Thank you everyone for bearing with me! Especially to those who let me know their feedback despite this arc relatively not as 'reactable' as the others lol. Hope the following chapters (*cough* GI Arc *cough*) would be more exciting for all of us! XDD
WARNING: A lot of hints are given out here. So watch out!
AD: In case you didn't notice, WE HAVE A NEW COVERIMAGE! yay! XD The old one's still of my DA account in case you still want to see it. Hehe
2. Wanna write a story about underappreciated pairs? Fear not for we made a contest! XD Details are in the Stories Galore Forum. :)
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own Hunter X Hunter
…
CHAPTER 17: Head X Limbs X Spider
METEOR CITY, 10 Years ago
Kuroro Lucifer, 16 years old, stood tall and mighty against the sunset- on the peak of the tall mountain mostly comprised of scrap metal. On the side of the mountain stood 6 of his closest friends: Pakunoda, Machi, Feitan, Franklin, Phinks, and Nobunaga.
He had called them in for a meeting. He had just come home from school, but his turtle-neck uniform did not make him look weak at all. In fact, no matter what he wore… his stern aura would still be seen by his precious family. They watched his back patiently waiting for him to speak.
"Friends." He initiated, staring at the vast piles of scraps that made their slum home. "There is a much, much bigger world than this, as you should already know." He said. A few of them did go to school, after all. They knew the world was large, and different cultures interacted with each other in their own different ways.
But Kuroro did not want to be a historian. He simply loved knowledge- for knowledge made a person great. He had become bored of knowing the world from mere books. He wanted to go out and travel- bringing his most precious friends with him.
But then… he also wanted more than knowledge. He wanted to own whatever manifestation of these intellectual endeavors as well. But he knew there were too many things to be able to get them all in a life time fairly. Besides, growing up in Meteor City didn't quite teach them how to get what they want with what common people call as 'fair and proper'. They were trained bandits, after all. Raised and true.
But... it was time to stop working for the weak-bodied people of the Mafia, and start earning things for themselves.
His nen ability was stealing other people's nen, too, and it was waiting to be used to its full potential.
But most importantly...? He mused and looked at his family. It would be the start of a new life for them.
A life with a purpose.
.
Pakunoda... Pakunoda wanted to touch him.
She had always wanted to, not just to satisfy the odd sensation in her stomach every time she saw him. But she also read what he was thinking as it was impossible any other way.
What was he thinking about now? Suddenly announcing he wanted to start a group of bandits with 13 members. They were just 7 at the moment, but he said he'll find qualifying members soon enough.
Would she ever know?
She shrugged. Maybe she wasn't supposed to care. She decided to follow him whenever he went a long time ago, when she was in turmoil and he was there for her. Some might call it blind admiration... but to her, that oath was good enough.
She would follow her leader until the end.
"Why 13, though?" Machi asked. Pakunoda stared at her. Like her, Machi also swore to follow their leader to the ends of earth.
"Spiders have 12 legs." He said, smiling. "I will be the head."
"Why Spiders?"
Kuroro kept his smile and looked at every and each one of them- as if making silent contracts he had no doubt they would accept.
"Spiders… are marvelous creatures. Strong and cunning—agile and admirable." He smiled. "And… because even without one of it's limbs- -or even its head… it will continue moving.
"Do you understand?"
And they all nodded.
Deep, and dark, black orbs stared blankly at the adjacent car. It didn't twitch as it moved and got replaced by another, and it didn't flinch as the car he was in suddenly moved as well. His mind, really, was thinking of thoughts that would lead to one single thing. 'Tonight, in this bustling and dirty city...,' he mused.
'The spider might as well lose its head.'
Kuroro believed that the organization he created would never cease to exist. He was but a mere member- a mere head- and there was no choice between his life and his team. He trusted that everybody understood that fact. All of them did, even when small traces of reluctance was sensed, nod their heads in agreement.
Unless they were Indian. Then it would mean the opposite.
He coolly shifted his gaze to the blonde beside him. He thought for a moment that the infamous chain-user was actually a girl, but it turned out he was just cross-dressing. Bummer, he could have used his charm out of this one.
Then again, the hatred in the Kuruta's eyes was too much.
