Spider Web

The Contract and Limitations

At a golden cage in a pitch black room, a small figure gasped. She could hear the tinkling of invisible chains. She clutched her chest as pain assaulted it and sweat trickled from her forehead to her chin. The sound of her Nen Chains was loud in the pitch black room she was kept in. Someone was interfering with the Nen Chain. The last time she felt this pain from her ability was in September 4th, last year, when Pakunoda broke her contract. But back then, the pain only lasted barely ten seconds.

It's been five minutes.

It was no doubt the Nen Exorcist. A month ago, Killua called to inform her that they had found the Ryodan Leader's name in the Greed Island game they were playing. She was still in her male form back then and was more focused on getting her employer to calm down. The man had not known what to do each month for relying too much on his daughter's fortune-telling ability.

Her breaths became uneven as the sound of her chains got louder and louder each second. Then all of a sudden, she felt a squeeze in her heart before the chain that connected her Nen to the Genei Ryodan leader shattered.

Judgment Chain was broken. And Chrollo Lucilfer is now free.

In one of the ruined buildings in Ryūseigai, Genei Ryodan, the gang of S-class murderers and thieves rested after their thievery from a very wealthy man named Abernard Klaine. It's been two weeks since the Nen Chain was removed from the Spider head's heart and Chrollo Lucilfer is now back in action. Hisoka, the magician and the former (and fake) # 4 of Genei Ryodan has helped the gang to convince Abengane, a Nen Exorcist. He was found by Kalluto Zoldyck who replaced Hisoka in the gang. And now with the Judgment Chain gone, Genei Ryodan was ready to wreak havoc.

The occupants of the half-destroyed building were celebrating their beloved Danchou's return by stealing from Klaine, who was the wealthiest man in the neighboring country, and killing all of the occupants of his palace in the process. Of course they cleaned it up to make it look like the palace was abandoned rather than a butcher's house. While they are ready to wreak havoc, it was not the right time to reveal their revival.

Their celebration consisted of booze, dividing the treasures, playing card games while betting their treasures and playing drinking games such as Edward 40 Hands, I Never and to Nobunaga's insistence, The James Bond game. Kalluto, Feitan, Kortopi and Bonolenov were even participating.

Most of them were drunk. Nobunaga, Phinks, Franklin were the loudest. Machi, Shalnark and Shizuku were not so obvious while Bonolenov and Kortopi already passed out. They were going to have the worst hangover the next morning, they knew it. Well, with the exception of Kalluto and Feitan. The two and their Danchou were the only ones not drunk. Kalluto, because he is a Zoldyck (Zoldycks never get drunk), Feitan because he just had that high tolerance for alcohol and Chrollo because he wasn't participating in the games.

He chose to watch them have their fun. He was content with that. He looked down to the ancient tome he was reading. This was found in the glass cases in Abernard Klaine's heir's chamber. Apparently, the boy was a very big fan of extinct and/or well-hidden tribe cultures. One of the books were Kurutanian. He recognized the carvings on the thin wooden cover. The book reminded him of the Chain-User who incapacitated him for a few months.

Chrollo continued reading for another hour even after all of his members had fallen asleep on the mattresses they stole, among other things. He turned off all the candles except for the one beside him so he could continue reading.

Chrollo was reviewing the skills he had stolen over the years (he had missed them from those months of confinement) when he was interrupted by a ringing phone. He fished out the small device from his signature coat and answered after checking the I.D.

"It's me." he answered in lieu of 'Hello'.

"Kaichou, the auction will start in a few hours, some of your associates are trying to confirm if you are coming, what should I tell them?"

"Tell them I'm on my way." Chrollo hung up and pocketed the device. He stood up and jumped from his platform down to the ground floor.

"Where are you going, Danchou?" Shalnark asked, pausing his online game to face their leader.

"Some assorted auction." said leader, answered.

"Assorted?"

"There will be live humans too." the Spiders' head added as an afterthought.

"Live humans?" Machi repeated "What? For like 'slavery'?"

"Something like that." Chrollo replied. "What does your instinct say?"

Machi sighed. "I wouldn't trust my instinct too much. . but I think, if you go, you'll feel a little bit better. That Chain-User's chain must have been a very tight leash. Get some air, Danchou."

