Chapter 4


"That's Dr. Lucifer to you."

A familiar voice comes from behind them, sending a frisson of recognition over Kurapika's skin. His head snaps back, and he stops cold at the face of the second intruder.

Kuroro Lucifer stands in front of the entrance to Prince Woble's room, his forehead bound in bandages and his form clad in his emblematic fur coat, remaining constant from their last encounter. Beyond his unchanged ensemble, however, lie the differences in his demeanor. Kuroro's complexion is gaunter than he remembers with a lingering pallor, his gaze stricken with an unfathomable expression when usually devoid of any sentiment, and Kurapika stares back wildly with burning scarlet eyes.

"The kid earned his title, so we should address him appropriately."

Kurapika apprehensively turns to the young man in his grasp, beholding his features and finding them highly familiar. The black hair falling across his forehead, the pale skin blighted by shadows beneath his eyes, the youthfulness of his face—as if he could be close to Kurapika in age. Where his appearance hails from is unmistakable, and Kurapika's head spins from the impossibility of the sight before him. Besides sharing a namesake, these two may as well be the same person.

Taking advantage of his moment of incomprehension, the young man breaks out of Kurapika's hold. "What are you doing here? I thought I said I wanted to speak with Kurapika first."

Kuroro appraises him with dispassionate eyes. "I heard a gunshot, so I wanted to make sure you weren't dead."

Kurapika takes a sharp step back, his hands slightly trembling over his gun. He can't help the tremor in his hands, the throbbing in his temple compounded by the stress of overusing Emperor Time. His nights have been long, his leisure nonexistent, and their unwanted company is close to suffocating him.

Amidst everything that transpired during the Kakin succession war, the presence of the Genei Ryodan in the first deck had gone unaccounted for. Were he confronted with only one of them, he may have had a chance of successfully navigating these circumstances, but not only are there two, he doesn't know who this doppelgänger of Kuroro could be. Considering his unknown affiliation with the Spiders, Kurapika needs to tread carefully to ensure the survival of everyone in his association.

The doppelgänger raises his hands in surrender, addressing Kurapika in a calm voice. There's a gentle lilt in the way he speaks, his voice not as deep as Kuroro's own. "I'm just here to speak with you. I don't mean any harm."

It's an unbelievable statement, but there's no room for negotiation or discussion here. It's difficult for him to breathe, let alone continue speaking. Standing in front of him is the man responsible for the slaughter of his clan—responsible for ruining his life—and he's fighting every instinct straining inside him to retaliate, suppressing his urge towards violence with the knowledge that his greatest responsibility lies in protecting his liege. He refuses to allow his emotions to blind him and provoke him into recklessness. Any mistake could prove to be fatal.

"What about him?" Kurapika manages to ask, keeping his voice level despite the panic rising within him. He turns his gun towards Kuroro, who remains unphased despite being faced with his weapon. As if he's here to exchange pleasantries as a simple guest, instead of assuming his reputation as one of the greatest threats on this ship.

The doppelgänger glances at Kuroro doubtfully. It wouldn't be unreasonable for Kuroro to seek Kurapika out for the two lives he claimed during Yorknew, but he claims otherwise. "He won't do anything. Not as long as I'm here."

It's strange that this young man is speaking on behalf of Kuroro. Even stranger that Kuroro is allowing him to, despite being their leader.

"Why are you—"

Before Kurapika can ask what they want from him, an intense pain flares through his head. He nearly drops his gun, clutching his head with one hand against the sudden pain assaulting him. The power within his eyes is taking its toll at the worst possible time.

Cold, numbing fear paralyzes him. Not fear of the Spiders, but of what will happen to Prince Woble and Queen Oito should he lose consciousness here. He's entrusted Bill with guarding them in the back of the room, and there's no telling what the Spiders will do once they cross the boundary where Kurapika stands.

Unexpectedly, Kurapika hears someone asking are you alright, but why would someone in Kuroro's entourage be concerned for him? He forces himself to raise his head, and his vision suddenly blurs. The two versions he sees of Kuroro are coalescing into one, and he already knows what will happen next.

He can't succumb to Emperor Time now. Not when the people he has vowed to protect will be left vulnerable and defenseless if he falls. He rebels against his instincts willing him to surrender, grasping onto his consciousness with a surging desperation. His heartbeat pounds in his ears, growing louder and louder with each passing moment.

Darkness encroaches upon his vision, and he finds himself helpless against it. A voice penetrates through his mind, difficult to hear above the pain pulsing through his head, calling Kurapika something that no one has ever called him before.

