Disclaimer: I do not own HunterxHunter, nor do I profit commercially from these writings.
Lucian's Story - part 1
THE FRIEND AND THE OMEN
Kuroro Lucifer didn't have many friends. Sure he had plenty of acquaintances, but he wouldn't exactly call them friends. Very very few were privileged to be considered a friend by him. It was hard to be friends with him for the simple fact that Kuroro Lucifer did not trust easily.
His definition of friends was those people whom he could rely on indefinitely, whom he trusted explicitly, whom he regarded as his equals in many aspects, whom he liked very much that he would allow disrespect on his person, whom he would ask favours from and do favours for freely, and for whom he would be willing to help to the extent of mobilising his Spiders if need be. Most of all, with Kuroro Lucifer you are either friend for life or not at all.
And so far, there was only one person who fitted those criteria perfectly.
"Lucifer! Get your ass down here right now!"
Or rather, perhaps it was more fitting to say that he was the basis criteria of what a friend was for Kuroro Lucifer.
"What now?"
Because, technically, he was Kuroro Lucifer's first real friend.
"For the love of Mother Nature and Father Time and all deities in between, get your infernal spawns in line!"
It was another day in Ryuusei-gai, where Kuroro had to do another obligatory visit to the Temple. Of course said Spider Head wasn't one to suffer alone, so he made sure to always bring his whole battalion of family—because honestly the aggregate raw Nen power of the whole family was equal to a battalion of army—along for the ride, much to Kurapika's dismay. Not that she hated Ryuusei-gai—because she actually found the place rather fascinating to certain extent—but because the children tended to get really wild and uncontrollable while there. It was like the place amplified their wildness tenfold or something. This time, however, Kurapika came prepared and asked (read: blackmailed) Lucian to come along—which, of course, came with the inevitability of said vampire becoming the babysitter in the end.
It was, on hindsight, a genius idea because Lucian always went to Kuroro whenever there were problems with the kids—there always were—which technically rendered Kuroro as a babysitter too. Kurapika patted herself on her back. She felt really accomplished.
"Hey, Kurapika," said one curious Anansi who was sitting next to the lounging Kuruta, as he watched the whole fiasco down the street involving one frazzled vampire, one amused Spider Head, and four impish little fiends.
"Hm?" Kurapika hummed pleasantly as she chewed on a local snack of Ryuusei-gai that she particularly liked. She wisely never asked what the ingredients were
"Does Kuroro have any other friends aside from that moron?"
"Well…" Kurapika swallowed the rest of the food. "I would say that Fino can be qualified as a friend to Kuroro, but he would probably say that she's more of my friend than his. He isn't really forthcoming with Fino for many things. Besides, Kuroro's definition of a friend is what most would define as best friend."
"Kuroro is forthcoming about everything with Lucian?"
"I'd say yes. He even appointed him as the children's godfather."
Anansi's eyes couldn't possibly be bigger before they popped out of their sockets.
"He did what?!"
"Appointed Lucian as the children's godfather?" Kurapika raised a questioning eyebrow. What was Anansi getting all twisty about?
"Why didn't he appoint me?" Anansi all but wailed.
"Because you are technically Kuroro's familiar, like Basille was to Ishtar? So when Kuroro died, you'll die too?" Kurapika deadpanned. She has asked the same thing to Kuroro out of curiosity, and Kuroro had shot her the are-you-stupid look.
"Oh." Anansi visibly deflated. "Right."
"Mmhmm."
"But that's another privilege denied from me!" Anansi wailed again, this time more pitiful than before as he covered his face with his hands and rolled over on the ground.
Kurapika could only roll her eyes.
"Understand? So I don't want you to wander around and—"
"Yes, yes!"
"—get lost and disturb these people and—"
"We know, we know!"
"—steal stuffs and—"
"Got it! Let's go!"
"LISTEN TO ME UNTIL I FINISH, BRATS!"
"But Lucian!" Meta whined. "We already know all these. Standard procedure and all that. No stealing, no getting lost, no disturbing the people, no asking embarrassing questions, no playing detectives and spies, no sneaking around into their caravans, no blowing things up, no setting things on fire, no wreaking havoc, and so on and so on."
"Right! Mama made us memorise all those." Sarai piped in with raised hand.
"Urgh…" Lucian slapped his forehead. Kurapika should really be the one in charge of debriefing these little fiends. Where was she, anyway?! "Fine, go! Just…don't blow anything up."
"Understood!"
