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Attending a Halloween ball when you were a creature of the night yourself came with an irony that Kuroro had yet to get bored of. Of course, walking around humans at this particular time of the year was not without risks, but he had had more than enough years to learn how to conceal his abilities. As of now, no mortal and very few other beings were able to guess what he was, even during Halloween.
It was a skill that proved to be especially useful when he was to attend an event hosted by another creature. His royal highness of Kakin, prince Tserriednich, barely made any attempt to hide his own status at all. The half-incubus was quite vulgar in the display of his non-human skills, in Kuroro's opinion. Undoubtedly efficient in the pursuit of his father's throne, certainly, but vulgar nonetheless.
Sexual attraction between mortals was often enough to make them spill all their secrets. Therefore, when a creature unleashed a magic-enhanced charm on them, mortals often became incredibly talkative. More accurately, they often became incredibly anything as long as they were subjected to said magic, which would occasionally prove to be very entertaining.
Kuroro brushed an imaginary trace of dust on his charcoal black suit, and looked outside of the car's tainted window. The road to the prince's mansion, where the ball was hold, passed through a dense forest, perfect to hide unconventional bodyguards. Not that any of the thugs Tserriednich had hired for the occasion would constitute a threat to his own group, but the thick trees would make for a perfect escape route should Kuroro need one.
"We'll be there in ten minutes, Danchou" Pakunoda informed him from the driver's seat. Kuroro only hummed to show he had heard her, then went back to his thoughts.
It was no secret in the upper circles of society that Tserriednich put everyone he wanted in his bed, regardless of an existing relationship or even reciprocated interest. This last part had Kuroro purse his lips in disapproval. Rape was where Kuroro himself drew the line, despite having the magical means to do it. Consent was not something he was willing to compromise on when it came to sex. A monster and a murderer he might be, but it didn't mean all kinds of morals had left him entirely.
On the other hand, it meant Kuroro, and by extension his group, had no qualms choosing the arrogant princeling as their next target. The black-haired creature had planned the night to be about gathering intel for a heist somewhere in the upcoming weeks, but Machi had advised the entire Troupe stay close to the property. Her gift of clairvoyance came second to none in the underworld, and Kuroro had changed his plans accordingly. He wasn't against seizing an early opportunity to strike, should it present itself.
"All Hollows' Eve" Kuroro murmured to himself. "I wonder if the impossible will take a step back tonight" he added with the beginning of an amused smile.
"It's a moonless night" Pakunoda said on a similarly amused tone. "If the impossible wishes to become possible, tonight is probably the best time for it."
"Indeed."
Halloween under a moonless night was a rare occurrence, equally as rare as Halloween under a full moon. Not that the various phases of the moon had any influence on Kuroro's powers, but it was good to know that werewolves would be at a disadvantage. Those who weren't used to transform without the help of the goddess of the night sky, at least, would definitely have trouble using their ability to their full extent.
For a second, Kuroro remembered how utterly unstoppable Phinks and Uvogin had been when they had transformed under a full moon on Halloween, many years ago. It had been a sight to behold, and so had been the rampage they had caused.
The car stopped, pulling Kuroro out of his thougths, and back to the present time. The deceivingly-looking young man got off the sleek car, and encompassed the mansion in one sharp glance. Everything about it screams how filthy rich his owner was, and how important his wealth was to him. A grand stair in white veined marble, huge columns of the same material exquisitely sculpted, and so on. Even the circle to let the cars drop their famous guests was defined by overpriced statues of greek goddesses.
Kuroro put a charming yet polite smile on his face, and didn't even check his suit. He had opted for a charcoal black, elegant and formal, but instead of a white shirt, he had gone for a crimson one. A black tie ornated with a discreet onyx stone completed his looks, and his black hair was slicked back, revealing his ivory skin and grey eyes.
With perfect confidence and the touch of arrogance one was expected to have when they attended this kind of party, Kuroro walked the stair and showed his invitation to the men guarding the door. They looked at it, then at a register to check if he corresponded to the person the invitation belonged to, and finally let him walk in with a respectful bow.
When Kuroro entered the huge ballroom, he didn't even put the effort to express a fake surprise. The decoration was an over-the-top mix of gold and white, the only indicators of Halloween being the black and orange lanterns, and perhaps the pumpkin-flavored and ghost-shaped hors-d'oeuvres on the buffet. At least, the lights were dim enough to avoid looking like some Versailles imitation, and the huge windows on the left wall allowed a splendid view on the starlight-illuminated gardens.
The room was already filled with people, probably because it was already quite late in the evening. Everywhere Kuroro looked, it was a waltz of glittering jewels and imposing titles, most of them belonging to impossibly boring people. Yet, Kuroro started mingling among them with ease, looking for the worst gossipers he could find. Those were always the best to gather any sort of information and give himself a solid alibi.
A group composed of a man and four women appeared to be in the middle of aforementioned activity, and Kuroro approached their circle carefully, his charming yet innocent persona fully on display.
