I'll be waiting," I retract my hand, untouched. "This time, I'll pay for my own stuff. Unless you want to try me at arm wrestling. You're stronger than Gon, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," he brags. "I've been training much longer than he has."

Gon reveals, "He grew up in a family of assassins!"

"Assassins, huh?" With that, something clicks in my brain. Not only is he an assassin, but he showed no signs of being impressed with having met someone as famous as a spider, and his white hair… "By any chance are you a Zoldyck?"

"So what if I am? You scared?"

I grin. "I've met your old man a couple of times! I must say, Silva's amazing! Not only did he nearly kill Chrollo, but he escaped the fight between them I watched without a single injury! You've got some impressive blood, kid! Now I really am curious as to which of us would win at arm wrestling!"

"I'm not arm wrestling with you." Even though he says this, the praise over his old man seems to have sparked a bit of childish pride in his eyes.

"I'll go tell Leorio to start us back home," Kurapika dismisses himself. I can't help, viewing him from behind, but to think he looks kinda tired. Today must've been extremely stressful for him. I hope his lack of energy doesn't have anything to do with me.

If it does, he's gonna have to get used to it.

With this, I can probably say part one is over. In my mind, I've divided up this story into two halves. Whether they'll actually be even or not, I don't know, but from here on out I'm leaving the canon storyline behind. While in the anime, we see Gon and Killua go off to Greed Island, here we'll be sticking together with Kurapika. I can't wait! This is where I really get to exercise my creative license. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go eat so I don't starve listening to my driver's ED teacher lecture for hours about things I could figure out in about the span of ten minutes on a computer.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!