With that, those little critters spread like a plague around the gypsies' camping ground. These gypsies had just set up a bazaar to sell the little trinkets that they had accumulated during their travels around the continent. Lucian just hoped that the landscape of his land would still look the same by the end of the day. Goodness knew those children couldn't help but to raise pandemonium wherever they went, with destruction trailing in their wake. Where was Lucifer when you needed him, anyway? He should be the one keeping an eye on these little monsters, not him!
Kuroro Lucifer, meanwhile, was strolling around the gypsy caravan leisurely. Looking at these people and their caravans brought back many memories. One time in the past, Lucian had convinced him to try travelling with these gypsies. It was an interesting and enriching experience, to say the least. Perhaps he should make the children travel with these people, too. He wasn't sure if this was the same caravan, though.
He just hoped that person wouldn't be in this group—
"Young man…"
Kuroro froze, and began cursing mentally.
"Turn around, young man…"
"And if I refuse?" Kuroro said through gritted teeth.
"I can make you. Which will it be, young man?"
"Stop calling me that." Kuroro turned around, face expressionless and eyes hard. "Madame Sforza."
Said madam was a tarot-card reader sitting daintily behind her table, a deck of tarot cards in her slender fingers and her black lacquered caravan just behind her.
"Ah, you remember me. I'm pleased, my little Magician."
Kuroro frowned. He never did like this woman since the first time he was introduced to her, during that time when he was travelling with the gypsy group. Madame Sforza was a frail-looking woman who reeked of incense and magic. Her skin was porcelain white and her hair lustrous black, with full lips and nails painted purple. Her entire body was covered in silk and satin, from neck to wrists to toes. The only part of her flesh that was visible was her slender hands and her face. Her purple veil covered most of her wavy hair, and those golden coins dangling from her veil jingled like a magical toll. She was a very alluring figure, with supple body and seductive voice. Many would die just to get her attention and have her do divination on their fates. Many men would surrender their fates to her hands.
Kuroro found her repulsive.
"Don't call me that." He said sternly.
"Why not? It suits you." She giggled as she began spreading her tarot card face-down on the table.
Kuroro eyed those cards suspiciously. He was neutral and partial to fortune-reading. After all, some fortune-reading like Neon Nostrad's was quite genuine and true. However, Kuroro didn't like Madame Sforza's tarot cards.
"My little Magician," Madame Sforza said as her finger hovered over the card in the middle of the spread, "with his magical book."
As Madame Sforza lifted her finger, the card rose on its own and flipped over to reveal the Major Arcana card I: The Magician. Madame Sforza stapled her fingers and smirked at Kuroro. Kuroro didn't like that smirk. He never did like it when she even remotely glanced his way. She was unnerving.
"But my little Magician has changed," Madame Sforza cooed with mock sorrow as another card rose and flipped over, "into a Devil."
Kuroro narrowed his eyes. So Madame Sforza knew of the Solomon Ring. But what was her intention to it? Should he dispose of her now?
"Worry not, for I have no interest in that quaint little artefact that your mother has bequeathed you." The Madame said, a hint of sneer in her voice.
"Have you quarrel with Ishtar?" Kuroro asked point-blank. He was in no mood to play games with this woman.
"With the Lady Ishtar? Oh dear, nu (no). I have no quarrel with Her Ladyship."
The Madame looked genuinely astonished, and Kuroro's True Vision betrayed no deceit in her words.
"Some do. But not I, little Magician." The Madame added, a malicious undertone in her voice.
Kuroro narrowed his eyes. As far as Kuroro knew, Ishtar didn't meddle much with affairs outside Ryuusei-gai. However, things might have been different in the era before she inherited the Solomon Ring, and before the temple in Ryuusei-gai was built. From the Madame's words and tones, there were people out there who bore grudge against Ishtar, and her enemies were his enemies by default. How troublesome.
But that was for another time.
"It's with the Solomon Ring, then."
"That thing brings nothing but sorrow and destruction in its wake, my little Magician." The Madame sniffed in disgust, her expression akin to an offended cat.
"Personal experience?" It was Kuroro's turn to sneer.
"None that concerns you, little Magician." The Madame stated flatly.
"No." Kuroro scoffed.
"Then I hope you also know that you have many to lose now." At Kuroro's vaguely bemused expression, the Madame hid a smile of sinister glee behind her dainty fingers. "Many, many things to lose."