"My respects, mylord, miladies" he offered charmingly, then turned to a brown woman in her thirties wearing a turquoise dress. "I apologize for my rude attitude, but your hair and maintain are frighteningly similar to my cousin's, and I must confess I thought for an instant that I could join her group of friends."
"Oh" the woman in question looked flattered by the lie. "Please, don't apologise, we perfectly understand, and you're obviously welcome to join us. I am Ania Ahlborn, this young man is my cousin Thomas, those ladies are Kea Wilson and her sister Mary, and this is Caitlin Kiernan" she introduced with an elegant gesture of her hand for each member of the little group.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Kuroro Lucifer" he said with a polite bow.
"Lucifer ?" a woman with died black hair and a too tight black sparkling dress asked with wide eyes. "As in the Kuroro Lucifer, CEO of Spider Industries ?"
Kuroro chuckled softly, pretending to be embarrassed by the obvious praise in her voice. "It appears my reputation precedes me. I am flattered, lady Wilson."
"Don't be so formal with her" a woman declared with a blasé look. "You'll soon discover it's useless with my sister, she's only playing shy and impressed now to find things about you worth gossiping later."
"Mary !" Kea Wilson intervened with a scandalized voice and bright pink cheeks. "I would never ! Please sir, don't pay attention to my sister's antics" she pleaded, desperately trying to regain some sort of respect in front of someone she clearly saw as her newest target.
Kuroro tilted his head and smiled knowingly. "Actually, I find this kind of bluntness quite refreshing."
The snort from the only other man immediately attracted the creature's attention. With dull brown hair and a rather insipid face, Thomas Ahlborn was easily forgettable.
"If you're looking for bluntness, you might as well leave us for the prince's latest crush" he declared, thus igniting Kuroro's curiosity.
"Oh, shush, Thomas, you're just bitter because he rejected you too" his cousin retorted with an eyeroll. "His highness has his eyes set on Kurapika Kurta lately" lady Ahlborn explained after seeing Kuroro's questioning expression. "He's a famous writer and anthropologist, the best in his field, apparently. And rather handsome, I might add."
"But" Caitlin Kiernan – a blond woman in a deep green dress – intervened with a smirk, "the prince has not managed to win him over yet. It's the first time anyone resists his highness's charm, and rumour has it that Prince Tserriednich is determined to make him his."
"Is that so ?" Kuroro murmured, suddenly extremely interested in the writer in question. Anyone who was able to resist an incubus' advances was worthy of interest, be them mortal or members of the underworld.
"Oh, there he is !" the elder of the Wilson sisters pointed. "It's the young man with blond hair and a blue suit, see ?"
Kuroro turned his head to follow the direction, and as soon as his eyes landed on the man in question, he froze.
The young man had shoulder-long golden hair, impossibly fair skin, delicate features that could probably pass for female should he wishes to, big blue eyes that shone like sapphires in the dim light of the ballroom. His lithe body was perfectly showcased by the navy blue suit on a black shirt that he was wearing, and he had one silver earring with a small chain that ended on a red gemstone, probably a ruby.
Handsome was an understatement. He was the most devastatingly beautiful being Kuroro had ever seen in his existence, and the black-haired creature found that he couldn't tear his eyes from the fascinating apparition.
"Uh-oh, looks like our author has made another victim" one of the women giggled, bringing Kuroro back to reality.
"He is undoubtebly a sight to behold" the creature murmured, still unable to look away.
"Why don't you go to him and introduce yourself ?" lady Wilson suggested innocently. "I'm sure this poor soul would love to be rescued from lady Ascott's blabbering. He looks like he's going to die of boredom any second now."
And indeed, the writer was holding an almost full glass of champagne while pretending to listen to a woman's rambling.
"Actually, I think I will follow your advice" Kuroro declared with a small, knowing smile. "I trust this piece of gossip will be enough for you, lady Wilson ?" he added with a playful wink, and walked away with a last few polite words to wish them an agreeable party.
Kuroro walked past the dancers and straight to the young man he was unable not to look at. Something in his inner soul was impossibly attracted to him, demanding to get closer, hear his voice, touch him, steal him away. The creature's instincts in Kuroro were reinforced by the saturating magic of Halloween, and made it hard to resist the sudden attraction he felt.
Yet, Kuroro managed to keep himself under control. No matter how tempting the blond was, how he called to his inner desires, Kuroro would not lower himself to lure him away like he was a mere prey.
Plus, if he was able to resist an incubus' attraction, even a half-blood one, chances were high that he was a magical being too. And if that was the case, Kuroro had to identify which one, and how much of a threat to his plans he might be, which meant he had to speak to him. He really hoped the writer wouldn't be a problem.
Once he was close enough to the two guests, Kuroro smiled brightly and interrupted the woman's monologue and very poor attempt at seducing.
"Many apologies, milady" Kuroro said smoothly, "but I am afraid I have to borrow your partner for some time. You see, my good friend Godot made him promise they would discuss his latest book tonight, and he's waiting for us as we speak" Kuroro lied easily.
