1001 Nights

Chapter 2: TRUCE

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter x Hunter, only the random supporting characters popping out here and there in the stories...

STORY SO FAR: Thanks to the genie, they were stuck together and they could not kill each other. Kuroro said that he had a acquaintance in the Shooting Star City, who supposedly knew how to deal with the magical manacle, and so they set forth to the said city. Along the way, though, they would have to make a truce.

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Chapter 2: TRUCE

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It was already twilight when they reached the nearest town, and the rain was pouring like there was no tomorrow. The first thing they looked for was an inn, and they soon enough found one. It was a decent small inn with homey feeling, and the innkeeper was a nice, warm old lady; who had been mortified the moment she saw them entering her little inn. They were soaking wet from head to toe, and chilled to the bone.

"Dear Lord! Look at the two of you! Oh dear, oh dear. Come and warm yourself at the fireplace. I will lend you two clean towels." With that, the old lady busied herself with towels and hot drinks for the two of them.

Due to the magical manacle fastened on their wrists by Hassamunnin the genie, they had to huddle near the fire closely. The link was barely 20 cm apart. Kurapika sat down and stared into the fire, avoiding Kuroro's eyes. He thanked the old lady sincerely when she gave them the towels and hot drinks, but his eyes never met Kuroro's. It was not like Kuroro was bothered about it. He wanted to avoid any unnecessary arguments and fights, which they fortunately had not had since they left the ruin. If anything, he was somewhat grateful for the Kuruta's self-isolation.

"I will prepare two adjacent rooms for the two of you, if you want." The old lady addressed them.

"Thank you, but can we have one room with two beds?" Kuroro asked the lady politely.

"Oh?" The old lady suddenly perked up. "Are the two of you-"

"She is my relative." Kuroro hurriedly fabricated a story, not wanting to tell her about the genie and the bind, and most of all the misunderstanding that the Kuruta was his lover. "She doesn't like sleeping alone in a room."

"Oh, I see..." The old lady's expression softened, and there was a slight disappointment in her youthful eyes. "Well, I will prepare a room that suits your request."

With that, the old lady scurried away and went upstairs to prepare their room. As Kuroro turned back, he found the Kuruta glaring daggers fiercely at him, with the absent of his scarlet eyes. Some of the wet golden locks of his hair were stuck on his face, and the warmth of the fire had brought some colour back to his cheek. Kuroro looked at him, and could not dismiss the strong impression that the Kuruta looked so effeminate. He had also instinctively referred to him as a 'she' when talking to the old lady.

"I am not a 'she'!" He growled at him.

"Well, you look like one." Kuroro shrugged and dried his wet hair with his free hand. "And obviously the innkeeper thinks you are a girl, since she offered separate rooms."

"You could have corrected her." Kurapika protested.

"Too much a hassle."

Kurapika was already on the verge of strangling the older man to death when the old lady went back and approached them. She cheerfully asked them to follow her as she was going to show them to their room. Grumpily Kurapika followed behind Kuroro closely, since the manacle restricted their distance. Their hands would brush against each other from time to time, and Kurapika always flinched every time. Kuroro did not show any reaction, but he was getting tired of the boy's nerve-wracking flinches.