So I did all that math. Somehow. It was taken as a completion grade, too, so I was saved in that regard. On another note, regarding that nest story predicament of mine, I remembered there was actually another idea I had. Considering I forgot about it for a bit, it's highly unlikely I'll actually write it, but it was a Dangan Ronpa fanfic, if you've ever seen the anime of played the games. That's the thing, though. The one I want to write a fanfiction on is the second game, which is the only game out of the three that doesn't have an anime adaptation. So that brings up the conflict of whether it would fall under the anime or game section on here. I don't really want to worry about all that, cause I've got enough already to concern me. But I've got an obsession with this character from the second game named Nagito Komaeda. I came up with a love interest for him and all, but unfortunately I don't think that OC, Remi, will ever get her chance to shine.

I'll stick to anime for now, so enjoy Number Zero!

A pressure on my foot jolts me awake, but I find myself unable to open my eyes immediately. The door's open, and light streams in. As my eyes adjust, I retract my foot away protectively.

"Hey, wake up." That voice...it's that thug Mr. Lemmings hired. "I brought your meal."

I pry my eyes wider to glare up at him, my eyes flicker once to Kurapika to assure myself he's there. His head is hung, his blonde locks covering his eyes. Whether he's asleep of faking it, I don't know. Nor does it matter, really. The so-called meal that this guy's brought is just a roll and cup of water that're lying near me.

"You call that food?" I snarl in disgust.

"It's what you'll get," he states, kneeling down in front of me. Then he picks up the cup and lifts it to my face. "Drink."

"What?" I growl. "You think I can't do it myself?"

"You can't tilt it up with your chains, and if you die of dehydration, the boss won't pay me."

As much as I want to smack it away, my throat is dry. When was the last time I had something to drink? Humiliated, I accept the offer and gulp down the water. The moment the last drop is gone I shove it away, lashing out with my hand to slash the thug. He jerks back and drops the cup, which luckily is apparently plastic instead of glass. I've always kept my nails fairly sharp for self defense like this, ever since I was ten.

"How long have we been in here?" I hiss. My parched throat is what brought the question to mind. Although I'd normally not care much about the passage of time, I feel like Kurapika would want this information.

"It doesn't matter," the guy refuses.

I lunge, my arms nearly ripped out of their sockets by the restraint of the chains. It must be at least a day or more likely a few, because the drowsiness of the drugs has nearly worn off. My Nen is still inaccessible, but my strength has started to return. Even now, though, when I tense, my muscles quickly slip back into relaxation.

When he jumps, I demand, "Tell me."

"Listen, girl," he clears his throat. "Do you realize what position you're in?"

"Was my threat to skin you alive not enough for you?"

He stiffens, hand shooting out smack me. I catch his hand. While normally I'd be able to break it, right now all I can do is stop his fist.

"Resist," he threatens, "and I'll beat up the other one."

I bare my teeth. "Bastard." But I release his hand and he finishes following through, landing his blow on the left side of my head. How long has it been since I've taken a hit like this? The last time someone was able to land a fist on me, it was Chrollo, back when he was still training me. Compared his him, this guy is pathetic. Even so, I'm not used to being hit.

After bruising my cheek, the man stands and jabs his foot into my stomach. The sudden impact causes me to gasp, but he doesn't let up. One more in the stomach, one higher on the chest, one knocking my left leg into a bad angle, another in the stomach….then one that shoves the breath out of me and I hack, gasping to get it back.

"Stop it."

Although the pain entreats me to keep my eyes closed, the sound of his voice opens them. Along with the regular white light that flows in from the door, another glow seeps bloody red. And it comes from Kurapika's eyes.

"What was that?" they guy asks, jabbing me again in the stomach. Aching, I draw up my legs to guard my torso from any more attacks. The next kick lands on my already suffering knee, causing me to grit my teeth against a threatening whimper. When I get out of these chains, this guy won't be dying quickly. I'll repay every bruise he gives twenty times over before I skin him. Maybe I'll break a few bones for good measure. That might make him a bit harder to skin, though.

"I told you to stop. Leave her alone. Are you proud of yourself, beating up a weakened girl who can't run away?"

"Should I beat you insead? Your little preaching mouth is kinda annoying."

"You said you wouldn't touch him," I hiss, my chest stinging as I breathe in.

"Now, when'd I say that?"

"You implied it and you know it, you bastard!"

He laughs. "What a dirty mouth for a little girl! I heard you're the daughter of Mr. Hale. You should speak a bit more proper, or he might try to disown you. He might try to anyway, after seeing what you've turned into. The way you dress, I wouldn't be surprised if that man has a grandchild on the way already. Maybe he already has a few."

I flush, even though my body is wracked with pain. "I'm not some loose slut!"

"Really? That's too bad. Will you change your mind for twenty bucks?"

Physical pain I can live with. When Chrollo was training me, there were times I couldn't move for days following after. This, however… Anyone else would've been dead before they could say so much about me, as he would be if not for these damn drugs.

"You…" I seethe. "When I get out of these chains, you'll wish some demon would've dragged you to hell to suffer for eternity."

"Leave her alone," Kurapika repeats, his lethal gaze flashing, "or you'll regret it."

"I'll regret it, will I? Look at the two of you. What, are you each other's girlfriends?"

"I'm a guy!"

