Here I'll be hinting a little Chain Pair. So yeah, I haven't decided yet who to officially pair with Kurapika, perhaps not until a few chapters. I would like to know your thoughts about that, but you can choose to give feedback on anything you wish. xD
Anyway, thank you for reading this far! :D Special thanks to those who reviewed, faved, followed, C2'd, and those that went all the way to FB to like my authorpage. xD
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own HxH
…
CHAPTER 7: CHAINS – Part 3
Cerulean eyes opened abruptly, as if a sudden jolt of noise disturbed a year-long peaceful slumber, but they quickly calmed, the supposedly venerable man that he was, and subsequently felt a little daft for the overreaction.
He looked at whatever he was facing, the lively neon lights of his current city being the first things that he saw. It is night, he mused, and his eyes flickered and reflected the bright lights—the cross on his forehead, adorned with expensive stones, did the same. He sighed deeply and slumped down right after.
It seemed he like he just had a disturbing dream, and he did. The same dream that had been haunting him for a while now. In fact, he was currently in a another country to try and collect himself better…, with the fact that he was to attend an education seminar, something not unheard of for a school President like himself, as the excuse.
An instant later he realized there was another presence nearby. He was currently in his top-class hotel room's study, so it was impossible for simple intruders to get in his room. And yet, the man did not even flinch. "What is it, Pakunoda?"
"I'm surprised." Was the first thing she said. Kuroro stared at her in ponder, before heaving a sigh.
"You saw her memories, I reckon."
"Was that you?"
"Hmn."
"I don't understand what's going on here…"
"You don't really have to." He said dismissively and stood up, perhaps to get a better view of the bright and lively city below him. How ironic the seminar was going to be held in such an informal and liberal place that year.
She was always curious about these places, he recalled with an odd mix of nostalgia and sadness. He never got to take her, as he promised he would.
"Kuroro." Pakunoda called, pulling him back to the present. "What if I want to know? I already saw that scene."
"You can say it is not as it seems."
"Is that so?"
"Is that enough an explanation?" Kuroro asked coolly. "This issue is too… personal, so to speak."
Pakunoda sighed and turned around. "Very well." She said, but just before she closed the door and left, she turned to look at him… probably deep in thought.
"Don't forget to actually attend the seminar tomorrow."
…
NOSTRADE MANSION
The two guards looked at each other and then at Neon, who was staring at the paperwork they snuck out, reading with unusual enthusiasm. He soon felt their stares and frowned. "What?"
"The club mission seems dangerous. The fact that they teach you how to use Nen?" Vaise paused. "Perhaps you should quit."
"That would humiliate me." Neon said firmly. "So, no. Besides, weren't you the one who got me into this?"
"But it's a club in High school. How were we supposed to know?"
"Still no."
The two looked at each other worriedly again, they sighed in defeat, with Vaise looking at her master seriously. "Mind taking my fortune, then? For a peace of mind."
Neon looked at her for a few seconds, before shrugging. "…I suppose."
Vaise smiled lightly and took a piece of paper, writing her name, date of birth, and blood type. She handed it to Neon who didn't even bother looking at it.
"Ghostwriter." He called, and a creature same color as his eyes came out of his hands. He wrote vehemently on the piece of paper.
There are tests to be passed, but the capabilities to be tested are not yours.
You will watch at the sidelines as someone you care for take on these hurdles.
But fear not; the person you worry for will succeed in the case at hand.
Albeit his temporal belongings, and they alone, shall be without a scratch.
Today, yet again, you care not about yourself but for someone else
For this person, you will once again be the bystander you have been
But this is a week of breathing, for you and for him
Especially as this person will come to grow, no longer needing your existence
Yesterday was summer, today shall be winter.
You will watch, but no longer detached
As you have grown fond
Of the people that will live under the coldness of the snow.
Finally it is the day you shall throw away the self you have lived for in many seasons.
You have witnessed a lot of lives lost, deaths mourned, and achievements forgotten.
You shall encounter a situation that will inevitably mean both life and death.
But there shall be choice to be made: Who to live in the light, and who shall live in the night.
Baise read the contents. Her fortune was the one taken since it was always connected to Neon, whom she always looked at as a little brother, if not her own spoiled little child.