"Oh" the woman said disappointedly. She was a twenty-something red-hair wearing far too much jewels clashing with a yellow and white dress. Completely unappealing. "Maybe I could come along ? Mister Kurta and I were talking and I just love his work, so..." she added with hope, and tugged her hair behind her ear.
"Miss Ascott" the blond young man replied, and his voice was somehow both cold, bored and incredibly melodious. "The speech you subjected me to for the past fifteen minutes had nothing to do with my work. On that note, I wish you a pleasant evening."
And with that, both men turned away to walk in direction of the gardens, keeping silent until they were outside. Once they were both on a bench, surrounded by the thick perfume of late-blooming roses, the discreet noise of the fountain nearby and the starlight, the blond turned toward him.
"I suppose thanks are in order" the young man declared with a neutral expression that contradicted with the amused spark in his eyes. "Although you could have been a little more creative with the name."
"Ah, but then you wouldn't have gotten my message, would you ?" Kuroro answered with a playful smirk, all but forgetting about anything else now that he was alone with this very attractive being. There was a magnetism pull emanating from him, a charisma that pulled Kuroro in despite his better judgement and experience. "Unless it is Beckett's character himself that bothers you ?"
"I have nothing against Samuel Beckett's work" the blond replied, apparently amused by his answer. "But you were lucky literature wasn't her forte."
"Risks are part of the game" Kuroro shot back, looking straight into the blue orbs of the young man. So far, he wasn't showing any magical aura or indication that he was a creature of the underworld, which was quite surprising.
"I suppose they are" the blond agreed, holding his gaze. "I don't believe we've met before. I am Kurapika Kurta."
"Kuroro Lucifer."
"Ah, the young and mysterious CEO behind the success of Spider's Industries" Kurapika said, and nodded. "I didn't know you were an acquaintance of our esteemed host."
The last words were said with barely-veiled contempt, which made Kuroro all the more curious. Kurapika's tone indicated no form of respect or interest for the Kakin prince. How could a mere human resist the call of an incubus, to the point where he wouldn't even refer to him politely ?
"That's because we are not" Kuroro answered dismissively. "I would rather not see my name associated to his, and I do not approve of his... methods."
"Interesting way to bring up his interest in me" the blond author retorted with a hint of amusement in his voice, showing he had no trouble reading between the lines. "Did no one ever tell you curiosity killed the cat ?"
"Then it's a good thing I'm not so fond of them" Kuroro shot back, positively delighted by the sharp mind of the young man. "I've always thought foxes were far more interesting creatures."
For half a second, Kuroro thought he saw Kurapika's eyes widen in stunned understanding, then it was gone, replaced by a curious expression.
"I suppose they are" the blond admitted. "Although some would argue they're too mischievous to be trusted."
"Foxes are simply smarter than most of the creatures living on this planet" Kuroro smirked, and turned his body on the bench to face the blond. "Their trust is only granted to those they deem worthy of it."
"And how do they decide who is worthy and who isn't ?" Kurapika replied, mimicking his movement and getting closer in the process. His blue eyes flickered to Kuroro's mouth for a split second, and the latter had once again to refrain himself from using his powers, despite Halloween's pull and the creature within him urging him to use all the tools in his flirting arsenal.
"Who knows ?" Kuroro answered instead, his voice lower than before. "Trust can come with time, with significant actions, with convincing words... and maybe, sometimes, it's just here from the start, instinctively."
"What a fascinating theory" Kurapika whispered, and leant toward him. His blue eyes darted to Kuroro's lips, this time more obviously, before coming back to his eyes.
Kuroro's hand rised to the blond's face to bring them closer, and stayed here for a second, just enough time to make sure he wasn't reading the signs wrong. When their skins connected, the difference in temperature reminded Kuroro of how autumn nights were too cold for humans, how his own skin was warmer than what was considered normal for a mortal, but the shiver he felt at the contact sent those thoughts to oblivion. A profound desire ignited his body, nearly making his self-control snap and reveal some of his non-human attributes.
But then Kurapika inhaled sharply, and his eyes, darkened with desire, focused on him with nothing but raw hunger, obliterating all doubts altogether.
Kuroro couldn't remember which one of them closed the gap, but one second later, hard lips were crashing on his. They stayed still for just a second, taking the time to adjust to the other and making sure things were okay. Then, Kuroro started moving his lips on Kurapika's, simply pressing down a little more intensely to convey his desire. The blond responded right away, and tilted his head just so Kuroro would have better access.
A hand came on the collar of Kuroro's shirt, and the black-haired creature answered with his own moving on Kurapika's leg, caressing up until he settled on his waist and eliciting a moan from the blond. The sound went straight to Kuroro's dick, and he growled, his instincts trying once more to take over. He nipped at Kurapika's lips, just enough to tease, then drew back before he would do something extremely stupid and extremely compromising.
Creatures were not to reveal themselves to mortals.
Such was the price to pay to stay safe from the greediness of humans. Whoever broke that rule was immediately sentenced to death with the mortal they had talked to. That is, unless they stated their intention to take said human as their mate, for the species who had this kind of system. Kuroro's had, but it was a tad too... definitive version, and not a decision he would make within the first hour of meeting someone, no matter how strongly they appealed to him.
