Okay, I've gotta admit that my attention is moving on orbit now. Some of you might have already noticed in my FB page, yeah? I've just watched Rise of the Guardians, and the animation had gotten me. At first I was relating the movie to this fiction (that's how my mind works, I always relate things around me to what occupies my mind most at the time). All those 'it was cold and dark, I was invisible' thing. After I've finished the movie, my mind changed and I saw ROTG as a very epic individual. If anyone hadn't seen it yet, I soooo recommend you too XD so far it's one animation that I think is as good as anime.

Alright, here comes chapter 3

As always, Special Thanks to Aionwatha-san for beta-reading.

Chapter 3 What Really Happened

The morning after, Kuroro woke up at nine and saw no Kuruta ghost around. Next to his pallet, piles of books were neatly stacked. Even the sheet of fabric under them was pulled into place.

The visual image washed his drowsiness away and put a smile on his lips. 'He did this much and didn't bother me in my sleep?' "Now are you being polite or just showing off?"

His remark was left hanging in the air. Kuroro chuckled to no one in particular and got himself up. He packed the books back into his Fun Fun Cloth and got ready for the day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

After four, the Ryodan members, Machi, Nobunaga, and Pakunoda gathered in front of the abandoned church. Kuroro quirked his eyebrow at the missing person aside from Ubogin, the dead member, and the others who were still in York Shin.

"Hisoka?"

"Ran off somewhere," Machi answered, crossing her arms over her chest. Her expression etched with irritation whenever it came to the so called magician. That guy, whenever he left, had to choose her as his first messenger of choice. "Leave him be."

Kuroro nodded in acknowledgement. He remembered that Hisoka was the first to show up at the airport. Frustration and disappointment etched on his face when Phinx and Feitan followed up thereafter which meant Hisoka must have not expected them, let alone ending up cooperating with them to get Kuroro out of that situation. 'He must have planned to fight me. Now with all that bloodlust and frustration not having an outlet, he might have gone for someone else.'

Troublesome. Kuroro sighed lightly as he beckoned his comrades to set off.

The best solution might be to stop putting this off and fight him. Only the mere thought exhausted him, not to mention the other two … possibly three avengers that might set off after him at anytime.

After all the York Shin ordeal, he'd looked forward to some easy days, at least for a while. He closed his eyes at the brief weary thoughts. When he opened them again, he stopped in his track. His eyes widened.

The chain-guy was right in front of him, his eyes widened all the same, staring back at Kuroro.

Nobunaga, who was chatting away with Machi while trailing behind his Danchou bumped right into his back. His attention shifted. "Danchou, what the-?" His expression gave way to a sudden change of fright, "Is it just me or the night here is getting frigging cold!?"

Pakunoda and Machi made a face but had to agree soon after. Feeling the temperature drop too, Pakunoda remarked, "Strange. And I thought the weather in this city was stable throughout night and day. It has been for the past few days."

"Why are you here again?" Disregarding his comrades that were left perplexed with his behavior, Kuroro directed this at the ghost who turned deaf ears on him. Pale green eyes trained on his comrades and Kuroro knew what was going through the ghost's mind. He walked up close to Kurapika, blocking the ghost's view from his comrades. It effectively snapped Kurapika's attention to him. He warned, "Don't even think about it."

The atmosphere became heavy.

A moment followed, then Nobunaga felt the weirdest sensation shoot down his spine. His face lost all color, hairs standing on their end and he shrieked out at the top of his lungs. "What in the COLD HELL WAS THAT!?"

'The Chain-guy attempted to punch you in the face but his fist went through,' was the answer that Kuroro decided to keep to himself. Machi and Pakunoda stood with their expressions a bit off. Surely they must have felt the cold, especially Machi. But they showed no indication that they saw that other presence aside from their own. 'So the others don't see him.'

The samurai's hand pressed on the hilt of his sword, his head swerving left and right. Desperate, he was already using gyou but nothing came to view. A clap on his shoulder made him jump out of his skin but he managed to contain a shriek this time round. He whipped his head and saw it was just his Danchou.