Hopefully they would take the logical course of action to what the Kuruta asked for. He demanded Pakunoda go alone, after all, and Kuroro hoped that they would follow her and they would see this boy's weakness. Even he was blinded by the boy's hatred and drive for revenge, but seeing his interactions with his members up close ensured he found out.
The kuruta would never sacrifice his friends, he realized. Anyone would think otherwise looking at his personality- but Kuroro now knew better. He could only hope his team saw that and take the necessary action.
Although… he was certainly impressed with the well thought-out plan that this Kuruta had formulated in such a short time…
The Kuruta frowned at the Spider's stare.
BAM!
Kurapika clenched his fist.
It was just that he seriously wanted to wipe that apathetic look on this bastard's face at the moment, but apparently it was an illogical course of action, as Senritsu and Leorio vehemently told him. Kurapika willed himself to calm. Of course it was- he was risking Gon and Killua's life with every punch.
Gon and Killua. His friends, and he could never lose them- he knew that. They were his new foundations. And yet his madness that fuelled his thirst for revenge would never be lost- not like this.
He forced himself to remember past events and relive them, in case he allowed for more loopholes. He could not afford to fail again.
-Flashback-
CITY STREETS, A Few Hours Prior
Kurapika stood there- under the rain- clenching his fist so hard that it would bleed.
Darn it. DARN IT ALL.
How could he have lost it so easily?
"Kurapika…" Gon's soft anxious voice echoed through his head. She was calling him that way just a few minutes prior- just before they ran after the Spider's subgroup. The spiders split up during the stake out, and he and Gon were grouped together.
But then… when the spiders placed their sights on his direction- when they stopped their tracks, sensing their presence… the anger welling up combined with the anxiety of being found -and maybe the anticipation for a decisive fight -just made him… snap.
"Who's there?" The needle woman asked guardedly; and Kurapika felt his head nearing its limit. He was ready for the kill. He really was- he realized now that he was hungry for it.
But then Gon went out of hiding.
His eyes widened. 'GON!?'
She stood there, ignoring his mental pleas. That moment- Kurapika froze. His rage replaced with terror. It was then that the needle woman who spoke again. "You." She said in familiarity. "The other one as well. Come out."
He let out a deep breath and gestured to step out when Killua appeared, acting as if he was the one who accompanied Gon the whole time. He quickly decided to show himself as well when Senritsu held his hand, silently asking him to freeze.
And with that, his being got filled with disappointment and despair.
His precious friends were in danger… all because of him.
And he could only watch them go.
…
NISPEDANA TOWERS, Several Minutes Prior
Kurapika nodded at the hotel's costumer as he asked for his assistance for his baggage. He was cross-dressing as an attendant and at the moment and he forced his heart beat to calm as he saw Gon and Killua being held captive. He shifted his gaze to the couch.
"You idiot! My sight would black-out and I swear I could kill you if you don't get here by 7:00pm sharp!" Leorio, who was acting as a very hot-tempered boss, yelled. He was assigned to provide the diversion and served as a messenger. Admittedly, he was a great actor. And he knew it. Leorio would praise himself when he was certain those two kids were safe again.
Seeing them in that position, so open to getting attacked by any of the spiders, made him frantic. But he quickly returned to his normal, calm, self- despite the fact that half of the Ryodan was just a few meters away from him. Those two… and many others were depending on him, now. Gon and Killua sacrificed themselves because believed he was the only one who could defeat the spider.
He was not about to fail them.
The only thing to hope for now… was that they get the message: "There will be a black-out by 7pm. Be ready."
And he could see that they did.
...
Killua and Gon absorbed the message almost simultaneously. They mentally grinned and conditioned themselves, feeling the other one doing the same.
Unfortunately, Pakunoda was there. They had to be ready not to recall any dangerous memories when she touched them. They quickly conditioned their minds to think of vague thoughts- and only vague thoughts- the instant Pakunoda touched them.
Tick Tock Tick Tock
5 minutes before 7 and they could hear their heart pounding like hell. They needed more diversion. The two decided to make an attempt to escape for the 1st time that day, particularly to avoid Pakunoda reading them. Killua provided that (by kicking) and the two of them ended up getting strangled instead of just getting held.