Under the moonless night sky, Kurapika's blue eyes had darkened to the point where they almost seemed to be a dark purple instead of blue.
"Beautiful" Kuroro whispered.
Kurapika bit his lips, and looked at him as if he was refraining himself from devouring Kuroro. The blond took a couple of deep, calming breaths, then talked again.
"I... we probably shouldn't be doing this here" Kurapika amended, in a tone that was slightly contradictory with the way his hand still grasped Kuroro's collar.
"Probably" the black-haired creature admitted regretfully. If this was any other night, Kuroro would have had no trouble pursuing this delightful activity, but when the air was saturated in magic and he was already close to snap from a simple, rather chast kiss, it was probably better for the both of them if they toned it down.
Plus, the night breeze, while surrounding them with the pleasant scent of roses, was not ideal for a human, since they tended to be quite fragile and ill-equiped to fight off the cold and other natural elements. Kurapika's hand was already colder than it should be, especially against Kuroro's burning skin.
"Should we go back inside ?" Kuroro suggested.
"I suppose" the blond sighed, then begrudgingly let go of his shirt and stood up, imitated by the black-haired creature a second later.
"Would you be opposed to my staying by your side for the rest of the evening ?" Kuroro asked politely, as if he didn't intend to do so already. Apparently, Kurapika picked up on the implied message, and a small, amused smile graced his lips.
"Not at all. In fact, I think I would be rather disappointed if you left me to fend by myself in this hostile crowd" he answered ironically.
They walked back to the ballroom while continuing their playful exchange. The pull Kuroro had felt when he had layed his eyes upon the blond only seemed to strenghten with every second he spent close to Kurapika, hearing his voice, looking at his expressions and his body language, right up to the faint scent of roses that lingered from the garden. He was simply enthralling.
They mostly kept to themselves, pleasantly learning more about each other. Kurapika was a specialist of lost tribes and legends of mythical beings - a twist of fate that wasn't lost on Kuroro - and his knowledge in history and literature was impressive, especially considering his young age. While none of them asked directly, Kuroro assumed Kurapika couldn't be older than twenty years old.
They were about to discuss the current subject of Kurapika's studies, when an obnoxious voice followed by a no less obnoxious man interrupted them.
"Ah, my dear Kurapika, here you are. I have been looking for you all night" Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou appeared near them, and immediately tried to put an arm around the blond's waist.
Kurapika pretended to put his glass on the nearest table to justify taking a step away from the unwelcomed contact, and Kuroro used the movement to put himself in his previous stance, thus forcing more space between Kurapika and Tserriednich. The Kakin prince frowned in displeasure, but didn't get the chance to verbalise his disagreement in front of all the other guests who were greedily watching the scene.
"Your highness" Kuroro nodded, thus showing the bare minimum in terms of respect.
"Who are you ?" Tserriednich looked at him for a second in annoyance before turning his eyes back on Kurapika.
"Kuroro Lucifer" the black-haired creature answered shortly.
"Ah, the CEO. Pleasure to meet you" the prince aknowledged dismissively. "Now, if you don't mind, Kurapika and I would like to speak privately."
"Your highness" Kurapika nodded, showing the same amount of respect Kuroro had, "with all due respect, I have no desire to do so. As you can see, I am already engaged in a very pleasant conversation."
The annoyance turned into anger in under a second in the prince's eyes, even more so as Kurapika took a not-so-discreet step toward Kuroro, who let a small satisfied smirk show on his face. Then, the half-incubus smiled, and Kuroro felt the characteristic sexual attraction emitted by the creature, amplified with the magic of All Hollows' Eve. All of it was aimed to Kurapika.
"I am certain someone with an intellect such as yours would find my company much more enjoyable, my dear. Don't you think so ?" the prince asked sweetly, looking straight into the blond's eyes and clearly taking advantage of the circumstances. Even if Kurapika had resisted before, there was no guarantee he would withstand the full blown of a focused incubus on a moonless Halloween's night.
Kurapika tensed beside Kuroro, and the black-haired creature decided it was time to enter the game as well. Without moving a muscle, he let a fraction of his own power show up, just enough to extend his natural aura to Kurapika and protect him from the disgusting man's spell. As a creature possessing an ability to lure humans with desire and sexual attraction himself, an incubus' power would be completely useless against Kuroro.
Kurapika suddenly turned to Kuroro with a strange, almost puzzled expression, then composed himself and looked back at Tserriednich, who was now glaring at the CEO.
"I find myself perfectly satisfied sharing Kuroro's company, your highness, thank you very much" the blond answered evenly, with only the slightest hesitation before using Kuroro's name.
The black-haired creature glanced at the young man in surprise, then smiled. They hadn't expressively agreed to call each other by their given name, but he wasn't opposed to it, even only as a tactic to annoy Tserriednich further. In fact, his name sounded quite lovely in Kurapika's voice, and he certainly wouldn't be against hearing it again.