"Calm down, you're just imagining things," Kuroro lied with a flat face.

"Eh?"

After his comrade had forced himself to regain his composure, fully aware that he'd cracked earlier, Kuroro turned to Kurapika who froze right at the spot. Kuroro arched an eyebrow. Well, Nobunga did scream like the end was coming when it came to this. Machi, Pakunoda and Kuroro himself weren't surprised since they'd known this side of Nobunga for a long time. But the chain-user … he was staring in shock and disbelief. 'Does he have to look that shocked and take so long to recover though?'

Kurapika's expression shifted a tad bit when his comrades inched closer to him, their guards up – a gesture of protection for their leader. Kuroro was a tad bit amused. Under any other situation, they wouldn't have worried about him this much. None of their prior enemies had done the effect as much as Kurapika did. Even in his death, it had chain reaction on all of them.

"Danchou," Pakunoda called out, unsure of what to do and awaiting order.

"Paku, Machi," Kuroro said casually, clapping his hands on their shoulders like he did with Nobunaga. His way of reassuring them and that he didn't need their protection as he never had. He walked past them and came up front to where Kurapika stood still. Kuroro leaned forward to whisper in the ghost's ear, his eyes glancing sideways to a disoriented Nobunaga whose face color had yet to return. "He's afraid of ghosts. I hope you won't spook the defenseless-against-ghost, poor guy that screamed like a girl, yes?"

The reaction he got was the ghost's faltering. Kuororo hid his grin. To have Nobunaga's fear of ghost - probably the Spider member most bound to Kurapika's hatred, aside from Kuroro himself- puting an end to Kurapika's cruel emotional bouts, was not expected. One dumbfound look Kurapika gave him and Kuroro made up his mind. He straightened and turned to his comrades, "We part here. Meet me in Ryuuseigai, whenever you arrive there."

"NO frigging WAY!" Nobunaga protested, his manly voice back on balance. "Why!? Danchou, all of the sudden!?"

"All of the sudden?" Kuroro frowned deeply. "Haven't I ordered you to disperse since when we left York Shin?" Spiders didn't travel a long distance together, especially its leader whom everyone knew was sort of a lone wolf when travelling. Since after the chain-guy ordeal, Nobunaga was vehement in accompanying him wherever he went. Machi and Pakunoda used Nobunaga's vigorous need to bodyguard him to their advantage, so they could tag along. He looked at them in the eyes, "This is an order."

"Mind if I ask you why?" Machi asked.

"I've got things to do … alone," Kuroro replied, silently adding to himself, '… with the chain guy.' When the young lady frowned, he clarified, "There's a bit of a complication that I must deal with."

"But Danchou, what if they come after you?" Pakunoda brought up the initial reason that they were glued to him in the first place.

Kuroro looked at them, from one person to another. "Are you questioning my capability to handle them? That aside, Phinx and the others are still monitoring them, are they not?" He said, looking at Kurapika whose eyes seemed blank. Did dead make him slower? "Anyhow-"

"No way, Danchou! I know the look in those little brats' eyes. Especially that loud-mouthed one, they'll come after-!" Nobunaga's sputter was cut off as Kuroro's fast, clean cut knocked him out cold. Nobunaga fell to the ground as Kuroro gestured to a confused Machi and Pakunoda. "Sorry to deposit him on you two." He looked over to the ghost again. The blanked expression gave way to … hopes and fears. 'Well, if he had any slightest idea to who my comrades were referring to, he'd look like that.'

'Three of them, the little brats and the loud mouthed guy. That'd only mean … ' Before Kurapika's thought go further he blinked up at the violet-haired lady moved past Kuroro and towards him. She stared right into his eyes in scrutiny, her eyes narrowing. 'Can she see me? She felt my presence before.'

"Danchou, is this the complication you're talking about?" Machi asked, waving her hand left and right through Kurapika's face.