"Machi is right, Danchou." Nobunaga agreed after a gulp of beer. He, Feitan, and Phinks were finishing off the last case they had stolen so it wouldn't go to waste. "Besides, you love books, maybe you'll find ancient texts."

"Let's hope so."

"Why don't we just raid it." Phinks suggested. "It's easier than competing with numbers."

Shizuku giggled in her novel. "It will be the first book you'll acquire legally."

It was a private joke of the Genei Ryodan. Questioning 'legality'.

Shalnark laughed. "Danchou is good at numbers, unlike you." Phinks growled at the blonde who just laughed harder, joined by Shizuku and a small smile from Machi.

"So, you're going?"

Their leader just nodded as he stood from his seat and donned his coat. Chrollo Lucilfer never go to auctions except when they steal or when it concerned Ryūseigai.

"Are they from Ryūseigai, Danchou?" Shalnark asked. "The live humans, I mean." That would be nothing new. Especially in cities close to Ryūseigai. People connected to the Black Market would come and kidnap people, adult or child, in this forgotten city then sell them for slavery and/or use their body parts to sell to doctors.

"No." Chrollo replied."I'm just curious why I was invited specifically by my other associates. Anyway, I'll be contact you in two days, until then, you are all dismissed."

"Roger."

With a concealer covering his cross-shaped tattoo and his usually combed back raven hair, down; he looked younger than 26. He was also wearing a black business suit instead of his fur-collared trench coat. He looked stunningly handsome. Right now, he wasn't Chrollo Lucilfer of Genei Ryodan. He was Charles Lucifer Weinberg, chairman of the Weinberg Corporations who had a lot of connections in politics and mafia. He never appeared on public, for his 'Chrollo Lucilfer' face is very famous, while the mafia bosses and wealthy heiresses just thought that he didn't want to be mistaken as the Genei Ryodan leader. Oh the irony. Upon arriving in the underground auction site women and men surrounded him like animals in the desert's oasis. Both gender had different motives. Connections and money for the men and 'romance' or 'lust' plus 'luxury' for women.

The auction started and Chrollo watched as children and a few young women were being sold. He was a bit surprised when he found out that Light Nostrade was the one who was providing the auction with 'live items'. But then, he should have predicted this. With his daughter's ability gone, he needed something else to stabilize his position in the mafia. He wasn't really interested at anyone that was being auctioned since he had already acquired three ancient tomes written in forgotten languages he couldn't wait to read.

He remained stoic and unmoving for the last minutes now and for the climax of the auction, a large cage covered with black cloth was pushed onto the stage.

"For our last item, we have something rare!"

Chrollo's attention was caught and he looked at the stage with interest. "A girl with two meters golden hair and sapphire eyes!" there was a few gasps and murmurs at the audience. Some of them are sick doctors and sapphire eyes are very rare. Blue eyes are never a problem, but when blue eyes are called 'sapphire eyes' it's a different story because the shade, and twinkle are far too unique, making 'blue eyes' look dull.

The host pulled the cloth and revealed the most beautiful girl, Chrollo has ever seen. And he had seen a lot. The girl was probably 150 to 160 centimeters, he couldn't really tell for she sat inside the golden cage, her hair was long, two meters as the host announced and it was spread around her like golden threads against her pale skin and white dress. She wore a white headband that pulled up her fringe, she had a strange red butterfly tattoo on her forehead and her sapphire eyes looked so familiar to him. Her arms seemed to be tied behind her and she wore a strange silver choker. But what intrigued him the most is the strange detailed red butterfly tattoo. With his good eyesight, he could see that the wings seemed to resemble fire. Chrollo's eyes widened when he realized what that tattoo meant- or should he say, birthmark.

When he had massacred the tribe in Lukso, he had thought that one of his spiders accidentally killed the target that he knew was hidden there. The Burning Princess of the Kuruta-clan. She was the equivalent of Jesus in the tribe. Their history mentioned that she will possess the most beautiful Scarlet Eyes in existence and when harvested perfectly, there is a rare red crystal that can be cut from her he had wanted to see that. There was that legend though, that if a the Princess sheds tears, they are crystallized into a beautiful white gem or rare red. The tribe had tried to erase all informative texts and even killed outsiders who discovered the secret in fear of being targeted and lose their princess. And they were right to fear. Chrollo was the only one who survived from the twenty outsiders who all visited Lukso to find the tribe and confirm the legend. Instead of sharing the suspicious actions of the tribe to others, Chrollo kept it to himself and instead brought his assembled team eight years later to attack the tribe.

