A/N: Hey guys, Yorknew Arc is coming to an end and I find it really nostalgic. It's like only yesterday when I first started this fic!
I wanna thank you all for giving this story a chance. Your love, reviews, and advice are what keep me going this far! As always, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
I love you all!
[Warning: underage drinking. Minors, please don't follow Leorio's example! =)]
Chapter 25: Farewell
"Tia!" Kurapika shot up, raising a hand to shield himself from the blinding sunlight that was fiercely stabbing his eyes.
It seemed like he had been out for quite a while because it took him a whole few minutes to finally adjust to the brightness of his surroundings. He was in a room made up of patchy, broken walls. The roof was half demolished, with gaping holes like a shooting target.
His eyes widened at the sight of a girl resting beside him. She had apparently fallen asleep while sitting on the floor, with her upper body curled up next to him on the bed. Her chest rose and fell evenly in her sleep. Long brown tresses cascaded on the dusty bed sheet, soaking in the golden sunlight.
He fondled a strand of her hair. The familiar soft feeling instantly made him feel reassured. A pleasant warmth quickly suffused his body.
This was reality. The blessed reality.
The hallucination was finally over!
He reached out and gently cupped her sleeping face with his palm. She must have knocked herself out again, trying to communicate to him in his delirium.
A bittersweet smile spread across his face.
You stubborn girl! He scoffed. Finally…
He finally came to understand the tightness in his chest whenever she was around and the overwhelming uneasiness when she was not.
He wasn't sure when it all started but now it had come to the point that it was too obvious to deny.
Even though it was still impossible to give up on his revenge, he wanted to be a little more selfish this time. He wanted to keep her by his side!
Papa, mama… Pairo…Can I be a little selfish? Just this time?
His long fingers traced a soft line on her pale skin, then lingered longingly at the corner of her lips. She looked worn out and she had dark circles under her eyes. But somehow she still looked peculiarly... alluring.
Kurapika reflexively leaned in.
"Ahem…" A low male voice abruptly cut Kurapika off of his wild trail of thoughts.
"Sorry to...well, interrupt. But I really need to...you know... check on you a bit." Leorio stuttered, pacing at the doorway and scratching his head awkwardly.
Kurapika instantly pulled back, shifting his eyes away with equal awkwardness. Ok, guess I'm seriously ill! And I was just in a haze! The blond Kurta thought, trying to convince himself.
The digital thermometer made a soft beep on Kurapika's forehead.
"Great, your fever is finally broken." Leorio exhaled with a contented smile.
"How long have I been out?" Kurapika asked.
"Three fucking days. It's good that Melody sought her help." Leorio said, motioning towards the sleeping Clandestia. "We had seriously thought of sending you to the hospital!"
Kurapika sighed and got out of bed. He swiftly scooped Clandestia into his arms and carefully laid her down on the bed, pulling the blanket over her. The tenderness in his action made Leorio stare in bewilderment.
The blond Kurta plopped down on the moldy floor, leaning his back against the bed, ignoring his tall friend's odd gaze. Soon, Leorio joined him.
"Take this. Electrolyte water!" Leorio said, offering a plastic bottle. "Good for you!"
Kurapika took the bottle and started downing the liquid, eager to quench his agonizing thirst from the long slumber. The cold water instantly soothed his burning throat and slowly revived his senses. A few shining droplets leaked out of his lips and ran down his Adam's apple in a sensual motion as he swallowed.
Leorio quietly watched his blond friend gulp down the electrolyte water. Then he sighed. It was good that Kurapika finally regained his consciousness but now that the guy was up, they'd have another problem. The chance of this obsessive punk abandoning his pursuit of the Phantom Troupe was pretty slim. He must think of a way to stop this suicidal chase. At least for now!
"Ahem," Leorio cleared his throat. "Kurapika, what're you gonna do?"
"I think you should rest a couple of days here." The young doctor suggested with a hopeful look.
They both fell into an awkward silence as Kurapika abruptly stopped drinking and put the bottle down on the floor.
"I mean… You're still not fully recovered. You'd better take it easy!" Leorio added.
The blond Kurta's expression grew solemn at Leorio's words.
Oh, shit. I know where this is going. Leorio thought dreadfully.
"I don't want to miss the chance to catch the other bastards." Kurapika said; his face darkened. "But they must have already left town. It's still far from over but that's it for now."
"Yep! You're right!" Leorio sighed and said with a slightly upbeat tone.
Actually, those guys haven't left town yet. According to Gon and Killua. But of course, we won't tell you so. Leorio strained his lips, trying to kill the urge to smirk.
"And I have to bring Clandestia back to the Nostrades." Kurapika added. "She needs a proper rest."
