A Dark Night

In an abandoned amusement park, by a rundown carousel...

'So, what do you plan on doing, Kurapika?' Naruko asked Kurapika as she sat on the rusty handrails.

'I want to stake them out but the problem, would be that they're often together, they hardly go out alone, often going out in teams.' said Kurapika.

'Sou ne...and the problem is this one.' Naruko henge-d into Machi. 'Her senses are so finely-tuned I wonder what the hell is she.' she scowled as she changed back. 'If not for that, I can freely spy on them all I want.' she pouted. 'Well, what about the gorilla? What did you guys do?'

'We edited our report, killed him and left the body in public in a park when we're sure nobody's around, and we had to look like burglars and use a truck with no license plate.' said Kurapika. 'Sure enough, the mafia's wondering who did it and they'll never find out who.' he stated coolly.

'Better off that way. No doubt some morons claimed the body for a bounty...and death will soon be after their ass so they can't enjoy their two billion for long.' Naruko giggled. 'Yesterday there was a bounty hunt-slash-investigation and reward disguised as Conditional Auction to make it look legal with even a poster.' she said, giving him a poster. 'Two billion per head.' Kurapika took the poster from her. 'I don't know what your ability is but unless you maximize your aura's potent strength, increase your Maximum Aura Output and the amount you can emit to its highest peak and get used to hand-to-hand...you'll have trouble with other members and they definitely mastered everything if even the Association had trouble with them.' she told him. 'Its to the point only father and grandfather can deal with them in this world...as well as the Chairman and the twelve zodiacs but they can't be too bothered anyway.'

'Is that right?'

'Yeah...oh, and one last thing...' Naruko took out a scroll, unwound it and unsealed its contents...to reveal seven pairs of Scarlet Eyes to Kurapika's shock. 'I stole them the day before September 1 began.' she revealed to his disbelief. 'Officially, there's only a pair going to the auction when in reality, the six pairs are bought covertly with an insanely great bribe. This someone paid 40 billion for six pairs.' she stared at Kurapika grimly.

'Who...is this person?' it was obvious he was angry. His tone of voice, and the way his eyes burned in fury despite his calm composure.

'The Fourth Prince of Kakin Dynasty, Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou.' said Naruko. 'Apparently he wants all pairs for himself. Then whoever buys the last pair in an auction, he'll get it from whoever bought it anyway. And not even the Mafia can do anything to a prince. Do you want them or I'll safekeep them until you want it?'

'...keep it with you for now.' said Kurapika softly. 'Right now...I don't have the time to take my people home to rest. Once I get the opportunity...I'll get them from you.'

'OR you'll get the scroll from me anyway because Gon and Killua intend on participating in Battera's Greed Island game when the auction ends.' said Naruko wryly. 'Apparently, Gon's father left a clue in Greed Island and we're all playing it after we get hired.'

'Is that right? I'll get it now then.'

'Just don't lose or burn it or not even I can get the pairs back from within the sealing you know.' Naruko resealed the eyes back and gave the scroll to Kurapika who took it with care as if he held a fragile object.

'Aa...thank you.' said Kurapika softly as he pocketed the scroll.

'For now, lay low, train hard and unless its glasses girl and you have a chance with frankenstein before he fires his nen bullets ala machine gun if you found and fight them solo, do not do anything. Its for your own good otherwise you can forget about getting them all.' she advised. 'You must at least, exceed them in mastery and combat skills. Being less in one, remember the gorilla you killed. They all trained the hard way for years, becoming the A-Class criminals they all are today. No shortcuts. Shortcuts are only temporary and will often choose a bad time to run out on you. But if you find a target who's beyond you, call me before you strike but during our time in Greed Island its impossible. Look it up the website. Spend the time I'm out training.'

'Alright.' Kurapika nodded.

'And the auction?'