"Okay, everyone, the bidding starts at 450 million zennies!"

Chrollo raised a delicate raven brow. 450 million? Heck, she was worth billions. Maybe the hosts of this auction did not know what she really is? Well that's better for him. Who would've thought that a Kurutanian princess is at this auction. What bothered him though was how did she get here? He shook his head and made a note to contemplate it next time. He could now hear the psycho doctors bid millions for the girl. He rolled his eyes, knowing no one is paying attention to him, the audience's eyes only stared at the girl in the golden cage. The bidding was reaching 845 zennies.

He raised a pale hand and said "900 million!"

"And will the bidding stop at 900 million? Anyone who will bid higher that # 341?"

A few hesitated "910 million!"

"915 million!"

"950 million!"

Chrollo sighed "1 billion!"

His bid surprised the crowd, women were giggling and men were gaping at him. Charles Weinberg rarely attended auction and he rarely bid because he wasn't really interested but now. . ,1 billion for one girl?

"1.2 billion!" the bidder was a familiar face. It was Alexander Milleva, his self-proclaimed business rival as Charles Weinberg.

"1.5 billion." a man unknown to him followed. He was just probably curious why two popular bachelors were spending a lot for the girl.

"2 billion." Chrollo bid in an indifferent manner.

Silence filled the auction site and the golden-haired girl was now his. He could literally feel the golden-haired girl's hatred from her glare. Why she hated him, he didn't know. Her eyes were still in their sapphire state. She must have suppressed her emotions low enough to not trigger her own Scarlet eyes, which is wise of her because the Kuruta eyeballs are getting rarer and rarer as some buyers are getting very secretive of their own treasures.

Nevermind. She's his now anyways. And he can also use her to threaten the Chain-User who has given his gang a lot of trouble. If everything goes smoothly, the Chain-User would have the Spider Tattoo in a few minutes after Kalluto finds him. While he was saddened by Uvo-san and Pakunoda's deaths, he did not hate the Chain-User. Irritated was probably the perfect word because of the Judgment Chain he had suffered from but no hatred at all. Of course, that feeling wasn't mutual.

He smirked. 'This will be fun.'

At close up, the girl - rather the Kurutanian princess is more beautiful than the details that he has read in ancient books. Of course, before he massacred the Kuruta tribe - it was more suited to be called Hidden Village - he researched them well, including traditions, rules and prohibitions, clothing and many more, even their politics. The Tribe was ruled by a chief, and the chief's daughter will be called 'princess' and those princesses are the most beautiful beings probably in the whole world. This girl, this last Kurutanian princess must've been out of the tribe when he massacred the tribe, so including the Chain-User, there are two Kuruta survivors.

His textbook knowledge about her are as follows: The Burning Princess is a very important figure in Kurutanian culture. She is born only in the Royal Family and is cherished twenty times more than they cherish the Scarlet Eyed children. She is born with a butterfly shaped birthmark on her forehead with the color of their Scarlet Eyes. She is also believed to be blessed by the Gods with the ability to summon and control fire and there is an unconfirmed legend that, her tears turn to beautiful crystals. Because of that, she was sacred. She was not allowed to set foot on earth. When she is to be moved from her palace to the main castle or if she wants to visit the gardens, she must be either carried or ride a palanquin. She must not work for herself. Her skin cannot be seen by men who are not her family (she can show others the tips of her fingers though). She must be shielded from the sun. Thus, as a result, Burning Princesses were always very beautiful with pale skin and very long hair. They only wear white and are veiled when they leave their chambers.

She was the tribe's most precious and deepest secret. She was his target when he attacked the tribe years before. To his disappointment, he did not succeed. No matter, victory is a dish best served cold. . .or was that revenge?

He sat at the passenger seat of his limousine. With the blonde girl beside him. As soon as she was free of the golden cage and chains earlier, she disposed the white headband, causing her fringe cover her forehead, and now that her fringe is down, she looked awfully familiar to him. She's still wearing the thin white dress and the silver choker around her neck, as the gentleman Chrollo is, he gave his black suit jacket to the lady because it was showing too much skin to his liking (it didn't bother him, of course). She glared at him with the full blast of her hatred without her eyes turning Scarlet before accepting it. The only sound he could hear was the low humming sound of the vehicle and the muffled traffic noise outside.