Madame Sforza lifted her hand in the same manner that a priest gestured at the church congregation to raise from their seat. Six cards rose and flipped over at her gesture. Madame Sforza's dainty finger hovered above one of the card.
"Four delightful offspring. Your first and most gifted," she tapped The Fool card. "Make sure he does not overstep his boundaries, hmm?"
Kuroro frowned even more, but was ignored by Madame Sforza.
"The quiet and wise little one, whom you delight in sharing your knowledge." She tapped The Hermit card.
"And your very own little princess to spoil." Madame Sforza said with an amused giggle as she tapped The Sun card.
"And of course, the little gift from The Lady Ishtar. Your most cherished, and yet burdened by fate inherited from Her Ladyship. Oh, bietul suflet (the poor soul)." She cooed as she caressed The High Priestess card.
By now, Kuroro had made a mental note to warn the children not to be anywhere near Madame Sforza's caravan—especially Noah. This was the reason that he didn't like this woman. Not only that she was creepy as hell, but she was also able to read people's minds and fates, and she used that knowledge against them. Taunting them and making mockery out of the readings through her cards. Kuroro didn't like this intrusion.
"And most of all, of course," Madame Sforza had a broad grin that was borderline cruel and Glasgow as she picked up one of the two remaining cards; the Temperance card, "the one who stands between Death and Devil. The one who grounds you to reality, who chains you to this world. Your other half. Hohoho! How poetic!"
If they were not in the middle of the gypsies' camping ground, Kuroro would have shot out and strangled the impudent woman. Instead, he took a discreet deep breath and shot a level glare at Madame Sforza.
"Are you quite done?" He asked with bored voice.
Madame Sforza raised a fine eyebrow.
"My, my. You were so much easier to goad before, my little Magician. Shame." Madame Sforza put a hand on her chest where her heart was. "Whatever happens to your temper? Has it been eaten by the Devil?"
Kuroro narrowed his eyes.
"I shall take my leave, then." Kuroro had turned around and was about to leave when Madame Sforza's voice cut through him and rooted him to the ground.
"I am not here for you, little Magician. Nu fi atât de vanitos (Do not be so conceited)."
Kuroro almost couldn't believe his ears. This was the first time the Madame actually sounded remotely upset. Kuroro was so surprised that he found himself turning around to stare at Madame Sforza. A card; the remaining one of the six that she had not elaborated on, floated on air. It was The Hanged Man card.
"If you were not my little Count's most precious friend, I would not have bothered with you. The Court has exiled me, but I devote my life for the young Count." Madame Sforza said, close to a snarl. "I would be damned through the seven hells if I let disaster befall him."
Madame Sforza swiped a card from the table and threw it at Kuroro. Kuroro deftly caught the card and stared at it. He might not be an expert in tarot card reading, but this was one card that he definitely knew of. This was the worst card ever in the entire deck of tarot card.
The Tower.
"The shadows of destruction follow him, and I am powerless to stop it. As much as I loathe it, my role is to read fate, not change it. This is the most I can do for him. I implore you to keep the little Count safe."
Kuroro Lucifer was surprised, but that was an understatement. This was the first time ever that Madame Sforza had spoken of herself, and the revelation was mind-blowing.
"You are a Solomonar Witch." Kuroro stated incredulously.
"A disgraced one." The Madame said with wry smile.
"What did you do?"
"Don't push your luck, little Magician." She sneered. "Heed my words. The little Count trusts you with his life. Nu-l dezamăgi (Do not disappoint him)."
Kuroro scoffed.
"I will do as I see fit. Whatever happens, I am doing it for my own sake. Not yours." With that, Kuroro crushed the card with his hand and threw it to the dirt.
Madame Sforza watched as Kuroro walked away—or more like stormed away. When his figure had disappeared behind other caravans, Madame Sforza exhaled softly and examined her cards. The Magician card and The Hanged Man card lay side by side on the table. She clenched her hand into a fist, and when she opened her fist, there lying innocently on her palm was the Tower card; whole and new. She let the card fall from her palm and watched with a grimace as the card drifted and landed on top of the Hanged Man card. She rested her chin on her palm and traced the cards, her exquisite face marred with worry lines.
"Mă aștept mult de la tine, micul meu Magician (I expect much from you, my little Magician)."
Author's Note: I really want to do a series of story with Lucian in the center stage. You can't blame me for loving him *hide in the corner*. I know some of you love him too! Admit it!
I've made Kurapika and Kuroro suffer for real in my story. Now it's Lucian's turn. Peace out.