'With them here? I doubt there'd be any.' said Kurapika flatly. 'Hundreds of guests, even some bosses gone, treasures gone and even all Shadow Beasts dead...the mafia will take out the big guns.' he said. 'I'll get going. My boss is here and its just us Dallzorne and I now in this city while the other bodyguards took the miss home.'

'Sou...and your miss in question?'

'...threw an incredible tantrum.'

'Tantrum? I only read about that in a dictionary but never seen it in real life.'

'She cried in protest of going home without getting to the auction, screamed, wailed, threw things around...until Senritsu used her ability to calm her down.' Naruko sighed, looking rather amused with his exasperation.

'Must be rough.' she stated the obvious in a rather coy, 'I feel sorry for you' sort of manner.

'But she is my only connection to this grisly trade so I'll have to suck it up and stay with the Nostrades or I'd be out of here long ago. She is two years older than you but sadly...mentally too young for her age accustomed to getting what she wants and when things don't go her way, things go crazy.' he said almost tiredly. Sure he maintains a front, but around those he trusts, he relaxes. 'This upbringing was because so her father can make use of her powers for his own benefit. But in years to come, this will surely bite him in the rear in the worst karma possible in her adulthood. Marriage. Who'd want to marry her is the question because all she can do is predict, not capable of anything else.'

'Ah, what you call 'trophy wife'?'

'That.' Kurapika nodded. 'And we'll have to deal with the drama that comes with it during employment. You have a lot to learn about marital life, its ups and downs.'

xxx

And on the night of September 3, hours later...there was a meeting between hired assassins and Zenji, a Don who was tasked to put them to task.

Naruko was called by the family and she prepared beforehand by tiring the boys like crazy so she can act freely.

'How is Kill?' Silva asked her.

'He apparently went to have a vacation in a real far-out countryside place and he found life there enjoyable.' said Naruko. 'I don't know what he meant by that though. Everyone has their standards so what we ave in mind and what he has is different and I'm still getting to know him and talk more. We started three days ago in Nen...and the boys plan on playing Greed Island by getting into Battera's Event when Southernpiece ends.'

'Is that right...but still, its a Hunter's only Game and more experienced Nen Users are in that game.' Zeno frowned. 'Why will they play?'

'They're hunting for Ging Freecs, Gon's father.' said Naruko. 'He's also a Hunter and left clues in the game. If we clear it and bring back three certain treasures back to the real world, we have a 50 billion reward we can split three-ways between us.'

'50 billion eh? Who is this crazy deviant Battera? Not even we earn a billion in our jobs.' Zeno scoffed as in the darkness, Maha and Kalluto appeared.

'A weirdo but a capable weirdo hoarding secrets to himself. I can't find details by paper, pc and even his safes.'

'Well, we better get going.' said Silva. 'There will be a few pitiful souls today but a job is a job.'

'Being professional, plain and simple.' and the Zoldycks scattered.

Naruko stayed with Silva and Zeno as they wandered around the building together looking for their prey at their own pace.

They also saw dead bodies, killed by ballpoint pens. They found a guy dressed in an absolute emo manner with half his head cleanly-shaven and tatted. Dead by pen-stab at the base of his head where the spinal cord begins.

'...wow, how many pens does he have exactly?' Naruko whistled, sweatdropping. 'Plus points for less mess though.' she said. 'Even the carpet wasn't disturbed.'

'He's done a beautiful job.' said Zeno. 'A single precise strike from behind.'

'We can also see he barely has any presence either. He was exposed only for an instant where it ends shortly.' said Silva.

'Father, we're going to kill Chrollo, right?' Naruko asked Silva.

'Aa. In your case, use the basics and avoid showing your abilities. The last thing we want is exposure of yours.'

'Yes, father. My claws should be good. Its not like he can steal and do them anyway~' Naruko snorted.

They walked around the building, working their way up, and still finding mafioso who still wants to bid despite the danger so while she hid, the two Zoldyck men gave them a piece of their mind before going up, planning to use En to locate him faster...and they found him in a hall that has about six doors for entry and they each used one.