"You know, don't you?" she asked or more like, stated. Her voice definitely put the voices of singers and Music Hunters to shame.

"Yes." he answered "You're lucky that the host didn't know."

The girl glared at him with her lips pressed firmly, as if trying not to voice out that she didn't want to agree with him but he knew that she knew he was right.

"I suppressed my anger." she said "Had to."

Even though the host didn't know the existence of the Burning Princess, everyone knew of the Kuruta-clan's famed eyes. If she lost control of her emotions in the presence of anyone in that auction house, she would have been tortured to reveal those eyes to the bidders and the house will get more money.

"Of course you had to."

Out of the blue, she said. "I despise you."

At that, he raised an eyebrow. He was silent for a moment and then he stared at her silver choker that had a strange amethyst gem at the back. "You're a Nen-User." he stated. He knew of the choker because Shalnark, his Genei Ryodan member, invented it himself. Reasons unknown.

"You're Chrollo Lucilfer." she stated back

"Hmm, I'm honored that you know." He said modestly. "How?" he asked.

Her sapphire eyes transformed into a burning shade of scarlet that was so beautiful and so different from the other Kuruta eyeballs he had ever seen. He had personally thought that the Chain-User's eyes were the most magnificent but those would pale next to these. With that tiny bit of distraction, the next thing Chrollo knew, Chain Jail was wrapped around him. For the second time in his life.

"What - ?!" And for the second time in his life, Chrollo Lucilfer, the leader of Genei Ryodan was speechless. The first time was, when he first met the Chain-User, Kurapika. The teenager who defeated Uvogin, the Spiders' physically strongest member. The young man who he thought was a woman at their first meeting, who in fact was only in disguise. Now, he re-discovers the Chain-User's real identity. He was a girl all along. And not just any girl. His main target, four or five years ago.

Before he could continue his statement, the chains disappeared and the blonde is writhing in agony with the silver choker electrocuting her. Wait, the Princess is the Chain-User? How can that be, the Chain-User was a guy and he was sure that the Chain-user is at least ten centimeters taller than this princess. The choker stopped electrocuting her and he noticed her empty pierced ear. The Chain-User's red earring was gone.

"I see." he nodded to himself in understanding. "Your Gender Changer Earring was taken from you." he stated. When a Burning Princess sheds her first tears in her life, it is collected because of its magical properties to be a great life-saver for the baby. This first tears form some sort of metal to create an earring that will change the user's gender into its opposite. The next tears that the princess will shed will turn into either white or red crystals. Which is why the princess of the Kuruta is targeted by those who knew this secret in hopes for wealth. This earring is kept in the princess' clothes at all times so that in time of invasions, no matter when it is, the tribe can hide their 'treasure' in a different gender until the problem is solved.

"Very knowledgeable." she stated sarcastically, crossing her arms, her breathing still uneven and eyes still scarlet. Earlier, she had forgotten about the choker because of the presence of one the killers of her tribe.

He chuckled. "Where is it?" he asked

She looked away, out of the tinted window, she could see the auction house's garden from there, even though, barely because it was midnight and the lights are slightly dim. She didn't want to feel grateful because this man killed her tribe but she couldn't lie to herself. She was glad that Chrollo Lucilfer was the one who won her because at least, even if she did not want to admit it, Chrollo Lucilfer is not low.

If one of those psycho doctors won her she can't predict what they will do to her, at least, with Chrollo, she knows that he likes Scarlet Eyes, that she can give to him as long as he won't take her purity. She knew that some of the males in that auction bought women and girls to be their sex slave.

She shuddered. She can live without eyes, she'd rather be blind than be a sex slave and lose her dignity from a man she didn't love. She sighed and decided to answer the man's question. "Neon liked it and took it, I was caught off guard and the transformation process drained my Nen reserves."

"Hmm." Although he was surprised that the Chain-User, Kurapika, answered him, he did not show. Silence filled the limousine until Chrollo's chauffer came back from his washroom break, and sat at the driver's seat.

"Where to, Charles-sama?" the chauffeur asked emotionlessly.

