Shuffle The Deck

Chapter 47 - A Star and a Teardrop

Walking out of the room, she brushed past Kurapika with her eyes flared wide open.

He noticed a tense aura surrounding her, but drew back his curiosity as he entered to retrieve Chrollo. The time for Pakunoda to arrive at the airport was near, and the blonde had to focus on the negotiations to retrieve Gon and Killua, quickly.

Before long, Kurapika stood in front of Pakunoda. Melody had detected no issues or decoys. He presented her two conditions, where if she chose to accept he would stab her heart with his judgment chain. But before he could, she stopped him for a mere second for a harmless question.

"Where is Delilah?"

He hesitated but spoke calmly. "We didn't capture her. Chrollo was our only priority."

Pakunoda sighed. "I see...I was hoping to get her back as well."

"Don't push your luck," the blonde hissed, his eyes glowing an even brighter scarlet than before.

She nodded and accepted his conditions. Her heart was punctured with the chain, understanding that she had to return Gon and Killua to an exact location before midnight to get Chrollo back. He was stabbed too, with a restriction of Nen and forbidden contact with the remaining Troupe members.

They had finished their deal and were now a few minutes away from the airport where they had picked Pakunoda up.

Kurapika was standing by the window of the ship, his eyes still blood red, and his mind overworking itself. He was deep in thought as Melody looked at him concerningly. With a small sigh, she went through the door behind him, and a bit further down the hallway.

"Lilah?"

She looked over at the door, still concealing her presence with Zetsu.

"Hey Melody. Has Paku accepted Kurapika's terms?"

"Yes, she has. Will you appear at the location Kurapika has chosen when she exchanges Gon and Killua?"

Lilah let out a small sigh and nodded slowly. "That's where I say goodbye to you."

"Huh?" Melody looked at her curiously.

"I won't be coming back after this. I'll be going off on my own," she explained.

"Oh. I see. I'm sorry, I misunderstood. I thought that you would be joining the Spiders."

Lilah shook her head. "I doubt I would ever commit such a foolish mistake. As Kurapika exacts his revenge for them over time, mine will come to fruition once he is satisfied."

Melody looked at her with a frown. "Don't let it consume you. It is a long and winding path that only offers despair."

"My devotion lies elsewhere. They took the life of a good friend of mine, and they will pay for it through his efforts. I won't hesitate to assist him, even if it costs me my life."

The woman smiled at her. "You have a good heart, Lilah."

She returned her pleasant expression. The airship seemed to land as their conversation concluded, which was her cue to stand. "Thank you for everything, Melody. It was an honor to know you." She shook the woman's hand.

With a calm stride out of the room, she found herself a few meters away from Kurapika, who was still staring longingly out the window of the airship, watching the rain patter against the windows.

Chrollo was silent and on the seat next to him, his eyes closed.

"Kurapika."

He turned his head in her direction. "Hey. Something wrong?"