The first week was good, the second seemed… okay, the third week was something to watch out for, and she didn't know what to make of the final week.
"What's in it?" Banshou asked and Vaise was quick to take it away. Banshou stared at her and she smiled, like she always did.
"The prophecy states that Neon-sama has nothing to worry about this week."
And the two men nodded, not noticing her puzzled state—just as she wanted it.
"Good."
…
The next day, suspicious rustle of leaves were heard a few meters above the ground, nearby the parking lot. Two pairs of eyes—one pair was big, warm, and enthusiastic… the other cold, dark, and full of embarrassment.
They were currently on a very sturdy tree branch, watching the incoming limousines, and the people in them, like cute little hawks that they were.
Gon and Killua waited patiently for their target.
Well, actually only Gon was patient. Killua was uncharacteristically flinchy during a job he had been so used to doing. It was because Gon was a mere inch away from him, and he kept recalling her sincere declaration of her wanting him to look at her.
Sure, it was innocent enough… but still.
It still made him very, and disturbingly, happy. And he wanted to know why…
But then Gon turned to him all of a sudden, catching him off-guard. "Killua—" She paused when he looked away all of a sudden. Naturally, this would make her feel very puzzled. "Killua?"
"…yes?" He answered weakly without looking at her. He could feel Gon's frown and she manoeuvred herself skilfully and held onto a branch above and turned, so that she'd be face to face with him.
"W-What's wrong with you?" He said. "We have a mission to do here!"
"But you keep looking away!" She said and when he instinctively looked away again, she reacted accordingly. "Ora! You look like there's something in my face!" And she actually checked her face for it with her free hand.
"There's nothing wrong with your face." Killua muttered and forced himself to look at her. It's perfect.
"Really?"
He cleared his throat and looked away, this time at where they were observing in the first place. "Now, go back to your posi—" He blinked, slightly thankful he'd be escaping from this awkward situation somehow. "It's him!"
"Eh?" And she turned around and quickly went back to her position in the branch earlier.
They watched their target as he walked to school and his two cronies met up with him soon after. Gon and Killua looked at each other and simultaneously nodded in understanding, stealthily jumping down from tree. And went to their surprise their target:
His Driver.
But then he stayed in the parking lot. Not really a surprise, but they were expecting something else… like the limo also used by more knowledgeable members of the family. So scratch that, he probably knew even less.
So, the target went back to the kid.
"So much for a plan." Gon chuckled, and Killua shrugged, pretending to be cool.
"Sometimes, spontaneity is better." He just didn't have enough brain power to make a decent plan at the moment.
"Oh I see." And as usual, Gon believed him. He was glad, but it worried him that she was like this with anyone.
They sprinted so they could catch up with the boy and his cronies. However, nothing would come out if they just followed the oblivious heir. They needed to goad.
"We need to think of something to get us in."
"Are the works in their house?"
"Yeah."
"Are the artworks really good?"
"Apparently." Killua nodded, shrugging, and added: "And very expensive…" But when he turned to look at her, she was no longer there.
"Ano… Hanabusa-san!" He flinched. Gon?!
She was already speaking with the target.
"I hear your collection of art works is great!" Gon smiled genuinely, practically sparkling from fascination, and the older boy flinched. "I've always been curious—" Killua froze and frowned. As if he'd agree like th—
"Want to see?"
Twitch
Killua did not like that confident smirk on the bastard's face. And Gon, as oblivious as always—only beamed in response.
"Thank you!"
…
Killua had been really quiet that day, and particularly fond of staring out the window in a daze. Gon still slept then and again, but everyone was used to that by then.
There were no meetings after school that day, and it was because everyone was expected to gather information. Neon was probably, with the help of his resourceful guards, checking out business archives similar to what Killua did before.
Gon woke up when the bell rang and stared at Killua reminding him of their new trip. She was beaming, excited that they were getting closer to a lead—she could feel it, while Killua only followed her to the meeting place.
The blasted show-off was waiting for them in the place they ambushed him. He was waiting alone, without his cronies, which made Killua even more annoyed with him. And the young Hanabusa did not help in changing that perception.
"He's coming as well?" said the blasted bocchama the moment he realized Killua was coming as well. He looked at Gon. "You never said anything."