"Back to the mansion." Chrollo answered and then closed the window that separated their seat from the chauffeur's without waiting from his chauffeur's reply. The limousine started and exited the Nostrade territory.

This was awkward.

Chrollo who just recently freed from this Chain-Princess' Judgement Chain is supposed to be taking revenge but he couldn't fight her because he liked things fair. True, he did not hate her, but she still has to pay for the troubles she caused them, plus, they paid a large sum of money to the Nen-Exorcist that Kalluto found to free him from Kurapika's seal. Though that money was stolen, this and that were totally different stories.

He has too much pride to attack someone who can't use Nen. He could convince her to fight only physically, since she did defeat Uvogin, but he didn't want to harm the princess' body, she can't possibly heal herself. And he knew Kurutanians were true to their word but one can only trust stereotypes when the one of them did not massacre that clan and the other one was not a survivor.

On the other side, Kurapika knows that Chrollo is free from her Judgment Chain, as much as she wanted to kill this man, she can't. True, she can grab his throat and with the assistance of her Scarlet Eyes, her strength can rival Uvogin's. But she must consider the fact that this man is an S-class criminal and is now able to use his Nen. No matter what angle she look at the situation, the fact that she's at disadvantage is the only conclusion she can get.

As long as she behaved, this man won't do anything. She frowned and clenched her fists. Her eyes burning scarlet. 'Calm thoughts! Calm thoughts!' she chanted in her mind, soon, images and memories of Gon, Killua and Leorio flashed in her head and her scarlet transformed back into their sapphire form.

'He - She has calmed down' he thought. He could see from her reflection. He fished out his cellphone. "That choker must be uncomfortable." he stated.

She smiled bitterly, she was still looking out, watching the streetlights and nothing in particular. "You think?" she replied sarcastically.

Chrollo dialled a certain phone number and placed the device beside his ear. Two rings and it was answered. Without a normal 'Hello' Chrollo went straight to the point. "Shal, how does your Amethyst Circlet work?"

At the name, Kurapika's attention was caught, causing her to look at the man, not even caring to hide that she is eavesdropping with her eyes burning red.

"My invention? Well, it simply reacts if it is touched with aura or Nen, it has a little bit of En so it kinda reacts like a detector"

"So if I use Zetsu with the circlet, the wearer can use Nen?"

"Possibly." Shalnark answered "Do you need to ask something else, Danchou?"

"No, that's all." Chrollo said.

"Okay, see you in two days Danchou!" was the farewell of the cheerful blonde. With that Chrollo hung up.

"What was that about?" Kurapika asked although she had suspicions.

As if he didn't hear her question, he asked instead. "Shall we make a deal?" She began muttering things under her breath. He sighed "I would appreciate if you would be quiet and listen to me."

She looked into his eyes. "What?"

"I can help you retrieve the eyes of your clan." He started. "After all - "

"After all, you're the one who sold them into the black market." Kurapika interrupted "That's old news."

Chrollo created a small Nen ball and sent it flying into the silver choker around her neck. The Amethyst Circlet, upon being touched by Nen reacted and electrocuted the blonde princess. She endured the shock, she did not scream nor cry, though her eyes are tightly closed and her lower lip bleeding slightly as she bit on it. A few seconds after the device stopped the torture and she panted in both relief and for oxygen.

"I know your abilities as the Burning princess." Chrollo bluffed. He knew of legends of her abilities but it wasn't confirmed. Life is a gamble.

"If you are thinking on using me for your gang's benefit then all of you can go to hell - !" Kurapika was interrupted by her own gasp. Because first minute, she is talking while sitting in her 'princess-manner' and next second she is lying down the cushion with the Genei Ryodan Leader looming over her, onyx eyes challenging her scarlet orbs as he held both her wrists with one hand above her head and his other hand around her neck.

It was confirmed then. All the legends were true. He held back a smirk. His grip around her throat was firm but loose enough so he wouldn't block her airway.

"I told you that 'I would appreciate if you would be quiet and listen to me.'" his voice was devoid of emotion, he wasn't in his 'Charles Weinberg, the gentleman, persona' anymore. He was back into his 'Chrollo Lucilfer' personality. "But have it your way Kuruta, I have a few duct tape rolls and ropes under this seat. And after our encounter, I have developed a habit of bringing chains anywhere I go."