But still...a 300m radius of En?

Naruko felt she has a really long way to go.

In the hall, there he is.

She knew this man, is him.

'We meet again.' he greeted.

'You remember?' Silva asked him.

'How can I not? You killed one of my people.' Chrollo reminded him in a rather casual manner but his eyes tell a different story. He is prepared to fight to the death.

'It was difficult.' and three of them walked towards him. He jumped off the stage and walked just as calmly...and all hell broke loose in a 3-vs-1 fight.

Chrollo expected fighting two of Zoldyck's strongest, so why the hell is he fighting a little girl whose skills are just as good? "These Zoldycks...even little girls are pretty scary." he thought in amusement. And those sharp nails! They can elongate and shorten at her convenience so he's getting some cuts that's a centimeter deep per slash he had to avoid getting cut at certain veins and arteries because she was gunning for those!

It doesn't help that she strikes at the opposite direction of the two men whenever possible he had to watch for three always unpredictable angles at all times and they're very fast.

So he took out a knife...and she was quick to backflip to avoid getting slashed.

'...that's one weird toy you got.' Naruko remarked thoughtfully. 'But so thin, that it can cut deadlier than a scalpel can...'

'That's a mid-era Benz Knife.' Silva told Naruko. 'That shape and design suggests its poisoned.'

Its a clear order for her to do long distance as her level of training is lacking to combat that while Zeno and Silva can shrug it off.

'You must be a Specialist.' Zeno remarked thoughtfully. 'I would consider you a threat if you can freely use the abilities you stole. Considering you can steal Nen abilities, I'm sure about four or five conditions need to be fulfilled...and your attempts of diversion is just proof of the risks you must take to capture and seal those abilities.'

Chrollo just looked amused, threw his knife away and a book appeared out of nowhere. A book titled 'Skill Hunter' with a hand print on the cover. Pages began turning and he conjured a mantle.

'Silva, Naruko, cover me.' Zeno instructed them. 'If I got him, kill him even if you have to kill me with him.'

'Understood.'

'OK.' Zeno flared his Nen.

From what Naruko is seeing, Chrollo was trying to capture him with the mantle so she too, was looking for an opening. But he is also trying to get closer, but Zeno knows better. With age comes wisdom after all. Same goes for herself which was why she didn't jump in or get used as a hostage. But she observed all she could for Kurapika.

It seems when an ability is used, he must constantly hold onto the book to keep using the current ability. However, both fighters read each other's minds and Chrollo closed the book, enabling Silva and Naruko to take action to give Zeno the chance.

"To dodge grandpa at the last second...he's good for his age." Naruko thought. "I wonder who's better in his age range...Illumi or Hisoka?"

It came when it was Zeno who got close and pinned him to the wall with his nen dragon since Chrollo was too busy worrying about all three of them and his judgment lapsed and Zeno wasn't nice enough to let it pass, raining punches on him and she did the same, making him deal with barrages from two people.

'Now! Do it!' Zeno yelled as Silva prepared two huge nen balls...and fired at them.

At Chrollo's distraction from the balls...Zeno gave Naruko a look...

And STAB!

'Gah!' but his reaction was quick as he quickly hardened his body with Ren to keep her from getting deeper and everything exploded.

The hall is now a rubble.

Then something beeped, and Silva answered it. 'Illumi? ...Right here.' Silva then put away the phone as Zeno, Naruko and Chrollo removed chunks of the wall off themselves.

'Humm...older is better I guess.' Naruko told Chrollo. 'Any other would be dead long ago from that stab.'

'Heh, you got ways to go before you can kill me even if you're good in fighting, kid.' Chrollo chuckled in amusement.

'Father, Naruko, Illumi called.' said Silva. 'He says he killed the Ten Dons, and for him to write the money down to his account.' Chrollo nodded.