Gon let out a deep breath as she got held upside down. She could feel the blood going down and she was starting to get dizzy… She looked around to distract herself. Her eyes ended a certain hotel person. It was a girl… but she could tell it was Kurapika.
Gon would normally be amused by Kurapika dressing up twice (one as a girl, and the other one with surprisingly the same style as Kaito) if she hadn't witnessed the darkness he was fighting for and with, first-hand.
She shook away all the thoughts and darkened her mind with as little thoughts as possible. Thankfully, when Pakunoda used her nen on them she was doing just that.
And then the black-out came…,
BAM!
"SHIT!"
And the two kids fought for their lives.
...
They injured a few of the members, especially Killua who could easily see in the dark.
But in the end, these people were too strong- -they were not able to escape. But even when the lights went on and they were caught, the calming Spiders soon entered a state of pure anxiety.
Kuroro Lucifer was missing.
-End of Flashback-
Kurapika stared at the window and held his phone tightly. He had already given Pakunoda the instructions for the exchange.
Pakunoda. The person most probably to follow what he wanted. Kuroro obviously led himself to believe otherwise, but Kurapika was certain of the woman's actions. He needed to restrict that troublesome ability of hers as well.
He sighed and let his peripheral view get an ugly glimpse of the man he hated so. He knew all too well that Pakunoda would not sacrifice this bastard, just as Kurapika wouldn't be able to sacrifice those two.
He clenched his fist.
He remembered the despair he felt when he thought the spiders were dead- his purpose in life gone. But he realized now that he felt much more horrible thinking those two would be lost.
And he was the one who put them there in that position
He felt so, so, stupid for not seeing this sooner.
He will save them. No matter what the cost.
…even if he had to free this person who killed his people.
Later that night, three blimps occupied the empty sky thousands of kilometers above sea level. They were above an odd area full of small flat mountains. Kurapika looked at the other two air vehicles and let out a deep breath. Kuroro, Senritsu, and Leorio were with him. On the other blimp was Pakunoda, Killua, and Gon. While the last one -which was not even supposed to be there- -was occupied solely by Hisoka.
It seemed that he was too eager to battle Kuroro. Too bad he'd be disappointed.
Kurapika shifted his gaze, once more on Kuroro. He had already cast his chain on him and Pakunoda prior to take-off. Now they were going for the final step: the exchange.
The three blimps landed near simultaneously on a large rock structure in the middle of that area. A gust of wind hit them immediately as the opened the hatch and walked out the vehicle. Gon and Killua gulped, while Kurapika and Leorio's hearts stopped.
This was it.
Time ran slowly, everyone putting their guards up to their maximum. The kids and Kuroro crossed paths, slowly reaching their side to safety- the kids to them, and Kuroro to Hisoka and Pakunoda.
Kurapika couldn't stop his feet from running towards the two and meeting them half-way there. Leorio and Senritsu did the same and the three had a group hug before any of them noticed it.
"I'm so sorry I put you up to this." Was all he could say.
"N'aw." Gon said while Killua just sighed at the sappy scene the three of them were making. They were really like children to an older brother, so he shrugged it off.
"Let's just hope he stays that way."
"Uhn."
…
Tap
On the other side of the steep plateau, Pakunoda stared at their leader. They were not allowed to make contact so their eyes could only meet. With one look, a part of her felt like falling.
He was disappointed in her.
She could not blame him, of course. He never lacked making them understand the doctrine of why he chose a spider. And yet, she followed her own will and threatened to destroy the organization that he created for them.
He passed by her after giving her that look and he proceeded to the hungry-looking Hisoka. Pakunoda let out a deep breath and went to the blimp for her alone. Hisoka was going to find out about the condition the hard-way, but he wouldn't go and kill the helpless boss.
So she decided to do what he wanted her to do: To leave him.
Leave him and fix what she ruined.
Sigh. Pakunoda looked at the stars, hearing the flying vehicles propellers as she entered a blank daze.
It looked like the spider's going to have to lose a leg.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Five gunshots. Her memories pounded to the five people who was with her when the spider was born. It was then when she started to hear it- the cold materialized chain slithering along the lifeless ground.
At that instant she looked at her comrades for these past 10 years. Every nook, every feature- everything registered to her brain in that split second before her death.
