Still Doll

A Request Call

Dmitri gave him a wry smile.

"Why, Kurapika? Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? After all, I wasn't the one who's hiding my real identity from my employer. Don't you think," Dmitri quirked his lips into a sarcastic grin, "last survivor of the Kuruta clan?"

At that, Kurapika finally dropped his oblivious façade. "I see. You found me out at last."

"Yeah. Let me give you some credit: you're pretty tough to deceive me for so long like that," Dmitri leaned on his chair, looking at Kurapika from head to foot.

"Correction, sir. I didn't deceive you. You just didn't do thorough background check and you didn't ask me, so I didn't tell."

Dmitri laughed sardonically. "Amusing! Never thought you hide some sarcasm in you. Well since we're at it, let me ask you: who are you and what do you want from me, Kuruta?"

Kurapika sighed, still not sure how to handle this. "Everything about me that you know is true, Dmitri-san. My loyalty and respect are genuine. There is nothing that I want from you... but the eyes."

"I knew it," Dmitri's eyes crinkled from his humorless smile. "You were using me to collect the eyes for you."

"I was the one you used to search and purchase the eyes as far as I remember. Consider it a win-win. I intend to claim the eyes and return them to the rightful owners."

"Do you mean your wasted clansmen that died years ago?" At that, Kurapika's eyes shifted into scarlet behind his contact lenses. His temper rose and he subconsciously curled his knuckles into tight fists. Still, he remained composed and unmoving—or at least as his brows knitted in building anger.

"... I've never seen you so irked and angry like that before, Kurapika. I guess raising subjects related to your clan sparks the flare of your rage. Here I was wondering if you can fill me up with the story of how the Kuruta clan was murdered, and how you managed to survive," Kurapika tried his best to imitate the cold and flat look Dmitri wore, but to no avail. He breathed in and straightened up, eyes widening and scarlet irises aglow.

"I'm afraid I would greatly disappoint you with how anti-climatic my story is, not that I will tell you. Truth to tell, it's not worth sharing."

"Aww, too bad. So, since you said you intend to get the eyes from me, how are you planning to take them? Steal them away while I'm asleep? Kill and swipe them from my display room? I doubt you plan to buy them off. Not that I'll sell them to you," Dmitri shrugged.

"I doubt you wouldn't think twice if I offer a good price, but yes, I will admit that I don't have the gold to spend for them as for yet. Just a curious question: why do you like the eyes so much, sir?"

"Hmm. Because they are pretty, exquisite and expensive? I really can't explain why, but I fell for them in an instant when I saw a pair for the first time. Makes me wonder how they will look if its head was still intact, if its owner was still alive. I've never met a Kuruta before... or so I thought," Dmitri threw him another unfeeling twitch of the corner of his lips.

Kurapika looked apathetically at him, thinking that his reason was lame.

"Let me ask you back as I'm still curious. How did you escape the massacre?" Dmitri persistently pressed.

"In case I buy the eyes off from you, how much each pair would cost?" Kurapika asked, straight forward as if he didn't hear Dmitri ask the last question.

"I just told you, they are not for sale," Dmitri's eyes narrowed.

"And just to let you know, sir, I will get the eyes from you whatever it takes. By hook or by crook. I am humbly asking for your cooperation; I do not want to resort to drastic or violent measure to reclaim my brethren's eyes."