"E-Eh?" Gon uttered, visibly surprised she couldn't take him. But to the boys' surprises, Gon held the raven-head's hand. "Can he? Please? He wanted to see the works as well!"
Hanabusa blushed a bit and scratched his cheek. "I…guess he can come." And Gon smiled in relief.
Killua's eyes were twitching the whole time.
…
They arrived at the mansion several minutes later, and Killua stared at the window again in silence. Gon knew he wasn't much of a talker so didn't think much of it. Or rather, the Hanabusa had been distracting her enough with his trivial conversations that she couldn't notice the fact that Killua was, in fact, brooding.
A number of servants went to greet the bocchama, and they took his coat off for him. Gon and Killua politely refused. But on their way to the living area, they found a very familiar figure sitting on the ante room, waiting outside what seemed to be a residential office.
"Kurapika?" Gon called, and the two boys looked at the blonde as well. They were both as surprised as Gon, and Kurapika didn't expect to see her club mates there as well. "What are you doing here?"
"I have a meeting with Hanabusa-san." She said. "The older one."
"Ah…" Gon said and nodded, before turning back to her companions. "See you later then!" She said gleefully and went to Killua to whisper: "That's Kurapika for you." And he nodded.
"Well, we're not going to lose though won't we?"
Gon let out a light giggle in understanding.
…
They arrived at the formal living area about a minute after that, and Gon was impressed by the size. About a hundred people could easily fit in there, and the furnishings were lovely.
What made it worse for Killua was that she showed her awe a little too openly.
"Ah, you." He said coolly, looking at Killua. "The paintings are this way." He looked at a butler and pointed at Killua. "Guide him."
"Yes, sir."
Killua whipped his head at the other two kids. "What about you two?"
"We'll look at it later." Said Hanabusa, and Gon was looking at them alternatively, trying to absorb why they had to separate in the first place. "Didn't you just want to see? I would like to get to know my other guest better, ne?"
"Oh." To Gon, that totally made sense. And Killua couldn't really go against it, he was a guest, and Gon would be disappointed if they risked exposure because of his hard-headedness. So he just followed the damned butler. But his eyes didn't leave the other two until he reached the door.
"Want to chat a bit? The furnishings would also like an introduction." Damned-Hanabusa said with a flirtatious tone of voice that irked Killua to the bones.
Gon, however, was completely unaffected…or just oblivious. Probably both. Well, whatever, the young Hanabusa seemed not to care either way. He stood at a distance that was much too close to the intimate social bubble. Again, the Hanabusa didn't seem to care. "What's your name?"
Killua paused his steps.
"Antigone Freecs." She said carelessly. "Call me Gon."
The bastard smirked in victory. "Call me Kei, then. Hanabusa's my dad." Killua swore to assassinate him someday.
"Okay!"
Killua could only groan.
…
Kurapika came in the office a few minutes after she met Gon and Killua, who seemed to have had a similar idea with hers. She knew, however, that the quickest way to solve this was to deal with the one who knew about the case the most.
Kurapika called the house earlier that day saying she chose the head of the Hanabusa as a subject for her interview, a school assignment given only to the top few of the class, just in case he asked his son about its existence. And as expected, she was entertained, partly because they knew and gave high regards for the school, and partly because of ego. Kurapika mused it was mostly the latter.
"Thank you for having me." She said with political congeniality and shook his hand. The man was immediately impressed by how business-like she was, despite still wearing her High School uniform.
The Head of the family had a strong resemblance with his son. However, he was balding, and the obvious attempts to cover it up with a wig were slightly disconcerting. He did not age well, but at least he looked jolly.
"So, what kind of questions are you going to ask, dear?"
She smiled and ran through her brain all the gestures and speech notes that she got from books. After all, she was not a people person. She needed to get her 'business-charm' from theories. "Your business, Sir. I'm planning on taking on a business major in University." Kurapika said, maintaining that smile. "It would be helpful for me, as a student, to hear from your experiences, Sir."
"I wonder why me, though? I know a lot of business people who are better qualified to this than I am." He said. Kurapika knew it was false modesty, she could see it in his eyes, and in his son's actions. He just wanted to feel more reassurance, when he was already very… assured.
"The art business is especially interesting. It is risky; not everyone can succeed in it."