A short laugh escaped Kuroro's throat. He watched on as the ghost's brows knitted in annoyance but did nothing to return Machi's gesture. It appeared that aside from his inability to do much in that form, he still found it nowhere near easy to attack a lady. His comrades gave him a brief look of awe. Well, laughing wasn't exactly his forte.

"Tell her to stop doing that. It's uncomfortable," Kurapika ground out.

"Machi, stop," Kuroro demanded through a chuckle.

The young lady dropped her hand to her side. "Another ghost on your back?"

Once Kuroro nodded to confirm, Pakunoda oh'ed. They knew well if it came to this, their Danchou was best left alone to do the job in getting it off their backs. Plus, if Nobunaga had been awake, he'd become the greatest obstacle.

"Is it the Chain-guy?" Machi ventured. Upon a slight amused look on Kuroro's face, she shrugged. "Just a hunch."

Kuroro nodded. Machi's eyes dropped to the ground in speculation while Pakunoda looked ever more worried. Before she could protest, Machi said, "Ok, Danchou. Order is an order. She walked towards the prone form of Nobunaga to heave him up on her shoulder like his weight and a larger frame was nothing. She beckoned , "Let's go, Paku. With this baggage, let's get a car."

An order is an order. Against her will, Pakunoda forced herself to walk along with Machi, away from their Danchou. She couldn't wipe the look of worry from her face until Machi spoke as she looked ahead, "Don't overthink it. I have a sense Danchou will be alright."

As soon as the ladies walked away, he whipped his head to the man with anticipation. That one question he wanted to ask so badly but feared the answer. Kurapika steeled himself; he had to know this. "The little brats … the loud-mouthed guy you people were talking about-"

The man slowly turned to face him, too slow for Kurapika's liking. He was playing on his frayed nerves. He offered no answer and started walking. The ghost couldn't help but fall into steps behind him. He kept up with Kuroro's fast pace, walking beside the man, now. Yet the man paid him no attention.

"ANSWER ME!"

The voice that yelled sounded so broken, so desperate that it stopped Kuroro – who prided himself in his detachment to feelings – only for a while, before he moved again. But he began to speak, "After I killed you..."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The killing made no sound. It was fast … and simple.

The deafening screams pierced the cold night air, mixed with agony and anger. Kuroro didn't turn in its direction, he merely focused a small amount of nen to stop the blood flow from the freshly decapitated head. He summoned his Skill Book and drew out Fun Fun Cloth to wrap the newly acquired object in it. Once it shrunk to the size he desired, he tucked it away, along with his book.

He let the headless body fall to his feet. Kuroro watched briefly at the blood flow from the stump of the decapitated neck being carried away by the rain. The blood that smeared on his face, washed away as well. Then he stepped around, thinking nothing of the discarded part of the Chain-guy's body.

The scream still went on.

When Kuroro turned to face where his comrades were, he was caught in surprise. Three of the Chain-guy's friends somehow managed to throw off their captivators, lunging towards him. Their hostile nen spiked. Kuroro knew their strength were nowhere near those of the Spiders. Then again, he knew what blind rage combined with desperate agony could do.

Leorio was the first one to pushed past Nobunaga, still screaming in rage. Nothing was on his mind except the thought of instant retaliation on the Spider Head.

Gon was right after him. He didn't make it far before he went down cold, not even feeling when a hit came. Killua had no other choice but to knock his friend out. The three of them wouldn't stand a chance against the whole gang of Spiders. Phinx and Feitan were close to killing them, if not for Pakunoda who stood in the way with her disapproval stare and a shake of head. In the second they seemed to understand her, 'Wait for Danchou's order.'

The men 'che-ed' at her in distaste and went on for their next target in the following second.

'Shit! They're going for Leorio's instead!' Killua's mind raced. Under any other circumstance, he'd applaud Leorio for being so damn fast when he wanted to be. Now was the worst time ever! Killua stole a quick glance at Pakunoda who stood closest to him but her attention was spared on her comrades who inched closer to them. Hisoka was the farthest to him. He might be able to make it if he resorted to his technique of the phantom step. He put a step forward, attempting stop Leorio. But he was caught in one second hesitation – of the distant voice embedded deep in his brain … You're not going to make it. Leave him, lay low, and your chance of survive will stay – that made it too late for him.