'Good grief, it seems we both get to live another day.' said Zeno wryly in a disgruntled manner.

'Aren't you supposed to kill me?' Chrollo asked them. 'You won't get another chance you know.'

'True but there's no way we'd work without getting paid.' Naruko pointed out while dusting herself off. 'That's dumb, we don't do charity. We're nice enough to have a wide variety of clients, but not that nice.' she stated, walking away.

'This is business, kid. We don't kill for fun you know.' said Zeno. 'Since our clients the Ten Godfathers are dead and we won't get paid, we quit. That's that. You're no longer our target. I refuse to work and die for nothing.'

'Did you know that I hired Illumi to kill the Ten Godfathers?' Chrollo asked Zeno with a smile.

'Of course, but that's irrelevant. We simply do the job we're hired for.'

'I see...say, can I ask you something?' Chrollo asked him. 'If we were to fight one-on-one, who'd win?' Zeno glanced backwards towards him in amusement.

'If that were the case, I'd win...unless you decide to try to kill me. Cheeky brat.' and they left.

Naruko left a mosquito on the ceiling above the door before the fight began. So she could continue watching.

'That guy's muscle control is amazing...I stabbed him from his left side side I wanna stab through his heart when grandpa gave me the signal but his reinforced his muscles into hardening and contracted around my fingertips at a split-second while my nails pierced his lungs, but at least I broke three ribs.'

'Well, he's a talented guy, that one.' said Zeno. 'But a deviant talent just like you. Someday, you may be the one to off him yourself.'

'Er, age comes wisdom and I'm twelve. I need more seasoning.' Naruko admitted flatly.

'That's true. But you got a job so that can wait a bit I suppose. And don't remind me that I'm old, you're cheeky too.' Zeno grumbled petulantly. 'And later, tell us what happens to that brat.'

'Assuming that girl doesn't show up and kill my bug clone again...' Naruko sighed. 'She has hellish senses when not even her comrades can sense them I can't spy on them at all with her around I can only hope on luck. She's annoying I wanna kill her, job request or not.'

Minutes later...she relayed what happened.

'What a drag...' Chrollo complained. 'I can't steal their abilities at all~'

He rested for a while when a group of more came.

'Looks like you had fun, boss.' said Franklin as in the room, was a group of four. Him, Pakunoda, Phinx and Bonolenov.

'Yeah.' said Chrollo as he got up. 'Two of Zoldyck's strongest and a budding genius who's too good for her age. Its two old men and a kid.' he said as Shalnark, Shizuku and Coltopi came in from one door, and in another, Machi, Hisoka and Feitan came in together.

'A what?' Phinx asked flatly.

'A. kid.' Chrollo chuckled with emphasis on his words. 'This is this, that is that.'

'Well, this is the Zoldyck Family we're talking about.' said Shalnark.

'I wish I could have seen how those three fought you.' Shizuku mused thoughtfully, while lamenting the opportunity missed.

'Hmph, fighting is more fun than watching.' Feitan scoffed.

'Coltopi, everything ready?' Chrollo asked Coltopi.

'Of course,' Coltopi, the hairy short person answered. 'I can't make living copies, but I can provide static copies.'

'That's good enough.' said Chrollo, standing up. 'Then we'll stick to the plan.'

xxx

'Sooo a fake auction will begin, selling fakes to the stupid idiots...and of course, they got the real treasures and one hell of a fortune in the process.' Naruko told them while sending mail to Kurapika. 'That girl is there but thankfully maybe from overwork, her senses dulled a bit. Lucky~I got to see the faces of the Brigade too. Did you see all of them once?'

'Well, just two. The one I killed, and that guy.' said Silva. 'This is useful. I have forbidden all my sons from having anything to do with them we need to know their faces at some point.'

'OK.' then Naruko paused. 'Father?'

'Hm?'

'What's a 'trophy wife'?'

