Bright and radiant lights, tall and gigantic buildings that must have reached the sky, busy bustling streets filled with crowds of people from every walk of life--from the wealthiest to the poorest, from those who lead lush and extravagant lifestyles to those who've never even tasted luxury--all go on consecutively with their own affairs to take part of one of the biggest events known throughout the world: the Black Market Auction, which is held only but once a year in the restless Yorkshin City. It is also where evil lurk behind the lavish and prestige presentation of wealth, wherein most illegal biddings are held under the auction. Prominent families form all throughout the world send various representatives to participate in such events. Whether their sole purpose is to show off their money or uphold the reputation of their name, they all have one common thing together: risking not only the financial status of their family or company, but endangering the lives of people connected to them too. Down there is a really intriguing and complicated world, but from up high in the hotel window, Neon saw a pretty different scene... all it seemed to be was a dark blanket sprinkled with golden glitters that shone before her eyes.

Most people think that these events were the dirtiest happenings in the world, but Neon thinks unlikely--that it was beautiful; a fun and exciting world waiting to be ventured. Since then she had always wanted to be in those auctions her father took part of. Everytime she was asked to predict the future, she became more agitated to see these affairs herself. And the more they prevented her from doing so, she became more persistent and threw back at them by asking for more stuff which she knew, that she never really wanted. Her father barely treated her like a daughter-- she felt like someone or something, a material that was needed to be satisfied to be used to its fullest extent. Sure, he gave her everything she wanted, from hiring people she could play cards with to buying human corpses. He even hires highly-skilled and professional hunters to serve and protect his daughter. But all she wanted was to know the real affairs of her father. And each time she was restricted, she would sometimes throw tantrums and resort to childish violence. This method, however, was of no use. After a few moments, she would just cry herself to sleep, very upset that even her simplest wishes could not be fullfilled.

Some hunters who'se been hired to protect her have always thought that all she was a real pain in the ass. A really naughty and annoying brat. Until Kurapika came in. Though he never showed it, he truly understood how Neon felt. She wasn't really a demanding, stubborn and spoiled child-- she just needed to be undertood and taken care of, especially by her father, who Kurapika thinks, is just probably using her for his illegal business affairs. There are times when Kurapika would see her at night, gazing down the city from the window. Those were rare times when she had gone tired of playing card games all day and basically ticking everyone out. She would just stare out there, with suddle and fickle eyes which made her seem like a little girl eager to explore a whole new world. The look in her eyes said it all: that she wants so badly to even just for once, go on her own, and actually feel what it's like to be down there. Kurapika felt a bit bad about her, but after that, he realized that she should be so lucky to have a life like this. To have nothing to worry about, to be safe from danger, and to have a sense of security, which he never had. Either way, he still thinks that she's a poor girl. Though many people around her exist for the sake of her safety, she must feel very lonely with having no real friend, no real father to share real father-daughter moments with, no one to share the true meaning of a simple and joyful life. That was just some of the few thoughts that occupied Kurapika's mind when he's not thinking about revenge or anything like that. He's really much determined to find all the members of Genei Ryodan and let them taste the bitter sweetness of vengeance. They will pay, Kurapika vows. The Genei Ryodan must pay...

Kurapika stepped into the hotel room where Neon and the rest of them were checked-in, with dry and emotionless eyes, ripped and dirty clothes and mildly fresh blood stains on his hand and clothes. He was carrying his cloak which had been tattered severely. However, there was no sigh of any wound or not even a scratch in his whole body. He was just a bit frail and puny, yet still calm and steadfast. Everyone was in a state of shock. They knew then that Kurapika had defeated Ubo. Senritsu felt a sense of pain in him which made her look at him worriedly. In some some sort of language of the heart, he expressed that he was going to be fine which made Senritsu feel a bit better.
"Kurapika, what happened?" Bashou asked alarmedly
. "I killed him.", Kurapika replied coldy. "How's our boss doing?"
"She's sleeping in her room", Senritsu said.
"Finally. She's been playing poker with us all night!", Bashou exclaimed.
"Oh yeah?!?". Kurapika turned super-deformed with big bright, hopeful (kinda creepy) eyes. The background suddenly turned to bright blue with stars flying in mid-air. Poker chips cirlced his head which was constantly shaking left and right. "Who won?!? OoOoOohhh... wish I joined too!!! I LOVE poker!!! In fact, who would like to challenge me for a game right now? I'm up!!! Aw, come on people, let's play! Poker! Poker! POKER...!!!"
Everyone else in the room went nuts and went bouncing wild like deflating balloons all throughout the room.
"Me! Me! I wanna play!" Bashou raised an arm and flapped it proudly into the air.
"Idiot..." Senrsitsu poked Bashou in the head real hard. Bashyou, on the other hand, fell unconcious.
Then, in a hardly noticeable split-second, everything was back to normal again. Seriously.
"All of you can leave now." Kurapika said. "Take a rest. We still have work to do tomorrow."
"How about you?" Bashou asked. "Aren't you coming with us?"
"No." Kurapika answered. "I'll look after our boss."
"You sure? I mean, the girl's asleep already. Besides, looks like you had a long night. Why don't you get a good night sleep?" Bashou said
"I can't. Someone has to look after Neon. As the leader, I have to keep alert 24 hours to make sure nothing bad happens to her." Kurapika addressed honorifically. "As I said, you can leave now."
Without anymore further conversations Bashyou and Senritsu left the room and shut the door close.