Nobunaga had caught him. They weren't going to make it out of the Spiders grip the second time. His eyes widened in horror. 'Shit! SHIT! SHIT! Leorio, STOP!' One of his friends was dead, he didn't want another.

Seeing red and losing all control, Leorio's line of vision saw nothing except the Spider head who continued to walk casually towards him. Next thing he knew, a fist connected his stomach and he was sent flying miles back to where Killua and the still unconscious Gon were.

One unseen punch from the Spider head was enough to knock some sense into him. The fact that he couldn't so much as lay a finger on the Spider Head, stabbed him like a blade far worse than that last time when Hisoka knocked this fact into him. Equally bad, his physical pain made it impossible for him to get up, his conscious was slipping away but he refused to give in. A small hand pressed to his side, followed by a yell from Killua he heard as if coming from a distance. "Leorio!"

They were surrounded. Yet none of the Spiders laid a hand on them. They were ordered not to.

His heart beating against his ribcage, Killua looked up as Kuroro's shadow fell over him. The leader demanded his comrades to stand back. They did so but kept their watchful eyes on them.

"Shouldn't we kill them all?" someone grouched from the sidelines but Kuroro said nothing to it.

Keeping his eyes fixed on Kuroro, Killua's trembling hand stayed on Gon while the other on Leorio. Then he had to shove Leorio's back down with both hands when the man attempted to get up upon Kuroro's hovering above them.

"I'll…kill you." Leorio rasped out, glaring sideway daggers into Kuroro's emotionless eyes from his prone position. Teeth gritting, face black and red with anger. He was burning with rage much worse than ever before. "I'll FUCKING KILL YOU! You HEAR ME!? I'LL-" his coughing up interrupted him.

"Stop talking, old man!" Killua hissed a warning.

"He gave up his life to save yours. Are you going to waste it?" Kuroro said with an unexpressive face and a flat tone of voice.

Those were simple words and meaning, yet it was like a slap in the face for Leorio.

Kuroro ignored the initial glare that gave way to a doubtful look and returned to nothing but hatred that the man directed at him. His attention shifted from the unconscious Gon to Killua and stayed at the Zoldyk boy he had a feeling would listen to him despite his restrained fury. "Pursuing us would only get yourselves killed. Rid yourselves of that idea. We won't harm you, as long as you keep away from us."

Sweat running down across his cheek along with the rain, Killua gave a slow nod, still keeping his hand upon Leorio. He watched as Kuroro turned to walk away, beckoning to his comrades to let Senritsu go and leave. The woman had long ago sank to the ground, sobbing due to all these unbearable sounds of pain and sorrow that reflected her own feelings when her friend was killed.

Machi, Pakunoda, Shalnark and Franklin did as told. Nobunga stayed a little behind, giving Killlua a half-hearted smile as he pocketed his hand in his hakama and spoke, "Too bad, kids," before following his team.

Phinx yelled after his leader. "Wait a sec! Danchou, are we going to let them go like that!?"

"Leave them. It's Danchou's order," Paku put in, her face as bland as the time she declared she was going to the airport alone with Gon and Killua. Nobunaga and Machi at her side, showing they were in favor of her point.

Feitan narrowed his eyes at them and questioned his leader, "Didn't you say no to him, Danchou?"

"I said that only to get his eyes psyche up the brightest shades of red," Kuroro explained, looking at his comrades from one to another, especially at Phinx and Feitan who seemed unrelenting to let the friends of an enemy go. "I gave him my word. His friends go free."

Half of the Spiders' expressions turned dumbstruck. Their leader was a man of his word but it wasn't every time and certainly didn't apply to everyone. They were all master thieve after all, as Kuroro had said himself. Although Hisoka won first place for slyness, Kuroro wouldn't give a damn about his promise if it were for people who he judged was worthless of that.