"You" Tserriednich spat at Kuroro, all but fuming in rage, "how dare yo-"
"While it was lovely talking with you" Kuroro interrupted him sweetly, "I would very much like to resume my conversation with Kurapika. I'm sure you understand" the black-haired man smiled charmingly, then turned toward the blond. "Shall we ?" Kuroro said, offering his arm to Kurapika in the obvious intention to lead him away.
"With pleasure" Kurapika smiled back knowingly, an amused glint in his eyes, and took his arm.
The two of them left for the other side of the ballroom, and barely waited to be far enough to chuckle softly at the humiliated figure they had left behind.
"This man is seriously starting to annoy me" Kurapika stated once they were in a relatively calm part of the room, a new glass – of water this time – in hand.
Kuroro himself had opted for a glass of red wine. His plans for the evening had been slightly modified by the existence of Kurapika, and the CEO was already starting to plot other ways to gather intel in the back of his mind. Plans and heists could easily be rescheduled. An encounter with someone as fascinating as Kurapika, not so much.
"If this is the way he usually harrasses you" Kuroro replied, "I am genuinely impressed that you haven't snapped yet."
Kurapika smiled bitterly, and looked at his glass. "Do you know you're the first person, outside of my closest friends, to call it harrassment ? Everyone else insists he's only wooing me, or courting me, or seducing me, or some synonysm."
The black-haired creature frowned, and his eyes took a darker shade of grey. "What I saw earlier was not courtship. He tried to force you into talking with him, and I have little doubt as to where he wanted to take you to have this so-called chat. That's harrassment, even more so when you have already established that you were not interested, in multiple occasions from what I've heard."
From the corner of his eyes, Kuroro saw the blond looking at him pensively. It lasted a few seconds, then a soft look settled on Kurapika's features.
"Thank you" Kurapika said gently. "For your words now, and for helping me with him earlier."
"You're welcome" Kuroro answered softly.
They stayed in companionable silence for some time, enjoying each other's presence and the slowly fading exuberance of the party.
It wasn't until an hour later, and several more interesting discussions with the blond, that Kuroro noticed something amiss. It took him a few minutes to pinpoint what it was exactly, but when he did, his jaw clenched.
Almost all the remaining guests were creatures. Their auras, enhanced by Halloween's magic, were giving them away now that most humans were gone.
"Kurapika" Kuroro interrupted the blond in the middle of a sentence. "We should leave. Now."
"Now ? But-"
One last group walked out through the main door, and all the lights went out. The ballroom was only illuminated by the starlight now, and painted in shades of blue and grey, as if they were underwater. Kuroro immediately put Kurapika against the nearest wall, and stood before him in a protective stance. In the same movement, he pressed a button on the phone inside his pocket.
"Well, well, well" Tserriednich all but purred while approaching them. "I can't let my guests leave at such a late hour. Who knows how dangerous the roads might be. I would very much like to invite you to stay the night."
"I'm afraid we have to refuse this generous offer" Kuroro replied in a polite but firm voice.
"You're in no position to refuse" the Kakin prince snapped at him. "In fact, you are going to give me Kurapika and let yourself be captured and sent to the dungeons to be tortured. I didn't appreciate your arrogance tonight and I don't appreciate your tone with me now."
"Leave him out of this" Kurapika said from behind Kuroro. "He's got nothing to do with whatever obsession you have with me."
"Kurapika" the black-haired creature sighed. "I am not leaving you at this man's mercy. Believe me, I can handle myself just fine."
Tserriednich laughed at his remark, a haughty sound that Kuroro found particularly annoying.
"For a piece of trash, you're quite the entertainment. I might let you live a few days" the prince smiled cruelly. "But make no mistake, there's no way you'll be able to defend yourself against fifty of us and keep Kurapika away from me at the same time, no matter what type you are."
Kuroro's blood turned ice. The half-incubus wouldn't dare go as far as to reveal the existence of magical creatures while there was a human in the room.
"Kuroro ?" Kurapika asked from behind, undoubtedly noticing how tense the CEO had become.
"Oh, are you starting to realise the truth, my precious jewel ?" Tserriednich asked in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Well, with a sharp mind like yours, I'm not surprised. See, none of us here are like you. We're not humans. We're the mythical creatures you've been writing about in those silly books of yours."
"Tserriednich !" Kuroro warned in a growl.
"Oh, and of course" the Kakin prince added with a sadistic grin, "I hereby claim this human as my mate. All the creatures assembled tonight are witnesses, the law is respected."
Kuroro took a second to close his eyes and think intensely. The situation had gotten out of hand in a couple of minutes, and things were about as bad as they could be. There were fiftfy creatures in the room, probably more outside. Alone, he might have managed to make a run for it, but with Kurapika to protect... He needed time.
Fortunately, Tserriednich seemed more than happy to provide it to him by continuing his soliloquy, now only addressed to the blond young man hidden behind Kuroro.
