Runaway | Kurapika x Reader

Chapter 10 - Alliance

The... chain user? Is he talking about Kurapika? Is that his Nen ability?

Kurapika's hand held a key that was put into the ignition almost immediately. The car started and he sped down the street. "Dammit," he muttered.

"What are you doing? What's happening?" I asked as my palms began to sweat.

"That guy... He's a member of the Phantom Troupe. He seemed to be on the phone with the leader. We need to leave now," he said sternly.

"We?!? Why am I getting dragged into this mess?"

"Because he saw you, (Y/n)!" Kurapika raised his voice. "There's no doubt that the troupe will go after any person they presume me to be close with. I didn't want to leave for Glam Gas Land now... and I wanted to do it alone. There's no other choice now."

"I can't go with you! All I have in this tote bag is a phone charger, a hair brush, my I.D., and my wallet!"

"Is that not enough?" he side-eyed me.

"No! It isn't! Are you insane?" I crossed my arms and shifted in the passenger seat.

Kurapika sighed. "Look, you can get other clothes and necessities in Glam Gas Land. I want to propose a deal..."

"A deal?" I raised one eyebrow as Kurapika nodded.

"...Yes. If you come along with me and don't fight against me trying to keep you safe like a martyr, I'll help you with your objective."

I thought for a moment before giving my answer.

Keep me safe? That's all he wants on his behalf? Does he not want anything else?

"Okay..." I started. "But I want to help you with your goal, as well."

"What?" he turned to face me. "All I ask is you stay by my side to avoid getting yourself killed, and you want to put yourself in even more danger?"

"That's right. I'm not going to let you help me while you get nothing in return," I nodded.

"I would rather work alone. Besides, I wouldn't exactly be getting nothing."

"Do you think I'm going to get in the way? How do I know you won't get in the way of my plans? The answer is that I don't. But I'm choosing to trust you. Can't you just trust me the same?"

Kurapika let out a long exhale and pulled the car over into a parking lot of an abandoned grocery store. Once the car came to a stop, he unbuckled his seatbelt and shifted towards me. Suddenly, there were rings on all of the fingers of his right hand. Hanging from the rings were chains that seemed to go into his sleeves. From his ring finger, a chain that held a steel ball fell in front of him.

So he does work with chains. And he's a conjurer. Looks like I don't need to ask about it now.

"This is my dowsing chain. I'm going to act as if I am looking for a traitor. The chain will be pointed at you, obviously, since there is no one else around. It will tell me if you are trustworthy or not," Kurapika explained, bringing the chain closer to me and slowly closing his eyes.

Silence washed over us. The only sound I heard was my heartbeat drumming in my ears. About fifteen seconds passed and the sphere had not moved an inch. Kurapika opened his eyes and the chains began to vanish.

"What was that for?" I asked quietly.

"As I said, it told me whether you are trustworthy or not. Whether you will actually assist me, or flee once your own goal is accomplished." His hands wrapped around the steering wheel once again.

"...And? Do you trust me?" I breathed.

"I do."

~

I woke to my head striking the window with every bump on the road. Uncomfortably, I groaned and sat up straight, rubbing my temples. I looked over to the clock. 7:42 p.m.

That meant we'd been in the car for almost four hours. After Kurapika and I established our alliance, he started driving towards Glam Gas Land. He told me it was very far away and would take about nineteen hours to reach, so we would have to stop at a hotel once he got tired.

"Good morning," Kurapika side-eyed me with a slight smirk.

"It's night," I corrected. I let my brain start back up like a console for a moment as I gathered my thoughts. "...Hey, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"That guy back there. He wasn't able to chase after us since he was on the sidewalk. So why did he allow himself to be seen? And why did he seem happy? It was obvious you were going to leave, so the fact you were in York New doesn't really matter."

"There isn't any way I would know the answer. Perhaps he was simply walking around while on the phone with the leader when he ran into us. The leader, Chrollo, most likely sent him—and possibly other troupe members—to scope out the city. Yes, I suppose the fact that I was in York New isn't relevant anymore, but maybe, if Chrollo is in Glam Gas Land, they expected me to follow him and that is why they're satisfied," he theorized as we came to a stop sign.

"Hm..." I hummed. "That would mean they probably informed the leader that you would be arriving in Glam Gas Land. He could simply flee, and you would be sent on a wild goose chase with no clue of his whereabouts. So why do you continue to drive there?"

"What I just told you was only speculation. There's a chance that he is confident in his abilities and won't flee. We're searching for each other after all, so I don't see why he would leave once given the chance to kill me."

He exhaled slowly. "Besides, I have to meet up with Hisoka in Glam Gas Land anyway. If Chrollo is there, that would make my job a lot easier. If he isn't, and I must continue my search, then so be it."

I sighed. "Just... don't get yourself killed. Promise you won't get yourself killed. You don't know if other troupe members are with the leader. I don't know how strong your abilities are, but I doubt you'd be able to take on multiple of them, or all of them, at once."

Kurapika's gaze met mine as he spoke, "I promise."