This last Kuruta was an outstanding case.

The Spiders were barely few steps away when Kuroro spared a look back to see the lanky man getting up with the help of the Zoldyk boy and the music hunter lady. The man's eyes directed towards Kuroro and it seemed he managed to contain his impulse from going all out at the Spiders in vengeance because he was staggering to the lifeless body of their friend.

Kuroro didn't know what made him look when he didn't normally spare an eye for fallen because of this whole situation the Chain-guy had put him in.

The Spiders were close to falling. Kuroro Lucifer was close to losing his nen and losing the Spiders all because of the sole survivor Kuruta alone.

'It ends here though,' Kuroro thought as he left the airport area with his comrades.

Gon was still out cold, Killua couldn't shake the feelings of dreadfulness off of him. Senritsu was still crying, her head was about to explode with all these mix of anguish and rage she'd been hearing. Leorio picked up the headless body, his own body trembling before he broke down into tears.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"That's the last time I saw them," Kuroro finished as he walked on, his eyes focused on the way up ahead. He stopped, feeling the presence next to his side gone. He looked back to see the ghost sink to the ground. His face was mostly blank, as were his eyes. His features were full of relief. To his lack of surprise, Kuroro studied the ghost in silence. He had expected this from the Kuruta. But then he was taken aback.

No, he certainly had not expected the boy's tears of relief … or was it joy?

"They're … they're alive …" Kurapika mumbled, as if to remind himself of that fact.

The ghost stared into space as his tears fell. Kuroro surmised he must have not been aware of his crying. He spun on his heels to head off his way. The boy didn't follow. And Kuroro didn't know what it was in him that changed his mind about letting the ghost be.

Well, if the ghost didn't leave in peace, he was bound to appear to him sooner or later. He'd rather get this business over with. Those tears of joy were a good sign. He waited in silence for a while until he deemed it a little too long, then he interrupted, "Are you done sulking yet?"

The pale green eyes blinked once and twice before looking at the man. The ghost reached to touch his face and only then did he become aware of his tears. He quickly shoved his arms to cover his face while drying his dampened face. Once done, he glowered at Kuroro.

The atmosphere became much lighter. This information about his friends helped take the huge amount off the ghost's hostility. Yet, the ghost had a sudden doubt. He got to his feet, studying the man. "Wait, how do I know you're speaking the truth?"

Kuroro exhaled, his brows knitted in contained annoyance. "You don't." Then he realized this resembled their previous interaction right before he killed Kurapika. Bad move, if he were to get this spirit off his back. He thought again and instructed, "Focus. Ghosts can be where they want to be, just focus on your friends."

He received the most cynical look from the ghost. Oh, yeah. If ghost could be where they wanted to be. Why would Kurapika be here with him? He gave the boy a shrug, "Except … vengeful spirit." To his surprise though, Kurapika closed his eyes in concentration.

A minute passed and Kurapika opened his eyes. Seeing the Spider head in front of him still, his face twitched.

"It is essential that you calm yourself," Kuroro pointed out before walking away. His presence would only ruffle the ghost's concentration.

A frustrated groan came up Kurapika's throat. He'd been taught twice by his archenemy. He tried to calm himself and gave another go.

The ghost disappeared. Kuroro watched the happening in amusement. He then set on his way. If knowing his friends were alive brought the Chain-user to tears, there was a high chance that seeing it was real would sever the ghost's tie to his anguish and staying earthbound.

"Hope that'll help you cross to the other side," Kuroro murmured, and he meant it.

To be continued…

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Note: yup, it's still not the end.

There, some humor. So it's gotta be poor Nobunaga. I don't think any of the Spiders would be fearful of ghosts, yes, but who knows! And of course, Kurapika is truly dead. I was really tempted to change my mind from what I originally set and follow some of your lovely reviews that suggest Kurapika is in coma and just experiencing a near death situation but he's not really dead.