"You and her." Leorio sighed. "You two are awfully similar."
"Clandestia's reckless and always seems to forget about her own well-being!" The young doctor elaborated. "But you're much worse. Most of the time, you look like you're constantly trying to kill yourself!"
"You both should take better care of yourselves. I tell ya! Seriously!" He added, shaking his head in disapproval.
Kurapika felt the corners of his lips rise into a ghost of a smile. He appreciated that Leorio was always honest and direct. If Kurapika could ever craft his own big brother, he would make sure the guy took the form of Leorio. And even though Leorio could be quite silly, he was the most trustworthy guy Kurapika had ever met. He always had a way to make people feel that they really matter!
The two friends fell into another silence. A much more comfortable one this time.
Kurapika was briefly reminded of Clandestia's words. You're not alone anymore. Everyone is waiting for you, Kurapika. So she said.
"Thank you." Kurapika suddenly uttered.
"What?" Leorio asked incredulously.
"For taking care of me these past few days." Kurapika added.
Leorio gaped at the blonde like he had grown a second head.
"What?" Kurapika scowled.
"Jesus! You're giving me goosebumps, man!" Leorio winced in disgust.
"I mean … Eww! Next time you do it, gimme some kinda warning!" He shrieked. It was such a shock. The prideful Kurapika suddenly thanked him. He thought the guy was incapable of doing it. To anyone at all!
The blond Kurta grumpily smacked Leorio on the head with the empty bottle.
Bujkhan tower.
Clandestia frowned. She had never heard of it.
She was currently with Kurapika and Melody on the top floor of Bujkhan, a nameless tower in Yorknew, unknown to the public, never even in any kind of media. They had to use Kurapika's Hunter license to enter the building. Even the underground auction was made aware to the public but this place was not. Judging from Kurapika and Melody's attitude, it was a place exclusive to Hunters. And it was so damn tall. 509 floors to where they were standing! As if it was made to be hidden from the world below.
Intriguing! She thought.
"I'm not quite sure what Leorio's up to." Clandestia tilted her head, looking at the watch. Leorio was running late.
"We can change our mind and go back to the hotel." Kurapika said coldly.
"Oh, come on! Let's just wait and see what surprise he's planned for us!" Clandestia chuckled, not hiding her excitement for getting the privilege to explore a place inaccessible to the general public.
"Oh, there they are!" Melody said, pointing at the group of four young men stepping out of the elevator.
"Clandestia! Kurapika! Melody!" Gon exclaimed eagerly.
"Guys!" Clandestia waved at the four with equal enthusiasm.
"Yo." Killua greeted.
"Hi." Zeipairu smiled, hands tucked in his pockets.
"Hey, guys!" Leorio made a playful salute at Kurapika and Melody, then turned to wink at Clandestia. "And heyy… smoking hawt professurrr!" He said while briefly darting his eyes to a glaring Kurapika and smirking with mischief.
The teenage professor giggled in return.
"I heard you're leaving Yorknew tomorrow morning?" Leorio asked.
"Yes. But…I get to spend the evening with you handsome lads before I leave town. It's so good!" Clandestia said jestingly.
As they passed another set of stairs and Leorio scanned his Hunter license to get them through a hidden door, they finally reached the rooftop.
The Succubus Wings.
Kurapika scowled at the avenue's signboard.
"Leorio..." The blond Kurta gritted his teeth. "You bring underages to a stripping nightclub?"
Of course, Kurapika had never entered this kind of club before, or any bar and club at all, but he did his research about Yorknew city when he was on the job. And this place, though inaccessible to normal folks, was well-known among Hunters.
"Oh, relax! I booked the whole bar and I cleared out the dancers. Totally minor-friendly!" Leorio exclaimed. "But... I can always call some beer-slinging brunettes over if you ever feel like it!" He grinned, sly as a fox.
"Perfect." Kurapika nodded. "Enjoy beer-slinging brunettes by yourself for all I care!" He said, promptly ushering Gon, Killua and Clandestia out of the bar.
"Hey, wait! We'll only have a few drinks, sing some songs. What could hurt?" Leorio retorted. "Look, this is the best thing you could get in Yorknew. You're missing out on all the best fun of Yorknew!"
And that did the trick. Killua and Gon looked over their shoulders with interest while Clandestia halted in her steps, flashing an amiable smile at Kurapika.
"Hey, I think it can't be that bad. We don't often have a chance to get together like this! Come on, Kurapika!" She said, touching the blond Kurta's arm and he wavered.
"Yeah, come on, Kurapika!" Leorio said, mimicking Clandestia's sweet voice.