Kurapika glanced at his left fist and noticed that he still hasn't washed off the remaining blood he got from the fight with Ubo. He went straight to the washroom to get himself cleaned up. For a while, he stared directly into his reflection in the mirror. Most of the bloodstains on his face have dried up and turned brown. He smelled faintly of raw fish meat. His hair was as messy as it could get. His clothes, which he took well care of were all covered with dust, blood and grime. The right sleeve was ripped up as well. His eyes-- his bloodshot eyes looked back at him with much hatred and disgust. How could he have killed off someone that easily? Was he... that powerful? Was he... that dangerous?

He looked at his face once again. He felt so filthy and so disgraceful. What's happening to me? I've gone a long way already. Kurapika thought. I shouldn't be like this, I should be proud. Proud that I've finished one of them already, and have a bigger chance of catching the others. Though he forced to instill this in his mind, it wasn't a bit convincing as it was supposed to be. Immediately, he took off his clothes and proceeded to the shower.

After showering, Kurapika went to Neon's room to check on her. While drying his hair with a towel, he slowly turned the door knob. A vaguely familiar odour filled his head. It smelled of liquor and fish crackers. He opened the door wide and saw poker chips and play cards scattered in the floor, a few bottles of wine and one bottle was left open and spilled into the carpet, candy wrappers, bowls filled with fish crackers and pieces of tissue paper scattered all throughout the room. The lampshade was left on and cast a soft glow in the walls. And in her bed, Neon slept quietly with a dull smile on her lips. Kurapika thought that it would be better if she slept more often so she wouldn't be giving him too much problems. Protecting one little girl was so much work than he'd expect. But either way, it payed him good money so it wasn't so bad. He closed the door gently and walked towards the window. He parted the blinds a little just enough to see the lights in the city. Yes, the crooked and hectic city of Yorkshin. How beautiful from afar, but how foul and polluted from within. Just like people. They may seem calm and comely, but deep inside is burning with rage, mixed with immense fear and anger. It is really a horrible thought that people misjudge others easily based on their appearance. Then he remembered something that Senristu had said not too long ago. They were at the rooftop, at the first night of the Black Market Auction. Every word she said, was imprinted in his mind, though he did not show affected, it was as if those word pierced his heart in a big, special way.
"You speak in a calm and serene voice, but your heart says unlikewise--your heart is filled with anger. Deep-seated and hidden anger." Senritsu said then. Her voice was blended with friendly concern.
Simple words, unforgettable words, heart-striking words. True and honest words. Senritsu guessed it right. And he didn't mean to scare her when he meant that he would kill anyone who got into his way. But that was how he felt. It seemed wrong--someone reading your thoughts, your innermost feelings. However it felt good at the same time, with a nice feeling of someone understanding how you felt.