Her scarlet eyes widened.

"You would like that wouldn't you? The image of being immobilized by the very same object you conjured to immobilize others. Granted, the suffocating Nen is nonexistent from them, I am curious about the psychological effects it might bring you."

Memories of chains and tapes invaded her mind in her imprisonment in the Nostrade mansion's basement. "Are you still going to interrupt me?" he asked and she shook her head, her lips pressed in a tight line, making her lower lip bleed more. He straightened up and let her go. She glared at him as she sat as far as she could from him.

"As I was saying, I can help you retrieve your clan's eyes, in exchange of your loyalty and service to me." he said. He noticed how her eyes were filled with horror when he finished his sentence. "And I did not mean 'sexually'." he assured the Chain-Princess. Even though she has killed two people (not only people, but Genei Ryodan members) she can be pretty innocent.

"I have a two options for you. Listen carefully." he started, "First, you will be an official member of the Ryodan. And then I'll let you go. You must give your contact number for communication. Failure to reach me at given time and place without alerting me beforehand will be interpreted as either death or treachery and if that happens I will kill you."

She scoffed at the idea of her being his member but she let him continue anyways. She was tired of being electrocuted.

"The second option is, you will use your Judgment Chain on both of us where we can agree on three conditions each, but you will have to be my ally for three years as payment for what I paid for you. Both options includes the removal of that choker."

Kurapika nodded to herself. It sounded fair enough, for a criminal.

He let the silence fill the car as she thought about her options. A few minutes later she chose the second option. He informed her that only Shalnark can remove the choker safely from her reached out for her throat again and she had to fight a flinch. He had held the choker with his index finger and thumb, surrounding it with aura before switching to Zetsu along with it. He assured her that she can use Nen temporarily now.

"You are going first." she said and he nodded at her. They both knew that once her heart was wrapped with the chain, she will have a big disadvantage and may not be able to defend herself properly depending on the conditions the Spider Leader will want from her.

"Sharp." he complimented and she glared at him. "But 'that' applies to you as well."

"Kurutanians keep their word." she said as an explanation. "I will state my conditions." she said and he gave her a 'Go ahead' gesture. "First. You will help me retrieve all of my clan's Scarlet eyes. The real ones." she paused when she saw him smirk in amusement "Second. You will not order me or your spiders to harm my friends, and of course you can't harm them yourself."

"Still your weakness huh? If you want to be strong, you should let go of them. When was the last time you saw them?" She ignored him. But he continued. "There's also loophole in that condition, 'I can order my spiders to kill or harm you.'" He told her but he knew he'll never do that. "Are you sure you don't want to rectify that?" She's far too precious and she probably knows that because she ignored him again.

"Third. You will not lie to me." At that he rose a brow, but she continued. "You will die if you did not meet this conditions, do you agree to this contract?"

"Agreed." he said. And for the second time in his life, Chrollo Lucilfer's heart was wrapped with Judgment Chain. The feeling of her chains right now was different from last time. Last time, the Nen Chain was freezing cold and burning hot at the same time around his heart and was very suffocating. It was very uncomfortable. Right now, her chains felt almost warm but mixed with a more sober hatred. The next second, the visible chains disappeared and then it was her turn. He watched her summon the judgment chain that was wrapped around her heart.

'I will change the contract, release me.' she spoke in her mind. When the chain disappeared she faced him."State your three conditions" she told - more like demanded to the Genei Ryodan head.

"First, you will be loyal and do anything to assist me and Genei Ryodan, that includes obeying orders. Second, you will not kill me any of my Spiders from now on." He paused. The second condition would protect his members from Judgment Chain, unless Kurapika doesn't choose death as the 'judgment'.

He stated the second condition that way because he just knew that she will not get along with less than half of his Spiders (he had Nobunaga's face at the forefront of his mind) so he knew she will not be able to not harm his members. At least with this agreement, she won't be able to deliver the finishing blow."And lastly, you will not kill yourself."

"Agreed." Kurapika said. "If I don't meet this conditions, I forfeit my life." She summoned another chain and caught her heart with it and with that, the contract was done. He waited for her to go back into her Zetsu before releasing the choker. Silence filled the limousine, as if nothing happened at all.

Author's Note

Edited on January 3, 2016

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