Good grief! Kurapika rolled his eyes.
The group settled into a table near the windows. Clandestia immediately realized that Leorio wasn't bluffing about this bar being the best of Yorknew. She had never entered a bar before but this place definitely stank of cash. Modern chic interior. Ludicrously expensive menu to give you a taste of cosmopolitan life. But the most unique part was the soaring view; The bar, including its floor, was made to be almost transparent. From where they were sitting, she could see the city under her feet reduced to scattered, little spots of light, almost identical to the twinkling stars above her head. It gave her a chilling sensation like she was flying into space in a fragile glass ball. Though Clandestia was not scared of height, it did give her quite a streak of fright. More than it enthralled her perhaps. This place was definitely worth the experience, but not for everyone!
Clandestia curiously looked around the table and she soon realized that Zeipairu was the only one, other than her, feeling the thrill. Senritsu was leisurely checking out the music. Killua was lazing around and whistling softly with his arms behind his head. Gon was running around excited and peering out the windows with deep interest. Hunters are really different from common folks. She concluded.
Nen-protected. Kurapika thought. The reason why this whole structure with only a tempered glass shell could hold itself at this height was that it was protected by Nen. Materialization or specialization type of Nen! The blond Kurta speculated as he scanned the bar interior. There were several golden poles plugging on some of the tables scattered around the lounge. He thought of the beer-slinging brunettes Leorio had mentioned and immediately scrunched his nose in dismay.
"So you weren't bluffing. You really rented the whole bar?" Killua asked.
"Of course. The privilege of Hunters." Leorio said. "Who would say no?"
"I never knew of this place before but it must have cost a fortune, right?" Zeipairu asked with awe. "I mean… look at the menu. Just a drink already costs an apartment. It's crazy!"
"You might be the perfect match for my tycoon cousin, Leorio!" Clandestia clapped her hands, looking equally shocked.
"First, I like the sound of that!" Leorio winked at the young professor. "Second, this is all free. With a Hunter license and well… a bit of negotiation skill to secure the booking."
"You Hunters really have it easy while we common folks work our butts off in the society, huh?" Clandestia said flippantly.
"Couldn't agree more." Zeipairu hummed, lighting his cigarette roll. "You Hunters live like millionaires yourself!"
"Why do you think people risk their own lives to get a Hunter license then?" Killua shrugged his shoulders. He spotted the bar hostess turning to their table with a tray of ice cream and sweets. His eyes instantly sparkled and he jumped to his feet, running out to find Gon. "Oi, Gon! Come back! Orders are up!"
"See. They're enjoying themselves." Leorio grinned triumphantly at the blond Kurta; then he slammed a fist on the table. "Ok, time for the real deal!" He exclaimed.
A bartender took the cue and efficiently spread out several bottles of tequila, brandy, and a good variety of other wines on their table.
"Hey, we're not here for this!" Kurapika scowled.
"It's gonna be fine! Not counting Gon and Killua, we're all grownups here!" Leorio waved a hand, chuckling.
"Do you even know what you're saying?" The blond Kurta sighed.
"Okay, except you and Clandestia but it's just a matter of months before you both reach legal age. Let's just say it's preparation." Leorio said. "No big deal!"
"I beg to differ!" Kurapika glared.
"Fine, what about you, Clandestia?" Leorio propped his chin on one of his hands, grinning at the teenage professor, offering her a glass of wine. "Good sip for good memories!" He said.
The timing was awfully right because Clandestia had started feeling kind of overwhelmed with the heart-clenching height of the bar. She had a wild urge to try something stimulating, thinking it might be a good distraction. So she took the glass of Brandy, much to Kurapika and Melody's utter shock.
As the alcohol rolled down her throat, she felt a burning sensation, then adrenaline pumped her veins with some kind of ecstasy. She had to admit it did work. She felt a weird surge of energy. Like she was Superman's long-lost sister, ready to fly into space in this freaking glass ball! But it wore off as soon as she stopped taking the liquid.
"You've got this!" Leorio encouraged her.
"Not half bad, I guess." The young professor said, taking another sip out of curiosity.
"Be careful, Lady Clandestia." Melody frowned, tugging a tiny hand on the young professor's arm. "First-time drinkers are usually knocked out fast!"
"You have a flight tomorrow morning!" Kurapika hissed, finally snatching the glass of wine out of Clandestia's hand.
"But I'll just have one more sip." Clandestia pouted, holding a finger up, imitating puppy eyes.
"With all due respect, it's my job to keep you from having another sip, Lady Clandestia!" Kurapika said, emphasizing her title.