A commercial advertsing blimp passed by the skies of Yorkshin city. A huge, air-filled blimp with bright, flashing lights that wrote out, "Teragon Heavy Industries: Because We Provide What Others Cannot.". Kurapika didn't pay too much attention to it though. He sighed and wrapped his towel around his neck. It was getting cold and drafty inside the hotel room because of the air conditioning. Anyway, what got his attention was the round, elliptical thing behind it--the full moon. He didn't realize that it was a blue moon... the moon that came only once in a few years. It was nice and beautiful. It shone lustrously, gleaming cheerfully in his eyes. He glanced down for a while down at the city. He bet that they must have been too busy with the things they do that they probably didn't even notice that the moon was blue. No. What was he thinking of? These people--these greedy and heartless people wouldn't even care about a blue moon, or a shooting star or a multi-colored rainbow or simple things about nature. Because all of them, each and every one of them, all they care about is money, fame and luxury. Back in his home, simple little things were given a lot of importance. The Kuruta clan lived quietly in a place locked away from modern civilization. They lived in a small village where all of them lived peacefully and harmoniously, sharing common dreams and common interests. He even remebers the sunrise from his hometown. How he marvelled breathlessly at the sign of a bright, new day. Rukuso region was where he grew up, where his values were formed, most of his childhood was lived. Until the Genei Ryodan came to take away everything that brought him joy. Five years ago seemed like it was yesterday, yet five years that seemed like forever... eternally waiting for the moment to finally seek justice meant for the slaughter of his clan.

But then, why does Kurapika feel this way, after killing one of the people who took his good life away from him? Wasn't he supposed to have a sense of pride? Wasn't he supposed to have a sense of fullfillment, that after all these years, the Genei Ryodan will finally get what they deserve? He could not take it anymore. The smell of blood, it's cold stain on his fingertips and on his cheeks. The cold, rotting body. The dry, crisp sound of air and the heat of anger. All of it was still fresh on his mind. He may be there, in the hotel, all cleaned up, but his soul felt unpure. Truth be told, he was guilty. So guilty that we was having second thoughts about continuing what he began. But he can't he musn't. Not only is he capturing them to avenge his tribe, but for the many other people who'se lives they've brought to hell. These mad and selfish people, they deserve to die. And if the government itself cannot do anything about it, then he might as well bring law to his own hands. Still, he felt weird about killing. Just hurting someone already made him feel bad, what more with taking somebody else's life? He looked back at the moon, searching for an answer to give himself. But he could not find any. He took his contact lenses off. Soon, his eyes watered up and it wasn't long before cold tears trickled down his cheeks. He may seem all tough and brave, but it can never take away the fact that deep down, he was still a little lonely boy, with nobody to hold on to.