He laughed light-heartedly, but managed to control it. "My, I'm flattered, however I do not think you can count me as successful—not yet." And he laughed again. "And call me Mr. Hanabusa." Kurapika mentally sighed. It was tiring. But she had to endure.
"You lead one of the more prominent families around, Mr. Hanabusa," she continued to compliment himas tiring at it was. "At least in terms of self-sustenance. Very few families are independent of the Nostrades."
He blinked a bit at that, but concluded that she was merely stating facts that a serious students probably know about. He only nodded in the end. "Indeed."
"I'm curious though—I didn't think any company could run alone. Is it alright for me to know which family your business is particularly integrated with?"
"Why?"
"Research, Mr. Hanabusa. I'd like to study which connections are the best ones to create." Kurapika mused that if Gon was the one who asked that, she wouldn't have to worry. Anyone would believe Gon, while she was hoping for a little luck.
"I see." He said and enumerated two families that she did not need to hear of. They were clean families, semi-independent of Neon's, and they were of no use to her. He then started blabbering about other nonsense issues that would only make himself feel better. And then it moved into a masked, but full-fledged, bragging session.
She wished she bought that (insanely) expensive solution for contact lenses that would suit her unfortunately particular eyes, but mostly she didn't really care anymore. Anger always never failed to do this—cloud her mind.
Calm down, Kurapika. She told herself. She normally did not have to deal with such people. She often just ignored them. But she couldn't this time, and her inexperience was killing her chances.
She over-estimated herself.
"What about the Ryoudan family?"
"W-What about them?" He said. "They're a famous family known for similar business as I have. But I have no business with them—we're practically rivals."
That defensiveness was a giveaway. But she couldn't exactly attack it head-on. This wasn't a physical spar; that she trained for properly. But pleasing a man she was starting to dislike every single second she spent with him?
Kurapika paused and stared, trying to compose herself. She knew the best way to deal with this was step back—let the issue calm down.
She knew that… and she needed to do it.
But she couldn't.
"I got from a source you did have business with them, however." She said. "I can swore on secrecy if it's required."
"I have no secrets—at least none connected to that family."
"I see…" was the only thing she muttered, and the man obviously knew he didn't convince her. He was sweating buckets, and cheek starting to heat up in a combination of anxiety, anger, and embarrassment.
"Well, if you have no other questions—"
"But I do, Mr. Hanabusa."
"W-What?"
"Why are you so scared?" She said coolly, looking at him in the eyes, ensuring he knew what she knew. "It is not like I will leak whatever 'deal' you made with them."
"This rudeness is intolerable." He stated and Kurapika, mentally, wanted to nag herself for risking it—and failing. She didn't want to tell him her purpose there so readily since, they never really knew for sure if Bisuke's interpretation—or if she even heard everything necessary—were a hundred percent accurate.
There was also the fact that there was something wrong with how this man was dealing with her. Something inconsistent with someone who was, supposedly, being threatened.
In any case, she wanted to hear from this man directly. However…
"Guards!"
Well, that was a stupid response, she mused, even for him. Did he not know that being so hostile would only strengthen suspicions?
But at the same time, it validated her theory—that this was something very deep. She swore she would not go empty handed.
The guards grabbed an arm each and asked her to stand, which she did. "Isn't this a bit too much, Mr. Hanabusa?"
"That's what you get from being rude to me, young lady!" He said vehemently with an ugly expression on his face. "I will forgive you, however, if you apologize."
It would've been easy. But she had too much pride. She never apologized to someone who did not deserve it. And knowing herself? She probably never would.
She had no choice but to tell him the truth.
"Mr. Hanabusa." She said, almost monotonously. "What if I told you I mean no harm? To you, at least?"
"What do you mean?" He asked and guardedly standing behind his desk. He did not order his guards to let go of her.
"I am asked to investigate a threat made to you, the father of one of the school's precious students."
"What? How—" He stopped himself. "I don't believe you." He paused and made an ugly pompous face. "Don't look down on me, missy.
"I ordered a research about you." He said. "You're a scholarship student. I wonder what the school will do to you after they hear of your… 'indecencies' in my home.
"Take her away."
She flinched. What was wrong with this man? Why was he so hostile?