The smile on Clandestia's face immediately froze. There he was, throwing "lady" and "miss" at her again. Already stirred up by the alcohol, she felt like challenging him.
"Oh, don't you play the bodyguard card with me, buddy!" She huffed, then took another glass on the table and downed the liquid in one gulp. The rest of the gang gasped in astonishment.
"And since the most capable bodyguard of the Nostrades is here with me," The young professor said tauntingly. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Everything!
Everything went freaking wrong!
By the time Clandestia finished her next shot, she started talking like a motormouth. Then Leorio took her on the stage, jumping and singing a few karaoke songs in their slurred voices, with Gon and Killua dancing in the background.
"Quite a lively gang you have here." Zeipairu said, grinning at Kurapika.
"A pack of monkeys, you mean?" The blond Kurta slapped his forehead with his palm.
"It's fine, Kurapika! Let them have fun. They need to blow off some steam." Melody chuckled. "It was quite stressful and tiring chasing the Phantom Troupe these past few days. Especially for Lady Clandestia!"
Kurapika fell silent at Melody's words. He shifted his gaze to the four busy jumping on the stage with a soft smile.
After the long list of silly songs was over, the foursome finally slumped back into their seats, catching their breath.
"Hey Clandestia, maybe you should change your profession," Leorio said, fetching another glass of brandy. "You'd make a good Hunter! Maybe a medical Hunter!"
"I'll pass! I like my job just fine." Clandestia chuckled. "I enjoy talking to people."
"Everyone needs someone to listen to them at some point. What's going on inside us, our mental health is normally too underrated and neglected." The young professor added, her expression turning a little solemn. "What about you guys? I've never heard your stories. What made you choose your line of work?" She asked, turning to Leorio, Zeipairu and Gon.
"I just wanna be a Hunter to hunt my dad down. I don't even know what he looks like now. Haha!" Gon laughed merrily.
Clandestia frowned and then smiled wryly at the boy. "When you find him, tell me. I'll give him a piece of my mind! How dare he leave a cute son like you! Bad dad!" She scrunched her nose and they both burst into laughter.
"You guys really have good causes. I admire that." Zeipairu said, blowing a few circles of smoke. "For me, I grew up in that market watching my father collecting antiques for a living and I just took after him. But I find myself quite efficient at that." He said, smirking gleefully.
"That's something we have in common, Zei." Leorio said with a wistful look. "I grew up in the slums. So money was everything that I never had. But I need it to provide free medical services to the poor in the future. So yeah, that's basically why I became a Hunter."
"You make an amazing doctor, Leorio!" Clandestia exclaimed, brimming with admiration.
"Aren't you a fine one yourself, too?" Leorio winked at her. "And a very competent one at that. With those abilities."
"You don't understand. My power could be quite annoying." Clandestia shook her head and heaved a sigh.
"I don't see why." Zeipairu raised an eyebrow.
"I mean I don't even have the freedom to hate someone." The young professor said, shifting her gaze to a certain blond young man.
"Like...you meet a guy, thinking he's quite a jerk sometimes. But then you get a glimpse into his psyche and you see his problems. Dang, even though you know you're being nosy, you just can't leave him alone!" She said, her purple orbs locking his gray ones. Her lilting accent caressed his ears.
Kurapika looked away in an attempt to calm his thumping heart. But he quickly regretted it because when he looked back, Clandestia had taken the time to down a few more shots of whiskey like plain water. Soon she was staggering in her seat.
"You're alright, lady Clandestia?" Melody asked worriedly.
"Perfectly perfect." Clandestia replied. And they instantly knew she was wasted.
"I was just like her when I first started drinking." Leorio chuckled.
"How old were you then?" Zeipairu asked.
"12." The young doctor said with an inappropriate sense of pride.
"You crazy drunkard!" Killua clicked his tongue.
"Heyy! My sister, Diana, started taking alcohol at 12, too!" Leorio retorted.
"Diana… tragic princess!" Clandestia suddenly uttered, with a somber, dreamy look.
Then she burst into tears. "Why did Charles have to treat her so badly? So unfair!" She buried her face into her palms.
Jesus fucking Christ! Kurapika almost groaned.
"Hey Clandestia, who am I?" Leorio waved his hand in front of Clandestia's face, grinning mischievously.
"Leorio?" Clandestia stopped crying, then started giggling. "Oh, wait! Why am I seeing two of you? Is that your twin bro, Leorio?"
"Haha, yes, definitely my twin," Leorio replied with wry amusement. "Who's more handsome?"
"You, of course!" Clandestia laughed, pointing to Leorio's left, which was actually the bar waiter. "Leorio, this is you, not your twin. Right?" She asked with a hopeful look.