"Don't be afraid, Kurapika" the prince crooned. "You see, I'm an incubus. Sex and charms are embedded in my very essence. You will love me soon enough."
"I don't think so" Kurapika snorted in disgust, not sounding intimidated in the slightest.
"Ah, playing hard to get. That's one of the things I adore about you. This little show of resistance that you put on" Tserriednich said, completely convinced by his analysis. "Maybe I should start by giving you some proof of what I'm talking about. Everyone, take your true form" he commanded with a snap of his fingers.
At once, all creatures started transforming into their actual appearance. Kuroro counted briefly. Almost thirty werewolves, which wasn't surprising since a lot of these creatures were mercenaries. A dozen of magicians. Around five or six swordsmen, probably hunters, which was not good for him. And a group of three incubus and succubus. Tserriednich himself waited until the end to take his true form, which was roughly the same as his human appearance. The only difference was a light glow and looks that seemed more attractive than before, nothing remotely impressive. He was only a half-blooded creature, after all.
"What do you think, precious ?" the prince bragged. "And just in case you're wondering, the useless trash trying to hide you from my view is the same. Why don't you show everyone what kind of pitiful creature you are, Lucifer ?"
Kuroro sighed. This fruitless show of power lacked all the subtelty and elegance he usually used, but he still needed around ten minutes before the rest of his group would arrive. Behind him, Kurapika was very still against the wall, and hadn't moved at all since the transformations. Without the ability to see his face, Kuroro could only guess what expression he was making, and tried his best to soften the blow before it would happen.
"Kurapika" he called softly, and waited until he could feel the blond's eyes on him. "I only used my powers on you once tonight, to protect you from Tserriednich's spell. Everything else that happened between us was genuine" he promised solemnly.
Ignoring the angry demand of the Kakin prince asking what he had done to his mate-to-be, Kuroro crouched, closed his eyes, and let his body take his true form. His ears grew and got covered in black fur, thin lines appeared on his forefront to form a cross, his pupils became cat-like and took a silvery glow, his nails got longer and hardened into claws. Finally, nine black tails grew on his lower back to float gracefully behind him, each of them obeying Kuroro's will.
"Shit" one of the wizards cursed, while several werewolves took a step back. "The guy's a freaking dark kistune !"
"Everyone back the fuck up !" another one yelled.
"How !?" Tserriednich shouted, fuming in rage in front of Kuroro's true form. "Kitsunes are extinct !"
Kuroro smirked, revealing small fangs. "That would be the vampires. Although I don't blame you for the mistake. If you're asking me, the Lukso Massacre was a complete waste of potential" Kuroro added pensively. "Two overpowered species at war with each other could only lead to the utter destruction of both, which made the entire conflict pointless and very unappealing to me. Although I'll admit that I still regret missing on the opportunity to measure myself to a vampire."
"Still" the prince said through gritted teeth, "you can't fight off everyone in this room. I don't care what you are, this human is mine !"
"I'll have you know that I am still here" Kurapika stated, and he sounded way calmer than Kuroro was expecting him to be. Humans tended to react badly to surnatural, especially in circumstances as brutals as the present ones. Yet, the blond was strangely relaxed. One of his hands gently put one of Kuroro's tails away to face the half-incubus, and the kitsune repressed a shiver. Now was not the time to get aroused, even if his true form meant it was more difficult to reign in the attraction he felt toward Kurapika.
"And for the record" Kurapika continued with a glare towards Tserriednich, "I do not appreciate being treated like an object."
"Don't be like that" Tserriednich said lightly, sending a wave of attraction toward the blond. "You're my precious jewel. Of course you'll like how I treat you."
A couple of tails flew in front of Kuroro, and the disgusting sexual calling disappeared into thin air.
"I think Kurapika made his answer clear enough. He doesn't want you" Kuroro said calmly. "Which reminds me, I'm aware that now might not be the best time" he added with an apologetic smile for Kurapika, "but I am genuinely interested in you, and I would like to take you out on a date sometime in the near future. Of course, I will protect you tonight no matter what your answer is" the black-haired creature added to make sure there was no pressure about his offer. There was no point in having Kurapika agreeing if he was doing it only to survive.
The young man looked at him in surprise for an instant, then smiled warmly. However, before he could give Kuroro an answer, the half-incubus raised his voice.
"Kill him" Tserriednich commanded in pure hatred, his face ghostly pale and distorted by fury. "KILL HIM NOW !" he shouted.
Several spells flew toward Kuroro, while six werewolves jumped in his direction. The kitsune took Kurapika in four tails, and used the others to propulse them in the air.
"Sorry about that" he apologised when they landed on the further corner of the room, still not on the window side. "My options are a bit limited right now."
"Given the circumstances, I won't hold it against you" Kurapika chuckled.
The soft sound stirred something in Kuroro, and he had to resist the urge to kiss him again. It was incredible how easily the blond was taking everything in. Maybe the adrenalin was kicking in to help.
Another round of spells and physical attacks reminded Kuroro he couldn't afford to get distracted, and this time, he dashed on the side to avoid the ones that would follow him in the air. Then, he jumped in another direction. And another. Then another dash. And another jump.
