Children

Soon

I was laying on the bed in my hotel room. I had just recovered from the bad fever I was suffering from a couple of days ago. My limbs ached, my head throbbed, my breathing was so heavy… so heavy I thought it could crush my chest.

It did not matter though. I had started my walk to revenge. Two of the Spider's were down and the leader had been taken care of. I do not regret my decision.

It never crossed my mind that walking side by side with vengeance could be this soul consuming. I feel my spirit breaking and losing pieces as I continue down this path. It still does not matter. I chose this life. I chose it for my family, for my Clan, for myself... to appease this unquenchable anger.

I sat up and looked around the room. I glanced at the painting over my head. It was one of those impersonal and emotionless paintings used for decoration. This one had leaves on them, which made something in my mind click, antique thoughts re-emerging.

Leaves, huh?

I closed my eyes and for a moment I could hear nothing. Not the noise of the busy traffic outside or the sound of my heavy breathing.

My Clan. How long has it been? More than five years. How long have I not thought about you?

Too long.

"Pairo isn't feeling too well today, huh, Kurapika?"

I slowly opened my eyes. I was back home now. I could hear the grass crinkling under my steps and feel the heat of the sun shining on my face, the air of the forest penetrated my lungs and I was no longer in this cursed city.

Who was I talking with?

"No. We had a pretty tough day yesterday. I think I made him walk too much." I kicked a pebble that was under my foot.

Everything came back to me. I was talking with Kurani, my friend. Everyone said we were meant for each other, but we were simply friends, we were too young to think of anything else.

"So since you two can't hang out together I'm replacing him today?" She was a twelve year old little girl, with strawberry blonde hair, big grey eyes and light freckles over her cheeks and nose. I felt relieved that I could still picture her face in my memories.

"You're my friend too, Rana, you know."

"Yes, yes. I was just teasing," she kneeled to collect something. She was a very odd little girl, I thought it back then and still think it now. Kurani went from moments of intense talking to ones of complete silence and she would spend her free time staring at trees and collecting different types of leaves.

Right, my friend had an odd liking for leaves. For a long time I never understood what she would do with them.

"What do you think of this one?" Her gray eyes focused on a leaf.

Why do I remember all these meaningless little details?

"Honestly, they all look the same to me. What do you even do with them?"

"You still thinking of going outside the village?" she changed the subject. She always did that when she did not want to give an answer to one of my questions. Such an odd little girl.

"Of course! After that book I read about D Hunter, I'm even more determined. Just think about all the amazing new things out there!"

I saw Kurani nodding absentmindedly.

"You'll see! Pairo and I, we're going to take the test and after we pass we'll leave immediately and have adventures like the Hunter from the book. It's going to be amazing!" That was our dream, Pairo and mine, to get out of this forest and go explore the world. No one was going to get in the way of that.

How much I have changed.

"But, Kurapika…" Kurani had an embarrassed and almost worried expression on her pale round face. "… will you come back?"

What did she mean with that question? Why was she worrying?

It took me a moment to realize it. Her father was from outside. He married Kurani's mother, but this life was not the kind he wanted to lead for the rest of his days, so he decided to leave and we never saw him again.

"This is my home. Of course I will return. Every time I'll come back I'll tell you all about our adventures." That was enough to relieve her. She was very easy to please, the smile on her face confirmed it.

"Yes, I'd like that."

We were heading back to the village now. We encountered both our mothers, who punctually asked us if we were hiding anything from them. They were the ones who would usually make comments about our future together, and just like every other time we shied away from those unwanted questions. So inconvenient of them.

Our mothers were very close, like sisters; they grew up together and decided that whenever they were going to have children the initial part of their names would be the same: Kura-pika and Kura-ni. My friend was never very fond of that. I always called her Rana… it made her much more content.

"Well, time to get going!" my mother said and Kurani cocked her head in my direction, a vague smile creasing on her face.

"I'll see you soon, Kurapika."

"Yes, I'll see you." I reached my hand out towards her but she took a step back.

Huh?

"I'll see soon, Kurapika." She repeated, her words far away as I tried to get close to her, but she would always grow more distant. What… why was she leaving?

"I'll see you… soon..." Her words echoed in my head like a slow-paced song that was coming to an end.

"I'll see you…soon…"

Kurani?

"I'll see you..."

"…Soon." I whispered softly. So softly that only ghosts could hear me.

Notes:

This is just a very simple and unassuming fan fiction of five chapters. I mainly wanted to explore how Kurapika was before the massacre of his clan and wanted to have fun with it. I really liked the two chapters in the manga that Togashi dedicated to the Kuruta kid and I loved how lively and happy he was. I hope you like it and don't mind the fact I decided to give Kurapika another friend :P

I challenged myself to write first person narrator. I hope it came out okay.

Hope you enjoy it!

Next Chapter: Kids fight!