"Nope. But I'd be very surprised if you got it right, darling." Leorio said; his body trembled with laughter.
"Gimme a chance. I'll get it right this time." She said, turning around and squinting her eyes at Killua who was also busy laughing.
"Ah, I know! It's Killua!" She exclaimed, then grinned foolishly, "Hey, I heard you like chocolate robots. I brought some with me."
"Wait, where are those?" She frowned, staggered up to her feet and started searching for the sweets. "Gotta be somewhere here!"
While fumbling with her pockets, she slipped.
"Oii, get a hold of yourself, crazy girl!" Killua shouted, catching her before she hit the floor.
"My head's dancing, Killua." Clandestia frowned, then abruptly wrapped her arms around the silver-haired ex-assassin.
"Sorry I lost the choco. But I'll tell you what, I'll buy you another one before I leave Yorknew! I promise!" She said, then sighed heavily. "I don't even wanna say goodbye to you, my sweet cinnamon roll!"
Killua's cheeks immediately turned red at her words but he did not break the hug. More like he was too shocked to move a muscle.
A pair of arms quickly tore them away from each other.
"Enough! You're going home with me..." Kurapika said, pulling Clandestia into his chest with one of his arms. Before you start hugging everyone in the room, he finished the sentence inside his head. He only meant to support her limp body but somehow he was holding her a little extra close, more than necessary.
Killua finally broke out of his trance. His gaze shifted to Kurapika who was holding Clandestia while shooting a cold look at him. What the hell, Killua grimaced. The blonde suddenly looked like an eyesore to him. But he wasn't sure why!
"No!" Clandestia groaned, trying to break free from her blond bodyguard's grasp. "Don't want... go home. Want... stay here!" She whined incoherently.
"I wasn't asking!" Kurapika scowled, then he glared at a smirking Leorio, pondering on a million ways to kill the shit-stirrer.
"Don't be so grumpy, Kurapika." Leorio said. "Stop trying to keep her like an exhibit in the museum. She's already a working woman."
"She's still freaking UNDERAGE!" The blond Kurta gritted his teeth.
"Omg…Now you sound like her dad. And it's so weird!" Leorio blurted out. But he immediately regretted it. If looks could kill, Kurapika's dagger glare would have slaughtered him right away.
"Alright. You should send her home. Of course! And we were a little careless. Sorry!" The young doctor stuttered with a nervous smile, feeling the cold sweats starting to roll out.
Kurapika promptly took Clandestia out of the bar, followed by Melody.
"Give her prickly pear. It'll help with the hangover!" Zeipairu shouted after the two bodyguards before they disappeared behind the door.
"Something didn't add up." Killua said, looking askance at Leorio.
"What now?" Leorio asked.
"How did you become a doctor so fast? When we took the Hunter exam, you said you were still a student." Killua raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Fine, you're right!" Leorio shrugged. "But Clandestia's already a doctor and also a professor. I don't wanna tell her I'm still a student in med school!" He said, scratching his nape.
"Idiot." Killua said with a snort.
The silver-haired ex-assassin suddenly caught a flash of rainbow and he crouched down to check under the table. His sapphire blue eyes promptly widened, then twinkled with sheer delight.
A box of chocolate robots!
Clandestia did really buy him his favorite sweet.
That silly girl, Killua grinned, slipping the chocolate into his pocket, saving it for later. He didn't want to devour it so soon.
Out on the street, Kurapika was walking a very drunk Clandestia and she just couldn't seem to stay quiet. The blond Kurta draped her arm over his shoulders while one of his arms held her by the waist.
"Hey, Kurapika...I'll let you in on a secret... Half of the females in the Nostrades are crushing on you! Hard!" She murmured in her slurring voice, "You Casanova of a bodyguard!" She giggled.
Freaking hell! He winced and instinctively passed a glance at Melody. Sure enough, the music Hunter was secretly trying to stifle a laugh. The soft vibration on her shoulders gave it away.
Kurapika exhaled, silently making an oath to never let Clandestia touch another drop of wine or beer, or any other kind of alcohol!
They walked to the parking lot, immersed in the frosty air of late evening. The cold September wind seemed to intensify the chilling sensation. Kurapika's gaze fell on Clandestia who was soon to be asleep. She was in just a T-shirt and shorts. He had never drunk before but he knew that the cold was not good for drunken folks.
Kurapika took off his black vest, wrapped it around Clandestia, and finally picked her up in his arms. It'd be much faster and easier this way.
Before they reached their car, the young blond man briefly recalled Clandestia words.
Half of the Nostrade females? He mused. Does that include her?
A/N: So what do you think? Does that include her? LOL!