The last thing Kurapika remembers is—

"Dad!"

And the world tilts.


If not for Sol intercepting his fall, Kuroro would have done nothing as Kurapika's unconscious body hit the floor.

Kurapika falls forward, his head slumping against Sol's chest. Sol catches the soft scent of baby powder lingering on his clothes, making him somewhat wistful. Supporting Kurapika's back with one hand and beneath his legs with the other, Sol sweeps Kurapika up in his arms as if he weighs nothing and carries him over to the settee in the center of the room.

An indescribable emotion overcomes him at the memory of how Kurapika was the one who always held him in his arms as a child—only now it is the other way around. Has his father always been this light?

Sol feels the weight of Bill and Queen Oito's attention on his back, and Kuroro's indiscernible stare, as he lays Kurapika down. Dropping to his knees beside him, he watches over Kurapika carefully.

If Sol was working under any other circumstance, his first thought would be:

My dad is so cool.

His greatest mistake is working under the impression that Kuroro and Kurapika wouldn't kill him. Sol is well aware that he's an accomplished Nen user, having undergone extensive training and preparation to meet his father's younger self. But nothing could have prepared him to face Kurapika's murderous intent. Having been held at gunpoint twice, he realizes that his all-consuming love for his father has obscured his judgment.

It's one thing to be unwanted and disregarded, and another thing entirely to be hated by the person whom he loves most. For all that Kurapika is his father, he currently is not, and Sol needs to will his emotions under control if he hopes to survive here.

Ignoring the ache in his chest, Sol concentrates on the matter at hand. He finds himself fortunate that Kurapika is unconscious, because this has given him the opportunity to check on his health discreetly.

His father is certainly the type to ignore his limits and work himself to exhaustion, but Sol recognizes that there is more to it. He places a hand on Kurapika's stomach, searching for any sign of another life, and is relieved to find the absence of one within him. Thankfully, Kuroro and Kurapika have yet to consummate their relationship.

Sol chooses to ignore the questioning gazes behind him, lest they consider him to be more insane than they already think he is. There's no way he can possibly explain how Kurapika would come to have a child, so it's best to observe him for now.

Weakened from Emperor Time, Kurapika's sleeping form conjures painful memories. Memories of his body in eternal rest, surrounded by the fire poppies of his homeland. His face is calm and peaceful, with the preternatural beauty that death leaves on the faces of people who die young.

Sol gently takes Kurapika's wrist in his hand, wishing that he couldn't feel how thin and bony he is. He clings to the signs of life in Kurapika's body—the rise and fall of his chest, the steady pulse in his wrist. His father is alive and he can still save him.

"Your Highness, wait—"

"You—what are you doing?"

Sol looks up at Queen Oito trying to approach them, BIll impeding her path, and he stands up to greet her. He may have only shown his shameful side to Kuroro so far, but he knows proper etiquette. Falling on one knee, Sol presents himself before Queen Oito and Woble.

"I greet the venerable Queen Oito and Her Highness, the fourteenth prince of Kakin, Prince Woble. My name is Dr. Sol Lucifer."

"A doctor… you say?" Queen Oito appears distrustful, holding onto Woble tightly in her arms. It's understandable, considering all of the unexpected crises that have occurred so far during the succession war, especially resulting from unwanted visitors. "Why are you here? What happened to Kurapika?"

"Kurapika fell unconscious from the fatigue of overusing his abilities—and I'm sure this isn't the first time you've seen this happen," Sol explains, regretful of how Kurapika is already facing repercussions on his health. "I'm here to provide treatment to him. If you send for a physician from the hospital wing, he'll be asleep for at least three days in his condition. But under my care, he should recover almost immediately."

"Who sent you? Why should we trust you?"

Queen Oito flinches when Sol takes her hand, but he gently raises it to his lips, pressing a fleeting kiss against her knuckles. He can feel her trembling, her skin cold compared to how feverish Kurapika is. When he looks up, Woble is watching him curiously with her round eyes.

Sol stands up and grabs Bill's wrist, startling him. He does the same to him—pressing a kiss over the back of his hand and sending a small wave of aura through his skin. Heat washes over Bill's face, reddening his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Surely he finds it to be a bizarre gesture.

"Don't worry, Uncle Bill," Sol says, reassuring him with a wry smile. "You're not my type."

