Runaway | Kurapika x Reader

Chapter 16 - Calm Before the Storm

My eyes widened as I stared into cold, grey irises. Kurapika's words lingered in my mind. There was something behind those words, like a sort of fear or worry that he hadn't directly expressed. I exhaled and leaned back into the leather seat, preparing my response.

"Are you afraid?"

His eyebrows shot up before furrowing back down. "Afraid? Afraid of what?"

"Are you afraid that I'm going to leave?" I continued. "I have no intention of doing that. Why would I?"

He sighed and intertwined his fingers, placing his hands together in his lap. "Do you not get it? Do you not understand that you're more than capable of defeating your family on your own? You don't need me. Why stay when you can return to York New and focus on your own goals? You can simply escape this situation if you run."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, leaning my left side into the seat. "Just because I ran away from home doesn't mean I'm going to run away from you. Our pact and mission together have only lasted three days so far, and although so much has happened in such a short time, I want to stay. I don't care if you don't need to help me. It won't stop me from aiding you with your own objective. You don't need to worry, Kurapika."

He shifted to his own window before placing a grasp on the steering wheel. Another comfortable silence surrounded us until Kurapika's soft voice broke the ice. "I... Thank you, really, (Y/n). I want you to know how grateful I am to have you as a friend." He was turned away but I could notice the smile he wore on his face through the rear-view mirror.

Friend. Right. We're friends.

We were in the car for about ten minutes before I dared to ask one of the questions that'd been on my mind for the past hour.

"Where are we going? I mean, on Thursday, the entire Phantom Troupe will be gathered to conduct a plan to find us. Are you sure leaving is the right choice right now?"

The car jerked to the right as it stopped near the curb. "...What? Why didn't you say that earlier? If that's the case, we will need to take out the members at the new hideout before there's a chance to relay all of the information to the other members."

"We only have three days to do so, if that's what you want. Do you want to try?" I side-eyed him.

Without turning to me, he gave a determined nod. "We will stay at the Princess Hotel instead. That way, we'll still be in the city, yet nowhere near Hisoka."

~

I stood in the doorway of the hotel room with my bags in my hands, Kurapika over my shoulder.

"This is... revolting," he muttered.

I let out a short giggle and stepped inside. "I agree." The entire room was coated in several shades of pink. There was no escape. It seemed almost seemed as if a five-year-old girl was the interior designer. I put my bags on one of the beds, claiming it as my own. Kurapika closed the door and did the same as I, taking the bed to the right.

"You know, this is the third hotel we've stayed at in the span of four days," I commented, plopping onto the comforter.

"Yes, it is. It's a shame that this is the one we will be staying in for the rest of our time in Glam Gas Land, considering how nauseating it is."

I hummed and fell back, laying on the bed and tracing my thigh with my finger. "When should we go to the Troupe's hideout?"

"You mean you know where it is?"

"Yeah, I could see a good bit of the inside. I recognized it immediately because I joined my father on a mission there when I was younger. It's an underground club called Blue Ice," I explained as I looked up at the pale, pink ceiling.

"I see. That makes this a lot easier, then. That must mean that they killed every employee and visitor just to make the place their hideout while they are here," Kurapika theorized with a sigh. "Could you tell how many Troupe members were there?"

"Hmm... I only saw Chrollo and another spider named Shalnark. I couldn't sense any other people inside, so it's likely that the only members in the city are Chrollo, Shalnark, Machi, and Feitan. Someone named Kortopi too, but he was killed, obviously."

"Well, if Feitan is still unconscious, he can easily be killed if he's isolated from the others. You can undoubtedly defeat Machi, as well, considering what I witnessed last night. I've yet to see Shalnark in battle, but I can tell he is not above the others. That just leaves Chrollo himself..."

I sat up and propped myself up against the rouge-pink headboard, setting my hands in my lap and looking over to Kurapika. "How do you compare to Chrollo?—Hell, how do you and I compare?"

He looked straight ahead, pausing, likely to think before responding. "I'm not sure. Perhaps you and I are equals. Although, if you were a spider, it would be an entirely different story."

Does that mean... his power works differently on the Troupe? He must be pretty confident in his abilities. I mean, Feitan was tough, and he wasn't even using Nen. It's a good thing I'm not on Kurapika's hit list...

"Hey," I started, prepared to ask the second question that'd been inhabiting my brain. "You... you knew that Chrollo recognized you last night, didn't you?"

Kurapika's gaze shot up. "I did. I could see it in his eyes."

"So, why did you lie about it?" 

He exhaled. "I didn't want you to lash out about how I should have left you behind or some other ridiculous insistence."

"Tch... fair enough. Well, now that we're past all that, when should we make our way over there?"

"Hmm... It would be best to arrive at night. It will be harder for them to see us. Three o'clock?"

~

Hours of what seemed like endless waiting had finally come to an end as the clock struck three. Kurapika and I had passed the time by watching a few movies—which were all chosen by me—and ordering some dinner. It was now finally time to infiltrate the underground club as I stood in front of the mirror. I wore a black body-con turtleneck and baggy cargo pants of the same color, paired with combat boots. 

Kurapika stepped into the room to announce that it was time to leave. I gaped at the sight of him. He was wearing an outfit similar to mine, just with black dress pants and a trench coat, as well. His ruby gemstone glittered below his ear, his sandy hair almost hiding it as it brushed against his pale skin.

I caught myself staring for too long, so I gave my reflection one last glance, cleared my throat, and ambled toward the exit, Kurapika's soft footsteps behind mine.