She had broken the rule that no one was to know what had happened earlier. But instead, she shot them her memories- giving it to them. Giving them the responsibility of fixing everything, because she was useless and she couldn't—shouldn't—do anything else.
Perhaps this was what her beloved wanted. Mentally, she sneered at herself for the thought.
Because in the end, she was doing this for something else.
She looked at her comrades.
For someone who had seen countless of other people's memories, only a few of hers came to mind. It was odd- those two kids were included in those selected recollections.
"He's our friend. So we don't want him to kill any more people."
She smiled.
Friend, eh? What a nice sounding word-
SNAP!
A gasp came out of her mouth.
.
.
And Pakunoda was gone.
Days Later
Thump
Leorio's fist hit the cold cement wall out of frustration. He just walked out of the room where Kurapika rest,and was then starting to blankly look around their hideout to distract himself.
A few days had already passed since the Spider incident, and Kurapika was not looking any healthier. He fainted the same night they parted with the Ryodan. He had been extremely sick since then. Leorio couldn't pinpoint anything but the extreme stress and pain he must have been suffering.
It was odd, Gon said, as if there was an invisible force just making him suffer.
He went back inside the room, the anxiety was even greater. They could see that Kurapika was not only hiding them how he was feeling -he was also hiding the cause. Gon frowned and she could only watch him from the side. Senritsu got more anxious during certain moments Kurapika's heart became terrifyingly frantic. She never failed to tell the others of these moments. And Killua was pacing back and forth, almost making a mark of his trail on the floor.
Now… Kurapika was sleeping as he sat in a corner- a seemingly comfortable position for him. Gon gulped. It felt like…. Kurapika was trying to protect himself- -like he was using the wall as a shield and he was fighting off something they couldn't see.
It was so depressing how helpless they were.
"His heart has calmed down." Senritsu announced. And Leorio sighed walking out the door (again) to hang out somewhere. Killua only held the wall, while Gon her chest.
Zephile looked at how exasperated everyone looked and sighed. "You should all rest. All of you barely got enough sleep since this started."
They looked at him and nodded in agreement. This was the first time Kurapika had calmed like this, so Senritsu commented they better take this as an opportunity to rest.
They all gestured to leave. Except Gon who remained stiff.
"Demo…"
Killua held her shoulders firmly. "Gon."
"Want to take the first shift in watching Kurapika, then?" Senritsu smiled and Gon nodded passively. The small woman then shifted her gaze to the anxious Killua.
"Killua. Let's go?" She smiled and Killua stared, suddenly ambivalent. But in the end, after looking at everyone in alteration, he finally succumbed.
"A-Ah."
And they finally left.
…
Kurapika was having a rather bittersweet dream. He was back 4 years ago- -back to where it all started. Who would have thought everything would end the way it did. The valley where his clan resided was basically a paradise. His unconscious body shook.
How could those demons enter his paradise?
With that, he abruptly opened his eyes. He had barely enough sleep and when he did all those nightmares come to mind and remind him how miserable he was.
But then, as soon as he returned to the present, that last thought suddenly didn't make any sense.
He smiled.
Gon was sitting in seiza and her head was leaning down abruptly at certain intervals that signalled she was falling asleep. He gestured to catch her attention by gently touching her shoulder when she abruptly slapped herself awake.
She blinked in surprise when she noticed his befuddled state. But her embarrassed expression didn't last long (not that it ever did) and she grinned widely. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." He said patting the floor beside him. Gon understood and sat there. Somehow, it was hard to speak face-to-face with anyone at the moment.
Besides, it felt like those two's nens was right beside Gon and this disconcerted him so.
Gon noticed the instantaneous change in expression and looked at him. "What are you fighting with, Kurapika?"
"Nothing."
"We're your friends, Kurapika. You know you don't have to fight this alone."
"I'm not."
"Uh-huh."
"It's true. You can't even see them."
"Them?"
"…"
"Kurapika…"
He sighed. There was no way out of this one. And so, after one heavy sigh- he told her that Pakunoda and Uvogin remained to fight with him beyond the grave.
Her eyes widened. "Like g-ghosts?" She gasped and then asked him where they were. He pointed at the spot she sat before and she whipped her head towards that direction, surprising him to no end.
"Pakunoda-san, please understand that Kurapika is not at fault here. I'm not saying its fully your fault but please leave him alone."