Unless…
An instant later her eyes met with his. And simultaneously, his eyes that whose arrogance masked the shaken state of its owner now showed nothing else but utter, and extreme, terror.
She soon realized why. "Y-Your eyes!"
Crap
The guards also looked at her and flinched, before instinctively attempting to take her down. She, too, let her reflexes take over and a few seconds later—the two bulky men were unconscious on the floor.
Hanabusa gasped and clicked at something on the bottom of his desk. The emergency button. The one that alerted the whole compound's security system.
Kurapika mentally shook her head in disapproval. But in the end…, she knew she was mad. Hanabusa flinched under her suddenly more intimidating stare.
And she saw little reason.
…
Killua returned only to see that Gon and that bastard were still chatting on the sofa. Kei was improperly close with her, they were facing each other and his shoulders relaxed all the way to her side of the couch.
He twitched and practically stomped to them when a loud, screeching noise was heard around the house. The three flinched and they looked at each other in befuddlement when they saw the guards running towards the office.
Killua and Gon's eyes met, and widened as soon as they understood what probably happened. They gestured to follow the guards.
But the younger Hanabusa just had to stall them. "Shouldn't you be going away from trouble?"
"But…" He then grabbed Gon's hand and tried to pull her to the opposite direction.
"Let's go."
"But—"
But he kept pulling her. And this made a certain vein pop.
BAM!
Killua punched him. A little too readily.
Hanabusa was now on the carpet holding his face. "What—"
It felt good, Killua thought, it certainly did. Gon was gaping before gesturing to help the Hanabusa up when Killua turned to go to the office. "Let's hurry, Gon! We've lost enough time."
"A-Ah." Was the only thing she could say before muttering a quick apology.
"Mou you didn't have to do that! He wasn't holding me that tightly." She said as they ran.
"What's done is done." He shrugged.
More noise came, and the sprinted and went ahead the guards who shouted at them. They arrived at the office, and stared in shock as they looked at the guards unconscious on the ground. And then the fact that Kurapika was pinning the head of the family on the wall with a single hand, holding him suffocatingly on the neck.
Killua took a deep breath. "Kurapika!" No answer, and the blonde wasn't moving. They could barely see her face. But eventually, the other guards arrived and Gon, too, called her again.
She turned, and everyone hasped. She wasn't breaking a sweat.
And her eyes were pure crimson.
…
Gon and Killua stopped the guards from going any close with their bodies. Gon tried to reason with her. "You're not going to kill him right?" She asked. "Kurapika?!"
"What the hell is going on here?!" Kei yelled in shock with blood still oozing from his nose. He almost fainted when Kurapika glared at him.
The guards tried to push Gon and Killua, but before they could spend too much force, Kurapika made her threat. "Come closer and I'll kill him."
She turned to the paling old man. "Tell me. Did you, or did you not, strike a deal with the Ryoudan family?"
"What—what are you doing you blasted guards!" He yelled and stared at Kurapika, trying to sound as coherent as he could, given she was crushing his vocal chords. "I can have you hanged for this!"
She let him go and he dropped ungracefully to the carpet below. He huffed and arranged his tie, as if to show his poise. "ha…You've finally seen sense!"
"Yes. I didn't want to kill you." She said coolly. "It would've been troublesome."
The man's eyes twitched and he yelled for the guards to take her down. However, before they could push Gon and Killua out of the way—
BAM
The door was already torn to half… and the wall that supported it wasn't in a better condition.
All eyes followed the source of the force…, and it ended up on a young man's knuckle.
"Don't underestimate the Hunter Club." Killua said and everyone of the guards froze. The Hanabusa's couldn't utter a single word for a while.
"The w-what?" The older one uttered as he struggled to stand up properly, avoiding eye contact with a certain blonde. The said blonde however, now with blue eyes again, was the one who answered his question.
"I told you—we were here to help you and your family from a potential threat." She said but her frowned deepened. "It seems like we were sent for naught."
"Eh?" That was Gon. "What do you mean?"
She looked at the older Hanabusa in response. "You tell us, Mr. Hanabusa." She said and looked at the door leaf Killua just broke in half. "You know what we can do."
The old man couldn't say anything, and soon his son mustered enough composure to speak. He ran past Gon and Killua to go to his father. "What… are you?" He asked, looking at the three of them.
