Author's Notes:
Hello! I am back again with a longer, better Hunter X Hunter (KurapicaXNeon) fic for all of you. Since almost people who reviewed me told me that my fic needs to be longer…hehehe…this is indeed a longer one. This is dedicated to the person who personally requested for this, Ruriko Sakura, and to her beloved friends. I hope you like Kurapica as much as I do, and I hope you get to read this wherever, whenever you are now.
Anyway, this fic happened after the latest manga release of Togashi Yoshihiro, the one where Kurapica woke up and prepared to leave York Shin. Ultimately, this fic happened after the OVA. I hope you will all like it. Please tell me what you think.
Title: Kusabi no Unmei (Chains of Fate)
By: nikki hiiragizawa
Genre: drama/romance
Rating: PG to PG-13
Disclaimer: Hunter X Hunter belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi. I'm just borrowing it for a while ^^;;
Pairing: KurapicaXNeonXKuroro ^.^
CHAPTER 1: The Place of Happiness
Chrysanthemums will wither together with its leaves
Lying beside the fiery eyes soaked with blood
Even then, your sublime status will never be shaken
Even if only half of your limbs remain
To increase the fascination within the drama
Should a search for a new partner begin?
Is so, then head to the east
You will definitely meet the one who is waiting for you
- Kuroro's prophecy (*)
A ceiling of a room surfaced to the view. Slowly blinking his eyes to cast away sleep, Kurapica looked around. Beside his bed sat Senritsu and Leorio. "What time is it?"
"It's two PM," Senritsu answered.
Kurapica shifted a bit and held his head. "I slept for almost 12 hours?" Suddenly, he remembered something. "Neon. Did she go to the underground auction?"
"No. The underground auction was cancelled because of the bout with the Ryodan," The emission type- Nen user explained. "The item were sold to the Mafia people. That convinced Neon not to pursue the auction items." Senritsu moved back when Kurapica stared at her.
"I do not believe that, Senritsu."
"Eh?"
The scarlet-eyed boy tried to sit up but failed. "Neon wanted to have those items so much that I do not believe she'll just buy the things over the net instead of attending an auction. She loved the atmosphere in the auction."
Senritsu nodded her head. "You are right. But She was deeply moved when Elisa became depressed. Scuwala was killed, and Elisa fell ill after knowing that. It seems that they are in a relationship. After that, Neon declared that she wanted to go home."
"Where is she now?" Kurapica asked.
"They are headed for the airport now." Senritsu did not bother to say that Neon left the day before, since Kurapica apparently thought that it was still September 5th and not 6th. "See, you can rest for bit right now." She breathed a sigh of relief when Kurapica did not bother to argue and went back to sleep. Surely, he was feeling weak. His overly-serious attitude seemed to have gone down a bit. Watching Kurapica for a minute and then heading downstairs, Senritsu left Kurapica in a deep slumber.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Neon-sama?" Elisa offered Neon a cup of tea but the pink-haired girl waved her away. Neon's attendant looked worriedly at her master. Neon Nostrad had been like this since they left York Shin. She's been staring off to space, not wanting to talk to anybody, even her father, and was quiet…so unlike her usual self. After persuading Neon to talk, Elisa gave up and went out of the room.
Neon sighed deeply as she laid her head on the balcony railing. Why is she feeling like this? She's supposed to be thankful that she's safe from harm…that she wasn't one of the casualties in the auction. Actually, thinking of that, she didn't really know anything of the auction and what had happened. All those times she had just been concerned with buying the things at the auction…
Oh that. She closed her eyes briefly, letting the wind pass through her pink hair. She almost forgot about those items. She was so concerned with Elisa and Scuwala's death she didn't even care about what would happen to the items…whether they get stolen or bought off.
It's true. She had been carefree and bossy all those times. But all were pretense. Actually, she didn't want to burden her bodyguards. She never wanted to go to the auction. She never wanted to get her bodyguards killed. She never actually wanted those items so badly.
Then why was she doing it? She had almost forgotten. All she knew that if she gave up this pretense of hers, her father would think of her as someone kind-hearted. He will shower her with more work, introducing her to more people, and making use of her powers. Through this mask, she was given a bit of what she wanted – freedom. Sighing some more, she realized how unsatisfied with life she is.
But that is not the reason why she's so sad…there's another reason. She could remember that time oh so well…
"Take care of the boss," he said. "Make sure no one enters the room, and make sure no one leaves it."
"We'll be in charge, Kurapica," the person named Senritsu replied. The new leader of the guards left the room to monitor the surroundings. Senritsu and the others, meanwhile, urged me to go to sleep. Yawning and pretending to be sleepy, I obliged and retired to my room.
After a few hours, Kurapica returned. He bade the others to take a rest while he took his shift in guarding me. He sat by the window and thought deeply, seemingly engrossed in something I cannot name.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Kurapica looked back and was surprised to see me standing behind him.
"Boss, you shouldn't get out of here this time of night," he seriously said.
I was already shaking, not of fear but of something I felt within him. It was foreboding, the scent of death, the feeling of distress, and I couldn't help but lay a hand on his shoulder. "You could call me Neon, Kurapica."
"Neon-sama…"
"Neon is fine," I answered, leaning by the windowsill. "You know, I haven't thanked you."
Kurapica was looking away from me. "What for?"
"For taking care of me. I was really sad that Daltzorne was killed, but you made all things organized."
"Is that so?" he didn't seem to believe me about my grief for Daltzorne, but I cannot blame him. "I was just doing my job."