After a few minutes, he had to start fending off some attacks with his tails as well, and made sure that every opponent that came close enough to get in range would feel the raw power hidden in his trademark feature. The first one to have a taste was a werewolf, and was sent crashing through the window. Blood splattered the shattered glass, and the sight made Kurapika tense behind him. Kuroro cringed, but there wasn't much he could do to help.
Then, an impossibly loud howl was heard from the outside, and Kuroro grinned.
"What was that !?" Tserriednich yelled. "You said all your wolves were here !"
"They are !" a werewolf with copper fur protested. "That wasn't one of my pack !"
Kuroro landed on a table, perfectly balanced between the remaining plates and glasses. He gently put Kurapika down on the table as well, keeping his tails close to the blond's body.
"I take it this howl is good news ?" the blond asked with a hint of humour.
"Indeed" the kitsune smirked. "It means we can finally stop playing tag."
Then Kuroro noticed the seething expression of the Kakin prince, and his smirk grew even wider.
"What is the meaning of this, Lucifer !?" the half-incubus hissed. "You're just a trash with no value whatsoe-"
Before he could end his sentence, though, a loud crash indicated some more windows had been broken and a dozen of individuals jumped in the room.
"Sorry about the delay, Danchou !" Shalnark sang joyfully. "We had to clean the forest first, they wouldn't let us come to the party."
"Heh, guess we're doing the heist tonight in the end" Nobunaga shrugged, and put both hands on his katana.
"Fine by me" Uvogin stated with a fierce grin as he hit his fists together. "Halloween without action isn't really Halloween !"
"Oi, Danchou, who's that ?" Phinks asked, motionning at Kurapika.
Kuroro glanced at the blond, who was currently frowning in confusion. As gently as he could, he moved his tails away to offer his hand to the young man. "Kurapika, may I introduce you to the Phantom Troupe ?"
Kurapika's eyebrows perked up in surprise, and all the other creatures inside the ballroom felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the chilling night breeze.
"Th-th-the Phantom T-Troupe ?" a wizard stuttered, before taking a step back and loosing all colour as fear seized his features.
Kuroro's focus stayed on the young human beside him, but let himself enjoy the satisfaction that came with such a reaction. During the past decades, the small group of exceptional beings he had founded had gained quite the reputation as murderers, S-ranked thieves and basically unstoppable force. To the mortal public, they were infamous criminals. To the underworld, they were a deadly group no one in their right mind dared to mess with.
Kurapika merely blinked, then silently put his hand in Kuroro's in a quiet acceptance.
The kitsune smiled, and turned toward his unconventional public. "As you might have guessed, each member of the Troupe is a creature. Kurapika, meet Uvogin, Phinks, Feitan, Machi, Pakunoda, Shizuku, Bonolenov, Franklin, Hisoka, Shalnark, Kortopi and Nobunaga. Everyone, this is Kurapika."
"Oh ?" Hisoka said with a delighted smile, and immediately started playing with his signature card deck. "Is he a new recruit ? Or is he only for you to play with, Danchou ? Because if not, I'd like to call dibs."
"You have a mate, asshole !" Phinks objected, and sent a chair on the magician to drive his point in.
"Semantics" Hisoka countered, and dodged the furniture. "My Illu-darling and I are in an open relationship and I'm sure he would be on board for a threesome with such a beautiful man."
While Kuroro frowned at the magician's words – one never really knew when Hisoka was serious and when he was purposefully messing with people – Tserriednich lost what last shred of self-control he had.
"KURAPIKA IS MINE !!" he screeched, his unnaturally attractive face distorted by rage. Then he jumped toward Kuroro and Kurapika, aiming for the second one.
The kitsune dashed, but this time, he didn't have Kurapika in his tails, and the blond slipped on the tablecloth when Kuroro moved. Kurapika lost his balance just when the black-haired creature was moving, and let go of his hand out of reflex to regain some stability.
Unfortunately, it gave Tserriednich the time to grab the young man and put a hand on Kurapika's throat.
"Now, that's much better" the Kakin prince crooned. "My precious jewel is finally where he's supposed to be."
Kuroro glared at the half-incubus. Tserriednich wouldn't kill Kurapika, not when he wanted to make him his mate, but he wouldn't hesitate to injure him to force Kuroro to back out. However, some members of his Troupe had abilities that might counter the incubus' powers.
"If one of your lackeys move a finger" Tserriednich threatened, "Kurapika will pay the price. So just stay still like a good dog and let yourselves be killed" the prince mocked.
Kuroro gritted his teeth at the insult, but before he could start to build a plan, a cracking sound echoed in the ballroom and the incubus screeched in absolute pain.
Kurapika had taken the wrist against his throat in one of his own hands, and had squeezed until the bones broke. His eyes were closed, and he looked eerily calm.
"You know" the blond stated in a dangerously composed voice, "I was determined to not lose my cool tonight."
