Kuondo ran alongside Pirro down the sidewalk, many emotions flowing through him.
Fear for Kurapika's life.
Guilt for lying to Pirro's mother.
And heart-wrenching anguish for his scarlet-eyed friend.
Suddenly, Pirro stopped in front of a hospital and catching his breath.
Kuondo stepped beside him, also panting. "Here?"
"Yeah. Let's hurry in."
Kuondo followed Pirro inside. Sitting in the waiting room was some of the Hunter Committee, huddled together and talking in hushed voices.
A stone-faced and glaring Pirro went over to them. "Where is my father?" he demanded.
The Chairman looked up, giving Pirro a slip of paper. "The room number is next to his name."
Pirro silently took the note and motioned for Kuondo to follow. They took the elevator up to the third floor and quickly found Kurapika's room. Taking a deep breath, Pirro entered the room.
As Kuondo looked inside, relief washed over him. Kurapika didn't look all that injured, except for the bandage wrapped around the top of his head.
Pirro stood next to the bed, relief and concern mixed in his eyes. "Dad?"
Kuondo walked over and stopped next to Pirro.
Kurapika slowly opened his eyes. They weren't their normal color, though.
They were a deep scarlet.
"Dad, can you hear me?" Pirro asked again, resting his hand on Kurapika's.
Silence.
Kuondo felt fear crawl up the back of his neck. What's wrong? Why can't he hear us?
"Dad!"
"Pirro, it's no use. His eyes may be open, but he isn't awake. He's probably in shock."
Kuondo could see tears welling up in Pirro's eyes again. "Dad… what could've possibly happened? What's wrong?" He was gripping Kurapika's hand tightly now. "Why can't they help you?"
"Pirro-"
"Are you just going to give up? Give up and die?! What about Mom?! She has no idea what's going on! Are you going to leave her and the baby alone?!"
Before Kuondo could say anything, he heard a small sound, like a gasp. He looked down at Kurapika, whose eyes had closed again, but he was moving a bit. Finally, his eyes opened again, back to their normal color.
Pirro hadn't noticed, since he was trying to wipe his eyes with the back of his arm.
Kurapika looked over at them, puzzled. "Pirro, Kuondo? What're you doing here? What's going on?"
Pirro gasped, tears falling freely from his eyes. "Dad!" He wrapped his arms tightly around his father. "You're okay!"
"Pirro, you're gonna squish him! Give him some space." Kuondo said, barely containing his own joy.
Kurapika struggled into a sitting position, looking around the room. "I don't remember anything that happened after Genkaku used his Nen Ability on me…" His eyes darkened as he recalled it. "But now I know what it is…"
Kuondo pulled up a chair for Pirro and him, sitting down and twiddling his thumbs nervously. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. To be honest, I'm not sure if I wanna know…"
Kurapika opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly, he looked towards the door. "Chairman?"
Kuondo turned to see the Chairman standing in the doorway. "I'm glad to see you're awake, Kurapika. Many of the group members weren't so lucky. Forgive me for interrupting, but may I borrow Pirro for just a moment?"
….
Pirro opened the door and then closed it silently behind him, taking in the eerie silence of the room he knew all too well.
This room was his father's secret place, a place that only he and his son could enter.
After all, they were the only living Kurtas left in the world.
Pirro sat on the bench in the middle of the room, his eyes drifting to only things that illuminated the room, filling shelves and covering tables.
It was his father's treasure.
128 pairs of Scarlet Eyes.
They stared at him with a frozen, yet burning gaze.
Staying silent, Pirro removed the black contacts he would be forced to wear for the next couple of weeks. Then, looking up, he returned their scarlet gaze.
"Hey," he whispered. "Sorry we haven't come in for a while. Dad's still recovering, and I've been caring for Mom. There will be a new Kurta soon." Pirro smiled slightly, but then changed to serious again. "There's someone awful on the loose, and I've been chosen to find him and take him down, His Nen ability does unspeakable things…"
Pirro couldn't tell most of the eyes apart, but he recognized one, the smaller pair that emitted an ever-so-slightly weaker glow.
It was Pairo, his namesake.
"I won't be back for a little while, but I hope you'll remain at peace, now that you've been avenged. I promise Dad will be back soon. Until then, goodbye, my ancestors…"
…..
Kuondo: It's Kuondo's~
Pirro: And Pirro's~
Both: Hunterpedia!
Kuondo: Today we introduce… Pirro!
Pirro: Me?
Kuondo: Pirro is my best friend, and the only Kurta left besides Kurapika!
Pirro: What's going on? Wah, I didn't rehearse for this!
Kuondo: Pirro's name is the combination of the names Pairo and Pika! How's that for paying homage?
Pirro: Ah, what am I supposed to say? Kuondo's supposed to be the main character, not me!
Kuondo: Haha, it's pretty funny when you freak out like that, Pirro. And now that I've recorded this, I'll send it to Lily! :3
Pirro: Ah! No, please, don't!
…
Kuondo: Oops, sorry everyone! OreozFox has made a miscalculation, and Pirro X Is X Missing will be the name of the next chapter! Sorry to have confused you!
…..
(Oooh, what's this? Pirro's point of view? XD Now Pirro will get some spotlight, that is, until he goes missing. You guys will get so see that even though Pirro is an adorable little cinnamon roll, he can kick some serious butt. I promise I'll update more often, so expect a new chapter this coming week! Until then!)