Disclaimer: Never owned HXH. But wishes she does.

CHAPTER ONE. THE BODYGUARDS

"Nee, Killua, what is this job we're doing this time?" Gon asked his bestfriend who was currently reading a sheet of paper containing their new job.

"We were hired as bodyguards for a certain rich girl." Killua said as he reads the paper.

"Why does it have to be that job again?" Leorio mumbled behind them. "Can't we get something better than that?"

Killua pondered for a moment before answering, "We can. But it is what we need at the moment."

"At the moment? Enlighten me."

"Again, for the sake of your old deteriorated brain, we were doing this to help Kurapika retrieved the scarlet eyes of his clan." Killua snapped looking at the map that was included to the instructional paper given to them.

"My brain is not deteriorated!" Leorio said. "And if we're helping Kurapika, how come he's not here with us?"

"Actually, that's the question I wanted some answers as well." Killua said turning to Gon. "Oi Gon! Did Kurapika call up yet?"

Gon shook his head. "No calls yet."

"How about trying to call him instead of waiting for him to call?" Leorio suggested sarcastically.

"I did that." Gon replied. "But his phone was off."

"Just our luck!" Leorio sighed. "Did he really want our help in the first place?"

Killua pondered again. "Actually no." he answered. "It's Gon who decided on that."

Gon frowned at his two friends, "Mou! Come on guys!" he cried out. "We can't let Kurapika do it on his own! We're friends, right? Besides it's another adventure, see?" Gon continued on ranting how wonderful his decision is and why they should continue doing it.

"Fine fine Gon!" Leorio finally said. "Just quit ranting."

"Yeah Gon. You're way too noisy already." Killua added.

Gon was about to rant again when his cellphone rang. He looked at the phone's viewer to see a call from Kurapika.

"Kurapika!" he exclaimed over the phone. "You finally called!"

"Aa. Gomen. I was busy awhile ago." The other line responded.

"Where are you?" Killua interrupted snatching the phone from Gon's hands who in turn scowled back. "We're on the way to the mansion."

"Actually, I'm already here. I am with some companions." Kurapika said.

"Companions?"

"Aa."

"Let me guess. Would that be Senritsu and that Basho guy?"

"You guessed correctly. We'll be waiting for the three of you in the front gate. You're not that far, are you?"

"No. I think we could get there in ten minutes."

"Well then."

"Mou! I didn't get to speak with Kurapika longer." Gon frowned.

"Gon, we'll be seeing him in a few minutes." Leorio snapped.

Gon just sighed. "Killua, you said something about Senritsu-san and Basho-san awhile ago."

"Oh, about that? They're going to be with us."

"So Kurapika recruited them?"

"I guess."

"Yay! The more the merrier!" Gon jumped happily. "We'll be seeing Senritsu-san and Basho-san again!"

"Mou, Gon! You don't have to be that hype you know." Leorio said.

"But I'm just so happy!"

"Fine, whatever." Leorio replied sarcastically.

The trio continued to walk until they reached their destination. It was a huge mansion cased by tall walls and a huge black gate. The gate and the walls where intricately designed with dragons and phoenixes. From the outside, a spacious flower garden with a black-stoned fountain is visible. The mansion inside was artistically painted with black and white colors. The main door and windows were all designed with dragons and phoenixes too. Waiting in front of the gates were three people. A tall guy with deep brown hair, a small person with an unusual front teeth and a blonde teenager, all deeply involved in a conversation.

"There they are!" Gon pointed at the three persons ahead. "Oi! Kurapika!"

Kurapika turned to look at the person calling his name. He waved back and greeted the trio.

"Long time no see, Senritsu, Basho." Killua greeted.

"That's right." Senritsu replied with a warm smile.

"Good to see you all." Basho added.

"Same here." Leorio laughed. "I didn't know Kurapika recruited the two of you as well."

"We're surprised actually." Basho replied. "I didn't expect him to call and offer a job."

"Big surprise eh." Killua said looking at Kurapika. "I thought you wouldn't want some help? Gon went beyond his limit of persistence to make you accept our offer."

"I changed my mind about that issue."

"That easy?"

Kurapika just nodded mutely and motioned them to get ready. "We should go inside. Our boss is waiting." The rest followed Kurapika inside the mansion.

The group was welcomed by two men wearing black coats. They were then assisted to their boss's office. As they walked through long corridors, Gon as well as Killua, Leorio and Basho, couldn't help but be amazed by the whole place. Both sides of the corridor were filled with paintings each placed in black frames. The walls were painted with black with similar designs like the gate. Even the ceiling has rich designs and architecture.

"Whoa!" Gon exclaimed. "This place is really huge."

"Aa. The family's extremely rich." Leorio added looking at the paintings they passed along the corridor.

"But why is the whole place themed with black?" Basho asked.

"Why bother asking that?" Killua said. "It's just the taste of the owner. Besides it's pretty cool."

After a few moments, they reached the mansion's main office. One of the black guys knocked on the door which was answered by a low "yes". The other informed the person inside of their arrival. The two men motioned the newly recruits to enter. The door's room opened revealing a huge office room with a black oak table at the other end. Behind the table is a man around fifty years of age. His eyes were solemn and dark. He was looking intently at the new comers as if scrutinizing every detail of them. His aura wasn't an evil one but it couldn't be considered kind. It was more like his aura was mysterious and enigmatic.