"We're a secret club in the school, assigned to protect students from scams like these." Kurapika answered. "We had a source your father's being threatened by a family, because he wouldn't sell a family heirloom." She paused to look at the old man who only flinched.
"How much of that is true?"
…
"Congratulations on figuring it out!"
Later that day, they were called in for a meeting. The three were pretty quiet and Neon was looking forward to sharing his findings… only to find out they were for naught. Apparently, the bastard Hanabusa admitted that he was only feigning to get his partner's pity and help.
He needed the copy and sell it underground.
Greedy bastard.
In any case, they all looked at Bisuke, flabbergasted. "You knew?" They had not said a word to her, and yet she congratulated them.
She only chuckled. "Of course—the first word he uttered I knew he was acting." She smiled at their questioning stares confidently. "I've been a liar for *beep* years. I can easily detect a lie when I hear one."
"Unbelievable." Killua mumbled in annoyance while Gon only sweat-dropped. Bisuke, on the other hand, kept her proud grin.
"I hinted I was a pathological liar didn't I?" She said. "You didn't think I'd allow you to take on such a dangerous test when the only thing you know is Ten?"
No one answered.
"Although…," She paused and pointed at Killua, Gon, and Neon. "I expected these three to just realize this now…, or maybe never…,"
"Hey!"
"I didn't Kurapika would take so long as well."
Kurapika flinched at this, as she was in a daze. She was still feeling heavy, since the moment she realized back at their mansion. She thought she had a lead… and instead? She made a fool out of herself.
She frowned and looked away. She had been so focused on this 'lead' she got emotional and wasn't able to maximize her logic skills. She was becoming truculent, really, when it came to this—and it was not helping her cause.
"We told them the truth—that we were a secret club to protect the students. I even referred them to the President's office." She said, since the only thing she could really say was how she fixed her mistakes. "I doubt they'd make any commotion—they do not want their little scam to go public."
"However, Kurapika..." Bisuke said and looked at her. "What happened?"
"I wasn't thinking properly." She admitted and this shocked (and worried tho hell he'll admit it) Neon the most. "I apologize.
"Now, if you'll excuse me." She said, and walked away.
"I'll go talk to her." Gon said and the others nodded knowing that if the blonde were to speak with anyone, it would be Gon. However, only a few steps later, Kurapika paused her movements and slightly tilted her head to Gon.
"I'd like to be alone please."
Gon froze.
Killua saw how worried she was and stood up, slipping his hand on hers. She held it tighter.
"She's a strong woman." He said. "She'll get through this."
"I know." She smiled lightly, before looking sadly at her slowly disappearing form.
"But I worry how she'll do it."
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 7
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 8: Pencil
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Yuki Candy Heart- Thank you for the review! I'll do my best to keep your interests~! xD I hope to continue writing chappies that excite you. ;D
Phoenix-Thunder - *whew* Glad it was! The assignment was a lil' spontaneous. I did fix it up a bit by this chapter so hope it gets better. And banzai for yinyang! Haha. Thx for the review~
Ageha-chama- lol. However did you get to the conclusion that it was Pyro? xD (Seriously tho, which parts made you think so?) And yes~! The black haired guy was introduced the chapter before that. And thx for the review, btw~
AsukaSaru- Thanks for the review and I will need the luck, thanks! And yay! Yinyang pair FTW! And yeah. Hope I can deal with Kuroro well enough. xD
Rigoudon3- There's no Leorio…yet. *wink* He'll arrive in a few chapters. I'm so glad you love the story so far! I'm very happy, and thank you for the review~!
Cha3 or Chamcha- First of all thank you for the reviews. xD I'm very happy you love it and I will try to keep it up! And although so far Kuroro's my #1, Kurapika's partner is still undecided.
Zozikoozy- I'm glad to finally reply to you again, Zozi. xD It feels so long ago. Haha. And yeees! Same characters~ Vaise = Baise. And thanks for the review! :D
Countess Caramel- ah! Along with Zozi over there, another angel I haven't replied to in a while. xD Thx for the review and glad you like the title and yay! Jelly Gon ftw. xD
A – Here it is! I hope the wait was worth it and I apologize for taking so long. And thank you for the reviews as well! :D
…
Thanks for reading!
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