"Kurapika... is that you?" Neon woke up all of a sudden. "Why are you crying?"
"It's nothing." Kurapika said, not looking back. "Go back to sleep."
"Why? Is there something wrong?" Neon asked again, rubbing her eyes.
"I told you, this is nothing, Neon." Kurapika replied. "Now go back to sleep!"
"But..." Neon muttered.
"Just go back to sleep." Kurapika said sternly.
Neon sat and got up her bed. She came near Kurapika and looked up sadly at his face.
"What's the matter?" Neon placed her hand lightly on his bare shoulder.
Kurapika just looked at her while crying. He didn't know what to say. To the very least, he didn't know where to start.
"Hush now..." Neon wiped away his tears using her fingers. "It's going to be alright.".
Her touch was soft and warm against Kurapika's skin. She looked into his eyes, waiting for an answer. This wasn't very much like her at all. Kurapika never thought how pretty Neon really was with her hair down in her sleepwear. She was unlike the noisy and irritating Neon he used to call "boss". She was like, a kind-hearted young girl who, with the look in her eyes, was really concerned of him.
"Can you tell me why you're crying?" Neon asked, after seeing that Kurapika's eyes had been drying up.
"I just killed somebody." Kurapika said truthfully. Neon was a bit surprised yet she didn't show any remorse towards him.
"Did you mean it?" Neon asked.
"To kill him? Yes." Kurapika said.
"The big man you captured before?" Neon guessed.
"I hear that he was one of the thieves, so I guess he deserved it." Neon commented.
"I guess that's right..." Kurapika mumbled.
"Did he do something that required him to be killed?" Neon asked curiously.
"He challenged me to a duel." Kurapika answered.
"I see." Neon said, taking her hand off his shoulder.
"What do you think?" Kurapika said.
Neon turned outside the window. "You're guilty about killing someone, ne?"
"True." Kurapika said, looking at her while she watched the world outside. It was the same look she had everytime she would stare out the window.
"I feel guilty too, whenever I predict the future, even if I don't really know what I'm doing." Neon opened up. "I feel like I'm cheating the flow of life. As if I'm cheating destiny." "You shouldn't be." Kurapika placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's a special ability you should be proud of. Nobody else can predict the future like you do."
"But I didn't want this 'special ability'. I wanted to be normal." Neon continued. "To go on living without restrcitions, without people like you following me around."
"Some things have to sacrificed for something else. In your case, you have to live like this. It's for your own safety." Kurapika said.
"Is it because my life is endangered because of my 'special ability'?" Neon said. "I never chose this destiny, nor this life. Sure, I know what will happen in the future, but I can't even predict my future myself. It's unfair."
"You cannot predict what will happen to you, Neon." Kurapika came closer to Neon. "It's up to you to make up your own future. You choose your own destiny. You should do what your heart and what your soul wants you to do."
"In my situation, it seems but a dream." Neon turned to Kurapika.
"Yes, but dreams are meant to be made true." Kurapika smiled. "if you really want something so badly, you can always find a way to get it.... because I certainly have."
"What do you mean?" Neon asked.
"I killed that man tonight... because he is a member of the notorius gang, Genei Ryodan. The same gang killed my tribe five years ago. I'm the only left survivor." Kurapika shortly explained.
"Oh." Neon understood. "But why did you cry after killing him?"
"Because... it was my first time to slay someone." Kurapika said.
"Is that so? You had to kill him. He's a criminal so he deserves to be punished." Neon tried to ease him, though her voice seemed blunt and hesitant.
"But still, nobody deserves to die. Nobody has the right to take someone else's life! I wanted to do this long ago. But now, it just seems so wrong." Kurapika's eyes moistened once again.
"Don't blame yourself, Kurapika." Neon held his hand to her chest. "What's done is done! You're young, and still have more than a million cahnces to redeem yourself. Anyway, you wanted to do this right? Don't be afraid. You shouldn't be. Because... the souls of people who died from your tribe will guide you. They will always be there, in your heart, and in your spirit. They will be there in eveything you do. They want what's best for you. There's a reason why you survived-- to liven their memories, not to risk everything they have just to avenge them. They would have wanted you to have a good life. You can start all over again. Because you know that deep inside. All you really want to do is to satisfy your need to avenge them. However, there is one thing you're forgetting--yourself. That's why you're feeling like this. Don't worry, Kurapika. Because... because... I will be here. To be your friend. Someone you can cry to, someone you can share you sorrow and happiness with. I will always be here for you."
Neon became teary-eyed as well.
"And what you told me, I'll always remeber that. I never looked at things that way. You said yourself that you should do what your heart wants you do!" Neon went on. "So don't feel that way. Because I can see your future. It's bright, happy, and not very far away. So you see, there's no reason to feel that way. We should look forward. We should smile, and be happy that after all that's happened, we're still here. I have you, you have me, and the rest of your friends. See? We still have each other!"
"Look who's crying now!" Kurapika touched her face to wipe her tears and smiled sweetly. Neon gladly smiled back.
Kurapika bent down and kissed her forehead lightly. "Now it's the bed for you, little girl. To sleep you go..."
"In one condition." Neon said.
"Sure." Kurapika said, anything to get the snoopy girl to sleep.
"Sleep with me." Neon smiled.
"NuUhH... nani?!?!" Kurapika became super-deformed, face pale white, cheeks flat flushed, forehead creased. "You want me to WHAATT!?!???..."
"Yeah, sleep with me." Neon said suspiciously. "As in, literally sleep beside me...?"
"Hmmfmf..." Kurapika arched his head downwards. "I thought you meant something else..."
"Hentai!". Neon thwapped a big fannel right on Kurapika's face and left it with a big, swollen bump.
"That hurt, young lady!" Kurapika exclaimed, caressing his bright red bump. "That's no way to treat your bodyguard!"
"BeEeEhHh..." Neon stuck out her tongue and went to bed.
Kurapika laughed at the expression of her face. I guess she's back to her silly self again. He thought. At least now I have more reasons to protect her.
"Oi... are you gonna sleep beside me or not?" Neon yawned.
"I have no other choice, don't I?" Kurapika walked towards the bed.
"Absolutely none!" Neon answered back.

Kurapika tucked Neon securely under the comforter and smiled at her for the last time.
"Night night, Kurapika." Neon said. So far, Kurapika had never seen her this happy before.
"Goodnight, boss." Kurapika whispered and without further notice, kissed her quickly on the nose.

~ end ~