One sharp movement of his wrist had Tserriednich's entire arm ripped off and thrown away, specks of blood tainting the tablecloth. Kuroro stood frozen as Kurapika opened his eyes, revealing a vibrant shade of scarlet. The distinctive trait only vampires were said to possess. Suddenly, a murderous aura filled the ballroom, and a icy smile crept his way on Kurapika's face as he addressed Tserriednich again.
"But I suppose watching you insult the man I've taken an interest in was not part of my plan either" the vampire said in a threateningly soft voice, a pair of fangs glinting in the starlight.
Kuroro was unable to move a finger, completely mesmerised by the sight of what was possibly the last vampire alive stating his interest in him. In the back of his mind, a lot of small details he noticed all evening suddenly came together.
Kurapika not minding the chilling evening despite his skin being cold. Not eating anything, only drinking a handful of glasses. Not being affected by an incubus' powers. Noticing Kuroro using his own ability to protect him. Not being surprised by the creatures nor being worried by any of the attacks. And then, there was his incredible beauty and melodious voice.
In hindsight, the clues were pretty obvious once put together, and Kuroro almost felt annoyed at himself for not understanding sooner. Now, he also had to consider the fact that their respective species had basically exterminated each other's, and that they might technically be enemies because of it.
Although after three hundred years, it seemed a bit overkilled.
Kurapika looked at him, a storm of rubies dancing in his eyes, and Kuroro decided whatever grudge had existed between their species had probably expired after the first century or so.
"I'm sorry for not telling you as well" the blond said softly, just loud enough to be heard over the incubus' screams. "I was afraid you'd draw back as soon as you learned what I was. If your offer for a date still stands, though, I... erm, I would gladly accept it."
The way he sounded and looked the tiniest bit flustered ended all potential objections for the kitsune, who all but dashed to the vampire. Kuroro sent Tserriednich's body crash against a wall with one tail, and let them float wildly around him, not caring how they betrayed his delighted mood. He took the blond's hands in his and looked at him fondly.
"Of course my offer still stands. Although I will probably alter a few parts of my plans, since a fancy dinner hardly seems adapted anymore" the black-haired creature added with humour and a wink.
Kurapika chuckled, somehow sounding even more melodious than before now that he had embraced his creature as well. His skin was a bit paler and cooler to the touch, but that was about it. Vampires had always been closer to a human appearance than most creatures.
Someone coughed, and Kuroro suddenly remembered they were not alone. He turned to see fifty terrified mercenaries whose exit paths were all blocked by the twelve members of his Troupe.
"As a matter of fact" Kuroro stated while tilting his head on the side, "we intended to rob his royal highness of Kakin of most of his belongings tonight. Would you like to join us ?"
Kurapika arched an eyebrow. Then smiled a bit too innocently for the expression to be genuine, just wide enough to reveal the tip of his fangs. "Why do you think I came here in the first place ? As long as you let me take back what he stole from my family, it will be a pleasure to assist you in your heist."
"I think that can be arranged."
The two unique beings looked at each other in perfect understanding.
"Danchou !" Uvogin called to interrupt their little bubble. "What do we do with them ?" the werewolf asked, designating all the other creatures gathered in the room.
Kuroro give them all a bored glance. Such a dull crowd. Such a weak one too.
"To the world, vampires and kitsunes are extinct. And I would like it to stay this way" the leader of the Phantom Troupe declared. "Kill them all."
A second later, a concert of terrified and pained screams filled what had been a splendid ballroom a few hours ago.
Kuroro and Kurapika didn't participate, instead enjoying the show and chatting a bit more.
"So" Kuroro asked while observing Feitan launching demonic flames on a couple of werewolves, "the blood doesn't distract you ?"
Kurapika rolled his eyes, and looked curiously at Bonolenov's strange song and the way it killed a wizard and an incubus without them understanding where the attack was coming from.
"I wouldn't come to a party without feeding first, especially a Halloween one where I have to stay undercover. To be perfectly honest, years of experience help as well" the blond amended. "Although..."
"Although ?" Kuroro pushed, curious about what the vampire had to say.
Kurapika turned his eyes towards Phinks and Uvogin, who had started a killing contest. It was subtle, especially with only the starlight to see, but Kuroro swore the vampire's cheeks were getting the slightest hue of pink under his palor.
"I almost lost it after we kissed" Kurapika admitted in an embarrassed manner. "Your smell was already tempting on its own, but when I... well..."
"Tasted me ?" Kuroro completed mischievoulsy.
"Don't put it like that" Kurapika protested.
The black-haired kitsune chuckled, and got closer to the vampire. As they continued to watch the slaughter unfolding in the ballroom, the black-haired creature let one of his tails caress Kurapika's back in slow circles, rejoicing in the shiver he felt in the vampire's body at the touch.
"You know" Kuroro declared off-handedly, "one of the perks of being a kitsune is that I recover from almost all types of injuries in a matter of hours. Including blood loss."
Kurapika turned to him in a flash, and Kuroro immediately decided the way those scarlet eyes widened with surprise and hunger at his implied offer was going to be one of his favourite Halloween memories.