Bill coughs in embarrassment into his other hand. "What's going on? And why am I your uncle? I definitely heard you call Kurapika your dad too—"

The effects happen almost immediately. Queen Oito presses a hand over her forehead, closing her eyes tight at the dizzying sensation. It would only be an uncomfortable feeling lasting a second—not dangerous or threatening enough to Queen Oito that Woble's Nen beast would emerge. Sol leads her to sit down on the chair beside the settee that Kurapika is lying on, and suddenly she looks drained.

Queen Oito opens her eyes weakly. "Is this Nen?"

Kuroro raises a questioning brow. "Nen?"

"I can share my memories with other individuals through a kiss, as long as they're the subject of those memories," Sol reveals in a calm manner. Out of his arsenal of abilities, his memory Hatsu pays respect to Pakunoda—the aunt he had never met but the Spiders always spoke fondly of. "This would've been useful to convince you of my identity before you nearly killed me, but I don't have any memories of you during my adulthood."

Kuroro remains silent with this revelation. Using this ability on the other Spiders would have been advantageous too, but Sol doesn't think that someone like Machi would take kindly to a strange man trying to kiss her.

"This has to be an illusion—" Bill struggles to comprehend the flood of memories arising from nowhere, strange and unbidden. Sol has imparted upon them the knowledge of his identity, his past, his relationship with Kurapika. "How can we trust you?"

"Coming from a future timeline, I have knowledge of how the succession war will end and the key to your survival." Sol knows the best way to appeal to them in which there's no room for argument. "But first, I need to treat Kurapika. I'll tell you all everything you need to know once he's awake."

He doesn't phrase his words as a request. He intends to care for Kurapika regardless if he receives permission, and no one in this room has the power to intervene.

Queen Oito looks at him with greater clarity in her eyes, as if she recognizes him distantly, but how could you truly know someone if they don't exist here and won't exist for another decade?

"You won't—you won't do anything to hurt him, will you?"

"Of course not," Sol answers with a small smile. "He's my beloved dad."

"And you…?" Queen Oito asks, focusing her gaze on where Kuroro stands.

Kuroro silently inclines his head in a small bow. Queen Oito carefully looks from Kuroro to Sol to Kurapika, and he wonders what she sees in her eyes. Her lips part in surprise as if everything has fallen into place, and she doesn't say anything else.

Sol procures a small vial from his coat, containing the therapy that will relieve Kurapika of the painful consequences caused by Emperor Time—in the present and for the precious years to come. He props up Kurapika's head on a pillow, elevating him so that he can administer the medication, but finds that this might not be the most suitable method.

So he hands the vial to Kuroro, who accepts it with a vague sort of interest.

"I need you to transfer this to Kurapika," Sol tells him, marking a slight pause with hesitation, "mouth-to-mouth."

Kuroro considers the clear liquid in the glass vial, holding it up against the lights of the chandeliers. To anyone besides Sol, the therapy looks so ordinary that it may as well be water. "You're asking me to kiss him."

Avoiding his blank stare, Sol drops his gaze to Kurapika's unconscious face. "It's no different from CPR."

"In that case, why can't you do it?"

"Because you two are going to do much more than kissing on this ship," Sol reveals, seemingly burdened, "and I'd prefer not to have to do this with my own dad."

Sol reaches out for the vial, intending to take it back. "If you don't want to, then I'll ask Uncle Bill—"

Bill meets Kuroro's dark stare, and he immediately looks away as if he wants nothing to do with this.

Unexpectedly, Kuroro evades his grasp and accepts the responsibility. "Fine then."

Kuroro kneels down on one knee beside Kurapika, reminding Sol of the childhood tales of princes awakening their lovers from a curse. He unseals the vial and tilts it to his lips until it is empty. His hand goes to support the nape of Kurapika's neck, and Kuroro pauses for a moment as if to take a careful look at Kurapika's sleeping face, and he leans in to press his lips against his.

It's meant to be clinical, but the sight of Kuroro and Kurapika together irrationally warms something within Sol, whether he accepts them with each other or not—because this is what it means to see his parents together. Even Bill is unable to look away, peering in between the gaps of his fingers despite hiding his face in his hands.

They stay there for a while, a drop of medication spilling from the corner of Kurapika's mouth. When Kuroro parts from the kiss, he wipes his lips with the back of his hand, murmuring something that only Sol can hear.

"Coffee, huh?"


Notes: If you're still reading this, thank you so much and I'm sorry for the long wait.

You can reach out to me on Tumblr (seiyuna) or Twitter (ryuuseigai).