The man motioned the new bodyguards to come forward. "Welcome to my home. I am Shiro Akai. From this moment on, I will be your boss." He reached for a folder and grabbed the papers inside. He looked at it for a moment and turned back to the newly recruits. "Kurapika."

"Hai." Kurapika said calmly.

"Black-list Hunter. You have been hired once by an influential family in York Shin. Nostrads."

"Hai."

"Senritsu. Basho."

"Hai." The two responded.

"Similar to Kurapika."

"Yes, sir." Basho replied.

The old man nodded. "Since you have been allies once before, I assumed you worked well with one another."

"It is, sir." Senritsu answered.

The old man gave another weak nod before proceeding. "Leorio."

"Hai." Leorio replied nervously.

"A hunter as well as a doctor. You specialized in curing unusual diseases."

"Indeed, sir."

The old man flipped the paper and turned to last members of recruits. "Gon Freecs. Killua Zoaldyck."

"Hai." The two said in unison.

"Became hunters at the age of twelve."

"Is there anything wrong with that?" Killua said annoyingly. The rest of the recruits sweat-dropped because of Killua's attitude. Senritsu quietly scolded him to be polite.

The old man looked curiously at the two boys before saying, "There's nothing wrong with it. I just wanted to confirm that you didn't pass because of mere luck."

"Why you-!"

Leorio and Basho immediately dived for Killua and stopped him from attacking the man. Gon and Senritsu tried to calm him while Kurapika apologized for Killua's behavior.

"I apologize for this, sir."

"No need. It just proves what he fears and what's not."

The newly recruits found it confusing for the old man to say something like that. Even Killua stopped struggling. "Confused?" the old man asked. He put down the papers he's been looking and looked at the newly recruits. "I need strong people in my group. People who are willing to stand up even against the strongest and most powerful not only in terms of physical power but also in terms of political power. People who are just like that little kid."

"I'm not a kid anymore!" Killua reprimanded.

Leorio covered Killua's mouth before saying, "Just quit it." Then, he turned to the man, "Forgive him."

"Like I said, it's alright." The old man, Shiro, rose from his seat and went to stand in front of window. "Your job basically is to guard my only daughter. Although I cannot assure you the ease of the task."

"What do you mean, sir?" Gon asked.

"To protect a person is pretty easy especially for hunters like you." Shiro said with his eyes still looking outside the window. "But my daughter is quite special. Special enough that she attracts lots of enemies."

The man turned to look at them. "Your job is to be her bodyguard. To make sure she doesn't get hurt. And also, to make sure she doesn't hurt herself."

"She hurts herself?" Leorio asked bewildered.

"Not on purpose, though." The man sighed. "You see, I hired several bodyguards before and we have encountered countless of enemies. There are some who can actually defeat the bodyguards I hired."

"You've hired weak people, then." Killua said. Leorio hit him on the head to tell him to shut up which was return by Killua with his deathly glares.

"You're quite right." The old man sighed again. "Most of them are just stupid hunters. In the end, my daughter does all the work of protecting herself."

"Your daughter can fight?" All of them seemed to find it surprising that the person they were supposed to protect can actually fight for herself.

"That's right. She can. The problem is…"

"…she unconsciously hurts herself while doing so. Is that right?" Kurapika said finishing the old man's sentence.

The old man smiled. "You picked up well." He walked to the newly recruits. "Her abilities are good. Too good that her own nen sometimes hurt her back. And that is the reason why I hired you. I want you to protect her so that she need not fight anymore. I believe all of you understand that."

The new bodyguards nodded.

"Good. Well then," the old man picked up a ringer and made a small tingling sound. A few moments two maids entered the office room.

"My daughter's waiting in her room. So if you please." The old man motioned them to follow the maids to meet Shiro Akai's daughter.

The recruits followed the man's instructions and followed the maids out of the room. After walking up a few stairs and corridors, they reached a room with an oddly designed door.

"All doors here are black." Basho said. "How come this one's white?"

"I told you. Don't bother yourself with such stupid concerns." Killua said.

"But it's quite intriguing." Gon said.

"That's why stop bothering." Killua said. "If you stop wondering, then you wouldn't have to be intrigued."

"Stop that already." Kurapika said.

"We have to get inside now. The young lady is waiting for us." Senritsu said pointing through the open door. The rest followed Kurapika and Senritsu's lead and entered a room that was totally out of place in the whole mansion. If the whole house was themed with black colors and dragons and phoenixes, the room was the total opposite. The walls were deeply painted with bright purple hue and the ceiling reflects the color of the sky. Pink curtains adored the windows and everything inside the room has a touch of pink or red in it. Even the cabinets and shelves were designed with the same theme.

In the middle of the room is a girl seated in a wheelchair. Her long blonde hair was neatly tied in pink ribbons and she was dressed in a pink lacy dress. Her ocean blue eyes stared blankly at the newcomers. What caught everyone's attention was the cylindrical glass pod the girl was carrying. Inside the glass pod was a pair of bright scarlet eyes.

A/N: Introductions and prologues are really boring. (Yet I'm making such a thing. XD) Don't really care if you review or not. I'll just keep posting them anyway. (Gotta get back to work. XD)