Skeleton Flower | kurokura time travel AU | chrollo x kurapika

Chapter 4

"I wasn't aware that Danchou had a lover."

The remark comes from Phinks first, and it couldn't have been farther from the truth. Kurapika wonders if it's possible to choke on air, because he can't get a sound out from his throat. He stands at the bedside, facing four members of the Phantom Troupe—if he can even consider Kortopi to be part of them. Even during the early days of the Phantom Troupe, he wouldn't put it past Kuroro to have a child as a member of his group.

Pakunoda is alive. Nobunaga is alive. Phinks is alive. Kortopi is alive. They are all supposed to be dead, and yet they are not. But Kurapika is the one who doesn't belong here. He has to remember that.

Pakunoda scrutinizes him as if he's some sort of deviant, and he can't help but feel offended at the very thought. She continues protecting the purity of Kortopi's eyesight, her hands over his face. "I wouldn't think that he would consent to being touched when he's unconscious. Unless his lover is that repressed."

"I'm not," Kurapika manages to say, and it comes out much rougher than he intends. He clears his throat. "I'm not his lover." Despite the absurdity of their claims, he can't come up with an explanation that could be less farfetched.

Nobunaga rubs his cleanly shaven face in thought. "Then what's someone like you doing here?" He takes one step forward, and the sound of a blade being exposed from its sheath cuts through the stillness of the air. "I'll give you one try to answer."

"Wait—" Kortopi pulls Pakunoda's hands away from his face. He stumbles in between them and Kurapika, spreading his arms out. "He's a good person!"

That draws skeptical glances from all of them. If Phinks had eyebrows, he would raise them.

Kortopi goes to Kurapika's side, holding onto the hem of his jacket at first. But then his small hand closes around Kurapika's fingers, and he looks up at Kurapika, determined. "This person saved me and brought Kuroro back here."

Nobunaga seems unconvinced. "The timing's too convenient, especially when we just lost number eight. If only we were there—"

"But he was." There's a tremor in Kortopi's voice, as if this is the first time he's raised his voice, the first time he's fought for something in his life. His grasp tightens around Kurapika's hand. "I don't know what would have happened if he wasn't. He healed Kuroro too."

"A good samaritan?" Phinks looks straight at Kurapika, growing impatient with his silence. "Nobody does anything without expecting something in return. I want to know what happened back there too."

"Silva Zoldyck came."

Kurapika turns to the bed in faint surprise, where Kuroro is staring up at the ceiling. He doesn't know how long Kuroro's been awake, but if only he had woken up before Kurapika had to drag his body all the way back here.

"I'd like to speak with our guest, so if you all could leave for a while." It's not a request, as Kuroro's words are definitive. With pronounced effort, he pushes himself up on his elbows, despite that the movement makes him grow paler. "I'll provide all of the necessary details after."

Nobunaga looks intently at the both of them, before sliding his blade back where it belongs. Even Kortopi gives him one last glance before letting go of his hand.

Kurapika isn't certain if they all live in this building, but this space definitely belongs only to Kuroro. When only the two of them remain, Kurapika gets straight to the point.

"Where is my Hunter license?" Folding his arms, he stares flatly at Kuroro. "I have methods of knowing if you aren't telling the truth, so I would advise you not to do so."