Before I can react, the thug grabs Kurapika by the hair and drags his face for a closer look. "So you are. I don't think I've ever met such a girly guy, but I've heard about them. You'll make me a lot of money with that face and those eyes!"

"Let him go!" I snarl, wrenching with all my strength against the chains. My wrists crack with the strain, but I keep pulling. Still, with my limited strength, they won't break. I should stop. If I continue, I could break my wrists. But if I don't do something, he could hurt Kurapika! He could sell him! He could take him away from me! The mere idea of him gone makes my limbs shake, my heart race. I don't like it! I want him to stay! I won't allow him to leave!

"Is he your boyfriend?" the ruffian inquires. "It looked like the two of you were fighting when we found you."

Boyfriend? He's not my...well….what is a boyfriend? Isn't it, like, a lover? It is, isn't it? He's certainly not that. He's not, but….it's true that it would be nice to have a partner. My standards are high, though. Even Shalnark didn't meet my requirements. What are my requirements, though? Whatever they are, I don't dislike the idea. Kurapika...as my partner….

Now's not the time for that.

Kurapika yanks away from the thug, all the while glaring angrily up at him. "Stop worrying, Corona. I can take care of myself."

"You're weaker than I am!" I insist.

The guy suddenly laughs. "You're weaker than this little girl? How pathetic!"

"Just because I'm stronger," I growl, "doesn't mean he's by any means weak!"

"Whatever you say, Little Coro."

I flinch. As angry as I already am, that nickname still gets me. "Shut the fuck up you bastard!"

"While we're talking," he ignores me, "I'm curious about that coin you had. It's got a unique symbol on it. Where'd you get it from?"

"Why? You gonna sell that, too?" I grumble.

He snorts. "'Course not! What's it made out of? Painted iron? It won't get me anything worth the time."

"It's solid gold."

He stops short, blinking as my words sink in. "W...what?

"It's heavy for iron, isn't it?" I point out. I woulda thought he'd of figured that out on his own, honestly. It is, after all, gold.

"You mean... " His hand goes to his pocket. "Just where did you pick that up from? Why is some street rat like you carrying around a solid gold coin with a twelve legged spider on it?"

Seeing his uncertainty, I twist my lips into a grin. "Guess."

Although I can't see his face properly, I'd bet he's gone white. The rest of his body's gone rigid. "You're playing me. Don't think I'll fall for a lie like that."

"It's not a lie," Kurapika pipes up, his eyes refusing to settle. For a split second, I swear I feel his aura swelling, but then it's gone again. "I met her when I buried a member of the troupe."

"Ridiculous!" The guy pivots on his heel, hastily retreating to the door. "Bluffing isn't going to help you any!"

Normally I'd roll his eyes at his obvious cowardice, but now I just moan at the throbbing pain he inflicted onto me. If I wasn't as strong as I am, though, I might've ended up with splintered bones, or even ruptured organs. Much more than just a little bruising. With a few more words refusing the truth, the thug once again bangs the door shut and all light is abruptly cut off. Even Kurapika's eyes darken, depriving us of our only internal light.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

I curl into a ball the best I can, careful not to rest my head on my injured knee. "I'll live. Are you worried about me?"

"Just afraid I'll lose my conversation partner."

Partner…. "So you admit you want to keep me around?"

He sighs. "Yes, I'd prefer you stay."

I smile and wince, breathing carefully as not to feel the stinging in my chest. "Glad to hear it."

"You're easy to please, aren't you?"

I blink. I am? That might be the first time I've heard those words. Father was always upset whenever I asked him for something selfish, and Mother would always shower me with too much I didn't want, and would freak out if I said it was too much. Even Chrollo admitted to having trouble keeping me satisfied. And Kurapika finds me easy to please?

"That's probably just because I like you so much," I realize as I say it. I want his approval, for him to like me. I want it so much that even these little words of acceptance elate me. Have I ever wanted anything so badly? Even my freedom I claimed on a whim. I just decided after seeing my mother dead that I didn't want to listen to the man I call father for my entire life, so I left. I didn't yearn for freedom, I wasn't desperate for it. I wouldn't hurt myself for it, and yet for Kurapika, both of my wrists ache, and my body groans and screams at me to heal it.

It seems so stupid to bring myself harm for his sake, but if it happened again I'd do the same. I mean, in a way, my desire to stay with him is selfish. I want him to stay with me, for him to think about me, to want to be with me. I want him to be mine. So, in a way, it's not like I'm hurting myself for anyone other than me. That justifies it, doesn't it?

"Hey…" I wonder, voice quiet. "You'll let me stay with you after we get out, right?"

"It doesn't matter if I let you or not, does it? You'll follow me anyway."

"But you won't hate me for it? You won't try to send me away?"

He's quiet for a moment. "No. I won't."

I close my eyes, somehow, my pain dulled. "Thank you."

Hehe...he...sorry Corona. If it's any consolation for her beat down, Chrollo probably did worse when he was training her. Her spider coin kinda saved her, there. Had he not realized she really was involved with the Phantom Troupe, she would've been in a lot worse shape. The guy probably thought it was some trinket she was carrying around, like a toy circulating around kids who admired the troupe and thought it cool. I mean, she doesn't exactly look like someone who's one of the strongest fighters in the world. I should give you guys a heads up that I've been a bit occupied, with math and a paper to write, so I'm beginning to fall behind with writing this. The next update should be on time, but the one after might be a little late. I'll try to keep that from happening, but this is your warning.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!