Silva frowned a little.

'...where'd you hear that?' he asked while he looked comically scary right about now, with half his face in black shadow and eyes glowing red.

'From Kurapika. We talked about his boss' daughter not long ago and about her rather bleak future if she doesn't grow up while we talked about the Spiders since he hired me as informant.' Naruko piped up. 'He said she's two years older than me but the mentality of someone way younger with a spoiled upbringing and incapable of anything but nen precognition.' she said. 'Kurapika laments he'll put up with that kind of drama while employed under the Nostrades.'

'Now that's a rather complicated topic regarding that family. All mafia have rather complicated rules and ill-manners to match that come with it.' Zeno snorted. 'You see, a trophy wife is a woman a man of no morals married just for her looks and family's money or maybe her own money. He keeps her solely for those when behind her back, he's cheating on her with another woman who he actually cares for, or just playing around with out of greedy dissatisfaction.'

'Oh...Kurapika also said I should ask you more about marital ups and downs...'

xxx

Kurapika,

Fake Auction tonight.
The corpses are also Nen Fakes.
Don't bother. The Zoldycks have
two clients: Illumi hired by Boss
to kill the Ten Godfathers and us
hired by them to kill Boss. However
first come, first served and we won't
get paid tonight.

'So this is what she says?' Light swore as Kurapika read aloud the mail he got. 'Damn if I do, damn if I don't and her best clients all dead. I still have to bid to maintain my reputation and standing while keeping Neon happy.' he fumed. 'This is like, throwing away money for nothing!' he swore furiously, bashing his fists on his lap as he sat on a chair in another room in Cemetery Building for a private conversation. 'Even worse, I can't tell anybody. Who'd believe me?'

'Well, you can just stage a burglary so the miss will never know that the items she wants are fakes that will disappear in a day.' Dallzorne suggested. 'And conveniently, all us bodyguards are out on a job on your orders for business so we're not there to protect her treasures. That way, she can't blame anybody.'

'I leave that to you.' Light sighed. 'I need a drink after this. Watch out for them while I...bid.'

'Sir.'

Needless to say, Kurapika and Dallzorne are stuck watching this farce of an Auction and an unhappy boss who indeed, after throwing money away, went to get really drunk and asked to be left alone.

xxx

Elsewhere...Naruko showed the present members the appearances of the Spider using Henge.

'So that's what they look like...' Kalluto mused thoughtfully.

For him, the appearances of the Spiders are...unexpected, to say the least.

'Surprising but true.' said Naruko. 'I also know their abilities through the bugs I spread in the area close to Cemetery Building. Although some people preferred not to use Nen. That blonde woman used her guns, tracksuit guy and black cloak guy used bare hands, and samurai-wannabe just used his sword. The others took liberty with Nen.'

'That's better than nothing at least.' Kalluto reassured her. 'But still, all of them A-Classes...'

'Even we prefer to fight with our bare hands or their Nen Abilities aren't combat-oriented, who knows?' said Zeno wryly, rolling his eyes. 'Our Nen abilities must absolutely be a trump card if things go south. Until then, we are sufficient on our own. Well, we'll go home now.' and the men are gone, leaving Naruko to disappear last, and sleep in the hotel, while leaving a clone to cook for breakfast hours later.

That morning, Gon, Killua and Leorio saw a note on their living area in their hotel.

-The Zoldycks are called on a job.
Grandpa, Father, Master Maha, Illumi
and Kalluto as well as myself. We are
hired by two parties, I'm tired and
sleepy, so please excuse me for this
morning.

-Naruko

P.S- Schedule will continue as normal.
If you skip, I'll feed you extremely spicy
things as punishment.

'Wonder what that job is if nearly everyone is called.' Killua scratched his head out of utter befuddlement.

'Well, let's not disturb her.' said Leorio. 'Strong she may be but a kid is still a kid and kids need certain hours of sleep.'