Idelian

Author: Many authors, as this fic originally started as a Round Robin. Later, it was revised by me. I also wrote the last chapters of it.

Translate: This fic was written in another langue. Since I like it too much, I decide to translate it to English.

Disclaimer: No, of course. HxH and its characters do not belong to any of us.

Pairing: Kuroro/Kurapika, Leorio/Kurapika, Hisoka/Illumi, hint of Killua/Gon

Genre: Romance/Angst/Adventure

Warning: No, not really.

Summary: Kurapika didn't know he would lead his friends into danger when he accepted an offer to search for a mysterious artifact. Neither did he expect he would have to face his feeling for his worst enemy. KuroroKurapika. HisokaIllumi.

Chapter 1: Where the tides start to turn

Silence filled the room. Leorio was leaning to the wall, his head resting on the window glass as he looked at the scene outside. Through the grey glass, both the sky and the earth became so gloomy, even gloomier than a rainy day.

It was snowing. Yesterday Killua would have run outside and played snow fight. But now he only sat silently in the armchair, staring at the dancing flame in the fireplace.

Kurapika leaned back to his chair, his eyes gluing at the clock hanging on the wall. The clock has a very old design that seemed to be quite popular more than a hundred year ago. Even an amateur would know that this was a priceless treasure. The clock's hands moved so slowly. Kurapika found himself lose more and more of his calmness as each minute passed.

All of them startled as the door open. Kurapika and Killua both leapt to their feet. Leorio went to them, a look of worry on his face. A man walked into the room, following by two bodyguards.

The man was short, even shorter than Killua, but his hair had already turned grey. A long scar ran from his left cheek to his chest then disappeared under his shirt. The two bodyguards behind him both wore black glasses, but he didn't. The eyes that were staring at the three hunters were cold and foxy, but if one dared to look deep into them, he would find that sometimes flickering in those eyes were traces of sheer cruelty.

"Are you Kurai?" Kurapika asked cautiously. The chained hand curled into a fist almost unconsciously.

The man bowed in a dramatic way, then stepped to the armchair mostly near to him. Kurai couldn't make it past three steps as the white hair boy suddenly appeared in front of him. The boy grabbed a fistful of his collar and threatened. "Where is Gon?"

The two bodyguards immediately pointed their guns at Killua, but Kurai stopped them. "Little assassin, if you killed me now, your friend would stay in that dark cellar forever. Never be able to escape, even through death. Forever trapped in pain and loneliness by nen and the advance of science."

Killua shuddered at those words. His hand reluctantly left Kurai's shirt as he stepped back. Behind him, Leorio and Kurapika both paled. Before coming here, they both tried to find some information about Kurai, and from what they knew, Kurai was a man who was capable of doing what he said.

"Don't be too worry." Kurai smiled wryly while smoothing down his clothes. "As long as you fulfill your contract, your friend will return safely."

"Are you trying to use hostage against us?" Kurapika said. It was more like a statement than a question.

"Oh no, don't put it that way." Kurai just laughed and sat down. "I only make sure that you won't betray me after having that object. And remember, you are the ones who knocked at my door begging for this contract."

Kurapika bit his lips. He had a reason to do that, and his friends had all been willingly to help him, but he didn't know he would put his friends into such a dangerous situation.

The door opened again and two people stepped in. The three hunters both startled as they realized Hisoka and Illumi.

"What are they doing here?" Leorio asked.

"Like you, they're working for me." Kurai answered.

"I can't believe this! Even you would come here working for him!" Kurapika exclaimed.

"You are mistaken." Hisoka half-smiled. "I never work for anyone. I'm only doing Gon Frecss a little favor. Only that."

Leorio and Killua both didn't bother to hide their disgust, but Hisoka's words made Kurapika think. Hisoka didn't threaten Kurai into releasing Gon but instead did "a little favor". That meant Kurai was either a very powerful man, or a man with much influence. He couldn't help hating himself more for leading his friends into this situation.

Killua stared at Illumi with both anger and fear. "You are here to stop me?"

Illumi just shrugged. "Sadly, I do not have to take care of you all day. A job is a job. A customer is a customer."

Kurai interrupted. "There will be another person that will come here soon. I have been foretold that what I want can only be achieved with seven people. I haven't found the last person yet, but I will soon."

"How can we be sure that you will keep your promise and release Gon after we fulfill the contract? And what if you can't find the seventh person?" Kurapika stopped him.

"At that time, the one that fails to keep the contract will be me."

"But—"

"Stop arguing." Hisoka said abruptly. "Whatever happens, death never goes along with lies."

Kurapika clenched his fist again, but didn't say anything more. Someone Hisoka respected will never be an easy enemy.

Kurai continued. "The one that is going to arrive here is also the one who has given me the foretelling. He will also be your leader in this mission. I don't suspect there will be conflicts between him and you, but I hope that all of you will obey him completely."

"You're setting your hope too high." Hisoka smirked.

Kurai turned to Hisoka and frowned, but then he nodded. "You're an exception, as you don't work for me. We only co-operate. But…" His eyes went back to Leorio, Killua and Gon. "If you oppose this person and ruin my plan, don't blame me for being cruel to your friend. Remember, the little boy will suffer for every mistake you make."

Before anyone could say anything, another person came into the room.

The color of Kurapika eyes abruptly turned into a crimson shade. In front of him was his worst enemy, Kuroro, the leader of the Ryodan.

"Don't, Kurapika!" Leorio screamed, but he was too late. Kurapika had lunged at Kuroro.

Kuroro didn't dodge. The chain tore his sleeve and hit his skin, leaving a red mark on his wrist. Kurapika lunged forward again, but Hisoka stopped him with a hard blow to his stomach. At the same time, a scream filled the room. Kurapika froze, recognizing Gon's voice.

He tremblingly turned back. On the wall appeared a large screen. On it was a scene Kurapika knew he would never be able to forget. Gon was curling up on the floor, moaning painfully, one hand pressing on his chest.

"This will be the last time I tell you this. Another mistake, and the boy will know what true agony means."

Chapter 1 End.