Silence
And Kurapika could only laugh. Leave it up to Gon to make everything somewhat… lighter. Really though, recalling his condition and his nen ability it truly felt like he was never going to escape from their web. But for now, he needed to reassure Gon that nothing would happen to him.
"Will they remain forever?"
"No. It's a law of nature that sooner or later- this force will fade."
"That's good." She whispered. "I'm still worried."
"Don't. I'll be able to handle it."
"I know you will." She corrected. "What I'm worried about is how they will move."
"They would continue to move. Even without their blasted head."
"But they know something similar will happen if they come after me, so until Kuroro gets freed- I will be safe from them."
"Except the ghosts."
"They're not ghosts, exactly. Just their nen. The will they spent their lives fuelling remained here."
"…" Obviously, she didn't fully understand the concept. But she smiled nevertheless.
"Whatever happens though, just give us a call. We'll be there to support you."
"It doesn't mean you should only call us when something comes up though."
He chuckled. "I'll call as often as I can."
"Be sure it's often, though."
"Hai, hai."
And with that final gaze into each other's eyes, Gon let out a beautiful smile.
"Take good care of yourself, Kurapika."
How could he not? She was making it sound like a sin, after all, to punish himself.
So, in the end, Kurapika smiled despite his pale face.
"Of course."
.
.
END OF CHAPTER XVII
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 18: Test X Jealousy X Departures
REPLIES TO ANGELS
SerenadePanda- D'aw..., thank you for the review! I'm kinda glad the story blew the sleepiness away, too! lol. Kinda because you have to sleep! XDD Now i'm thinking of weird pedo pair moments. lololol
Papilio .Ageha- You hate Neon so much! Haha. I'm curious as to how curable this anti-Neon syndrome of yours is..., cuz she'll be reappearing. XDD Thanks for the comment!
Into A Dream- Hehe. I'm glad you liked the line! hahaha. I thought Gon needed to hear something along those lines, anyway. XD Thanks for the review~
Nickirem .Aqua. Pearl - (ch6) Of course! XD And now the GI Arc's starting, I can only hope it'll be exciting for all of us! Haha. Thank you for the reviews as well~! XD(ch15) Yaoi, eh? Hmn... I'll consider it, but it all depends on the upcoming events. ;)
cobalt eyes- Yay! Glad my rush was worth it. Ahaha. Belated HNY, and thank you for the reviewww~!
AsukaSaru- Ahaha. Glad you liked the line and Neon. lol. Thanks for the review as well! XD And about updating... I may review a chapter at a time, but you seriously have to update soon as well! XDD
SheShe-AnimeLuver- Did you just change your name again? XD If so, then I was typing this when you did!lol. Thank you for the review~! And btw, there's a new coverimage. XD Hope you guys liked it and the old one's still in my DA acct anyway. lol. Finally, you and your friends are so CUTE! XD Please pass funny kitty I think the same way about you guys, dreamgirl that I'm relieved to hear my English is good and that I am, in fact, a girl (lol), and animeotaku that 'I love you guys as well' and that I wish I could send an LCD there or something. Haha
Phoenix-thunder- Hahaha. Gon needed to hear something like that! And glad you thought it was perfectly placed. XDD And yeah, I reached 200 reviews~! You guys are awesommeee! Thanks for the review btw. haha
RaWindsG-ing- oh no, this should at least have 10 more chapters or something. Probably even more. XD And an Omake, eh? Let's see! haha. Oh, thanks for the comment~! ;)
titaniacherry- oh,gomen gomen! haha. Me and a few forum friends were the ones who invented that. XD We use the names so much around that I assumed everyone knew it. Of course most doesn't yet though. Haha. NeoKura pair is the Eye Pair. And I meant Leorio and Kuroro. lol. Gon's still female in that story. XD And oh yeah, you asked completely valid questions and thanks for the comment~!
Annanimeaddict- Eh? You're going?! Come back soon and we're gonna miss you! I'll take care of the C2 until then. God Bless as well, A-chan! And thanks for the comment...? XD Srsly, COME BACK SOON!
...
Please Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalt! XD
First of all, thanks for reading! I just want to say it would be so nice to know your thoughts~! So..
Please Review! :)