Both of us were silent for a while, until I spoke up. "You are free to do whatever you like now," I answered. "I know there's something bothering you, and you cannot leave here so you're in a dilemma." He must have known that I have Nen too and I can feel a person's aura, so he kept quiet. I continued. "I'll ask father to take me home and let all of you receive your payments for jobs well done and…"
I felt myself being pushed backward to a wall. I looked up and met his eyes. Kurapica's eyes were as blue as the sky, yet this is the first time I had seen them. They look so much better without the contact lenses. "Neon, I cannot leave my job. You are our responsibility…"
"That is why," I insisted. "I am planning to go back home and let you skip reporting to my father. That way I wouldn't be your responsibility…"
"I don't want…to leave you," he hastily said, and I was overtaken by surprise. I cannot walk away, for his arms were firmly placed on either side of my head, pinning me down.
"Kurapica…"
"Remember what I told you on the ride in the plane to this hotel?" he asked me, his breath warming the air around me.
I nodded. He told me back then that he did not believe I am such a stubborn brat, and that if I would be a bit more lady-like, I would be loved by everyone and not just by my father. I answered him that my father did not really love me and he kept quiet. "I remember…"
He met my eyes. "That's true, what I said. And I do not want to leave you because of what I said back then." I watched him let go of me and retire back to his seat. "I am leaving for a moment. I'll leave you with Senritsu and the others, but before I go, I want to say…"
"Stop." I told him. "I do not want to hear that…"
"Neon?" He seemed surprised, so I flashed him my best smile.
"I do not want to hear that before you leave. I want to hear that after you come back, and I'll make sure I'll have an answer to that."
"Neon…" Firm arms gripped me tightly and I returned the embrace. This could be the last night of Kurapica with us, but I do not want him to say those words to me in such a hurried way. With that, he'll always have someone to come back to. I silently bid him goodnight and went back to my room.
+++
The door was slammed open and I was shortly distracted from my card game with Elisa. Kurapica entered the room. His clothes were full of blood, and his head was bowed that I couldn't see his eyes.
Senritsu and the others looked worried, and I was worried too. However, I cannot show them that I am worried or else they might take it in a different way. I went back to Elisa and played with cards, periodically throwing a glance at the closed door of Kurapica's room.
He never went out of the room. The next day, everyone told me he already left. I waited for him for three days, yet he didn't arrive. I do not know what happened to him and I dare not ask the other bodyguards about what happened to him. Then Scuwala died. I looked on it as sign of an omen, so I declared that I wanted to go back to our manor, and here I was.
Neon wiped away the traces of tears from her face. If Elisa sees her like this, she might get even more worried. Kurapica never came back. He never fulfilled their agreement. It was finished, whatever was started. Walking to her bed, she decided to forget about the blue-eyed boy, no matter how hard it would be.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The black-clad man walked down the streets of an unknown place. He knew he would never last long. He was sure the prophecy would still take its toll for the weeks to come. East was his to be his way, his place of happiness. He headed east of the mountains after his encounter with a member of the Kuruta clan, and he was now powerless to do anything but head there.
He was in a town far from the streets of York Shin. He walked around, not even wondering what will happen to him. He strongly believes in fate, and he knew his would come sooner than he thought it would be.
The only thing he was wondering about is what the Genei Ryodan are doing now. Are they planning revenge? Are they planning on leaving? No matter what happens, even if the leader is gone, the Ryodan would still be alive….no matter how hard the scarlet-eyed boy tried.
With a feral smile, Kuroro walked on to the land in the East…his would be place of happiness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Gon!" Leorio approached the boy sulking at the bottom of the stairs. "You are supposed to be with Killua weren't you? Where are the others?"
"He's gone," Gon muttered under his breath. His hands were fisted on his knees and his brows were furrowed to a frown.
Leorio approached the boy. "Who? What do you mean?"
"Kurapica!" Gon exclaimed as he jumped off the steps. "He left. What of he's still trying to locate the Ryodan?"
Panic rose between the two as they went off to look for Senritsu and the others to ask for the scarlet-eyed's whereabouts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurapica wrapped his coat tighter about him. He could still feel the reminiscence of his fever, but he dare not stop now. He was still dazed when he asked Senritsu about the status of the auction, and he did not understand everything. When he woke up with a clearer mind, he learnt that Neon and the others had left for her home three days ago.
He knew he shouldn't be doing this. His friends would totally worry about him. He made a note to call them as soon as he boards the plane. He just have to make this final trip before settling down with his friends. He could care less about reporting to the main office about the auction or being on guard for possible revenge attacks of the members of the Ryodan. He had kept a promise long ago, and all he wanted to do now is fulfill it.
He needed to see Neon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes:
So how was it? Bad? I know it's confusing because too many characters are put to the plot at once, but it is needed to make the fic tighter and finer in the end. Gomen nasai. Maybe you were wondering how Kurapica fell in love with Neon…I mean it's very unlikely in the animé, right? Well, that will have to be explained later on…XD
Explanation of Kuroro's prophecy (*)
~Initially, the interpretation of Kuroro's prophecy was that he would be lethally wounded, and the Ryodan's members would remain only half. Even so, the members would still look up to him as their respected leader. Nothing left, the only thing to do is to look for another ally who would help him. East here refers to the place of happiness, or heaven, according to Eastern myths.
I changed the interpretation of Kuroro's prophecy a bit and decided that East would be literally a place, instead of heaven. That way, the fic would materialize easily.
Saa, please wait for the second chapter ^^ I hope you get to review this fic whenever you have the chance. ^^ To my Kurapica no Josees: MitsuiSelphie and trine, I am waiting for your Kurapica fics!
Sore jaa ^^ Kurapica no Hime says farewell for now!
BTW, the titles Kurapica no Hime and Kurapica no josee are authorized to be of our use by the Bishounen Cult. You can join in the Cult by going here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheBishounenCult. You can be my josee too ^^