If You Die

I know you're in pain tonight.

I can see it in your eyes.

You want to let go and end it, right?

I won't hold you back…

Won't put up a fight…

As long as you listen to me…

One last time!

These might be the last words I say – to you.

This could be the last time – I'll hold you.

And for all the times I let slip by,

I'll make this one last!

This is my last chance – to tell you,

So hear me out one last time!

I love you now…

So don't die!

Senritsu watched as Kurapika struggled with an unbearable pain. She had done the only thing she could do, and now all that was left was to wait. Even though she was scared, she put all her strength in him. If anyone could do it: it was him. The sunrise was coming, and she wasn't sure that he'd make it on time, but all she could do was watch all the emotions as they passed in Kurapika's eyes. "Hush, now. Things will be alright. I promise…" Senritsu gently parted Kurapika's hair with her hand and kissed his forehead with a motherly touch. Then she left the room, unable to watch any more.

It had been only days and everyone had though he was fine. But time told them never to trust Kurapika's word on his health. That was when she called Leorio… It wasn't that she didn't have faith. On the contrary, she did! But that didn't make anything any easier to understand. Tears stained her cheeks, as she watched for a sign. Leorio had to hurry… time was running out.

From the streets, she could hear Kurapika's cry of anguish. She imagined him tangling himself up in his sheets and thrashing about, uncomfortably. What they needed, was a doctor… What Kurapika needed, was a friend. Leorio needed to be here.

A few minutes later, a car came screeching in. The driver didn't wait to stop it. He threw the keys to Senritsu and ran as fast as he could inside, to Kurapika's side. Leorio threw down his briefcase, and began doing the only thing he knew how to… he checked his pulse and his temperate. Kurapika's temperature was too high to be normal, and his pulse was… unsteady and uneven. Each breath was labored. Something was very seriously wrong.

Since Leorio came in though, the atmosphere changed. Kurapika recognized his presence, and some of the symptoms slowed. He opened his eyes to look at him and smiled. It seemed like it had been eternity since they had seen each other last. Leorio saw his eyes open, and felt a little relief when he saw this. This proved that Kurapika still had some strength left.

The scariest thing, however, came to Leorio only after several tests… this exact same disease… he had seen it before. He had known a victim of it. Only, that victim had been a friend too! That friend… had died years ago, after many long months of suffering. Leorio's eyes widened, as the dead truth hit him. This was the disease that he had watched claim his best friend, Pietro's life, after his family couldn't make ends meet with the hospital expenses. If that wasn't enough to send him reeling, nothing was.

"Kurapika…" He whispered softly.

"I'm okay… really!" Kurapika smiled, softly reassuring the doctor. However, whenever Kurapika said he was okay, it was always the opposite. Leorio knew better than that from experience. Kurapika was lying, and the probability of his survival wasn't good. But Leorio wasn't going to admit that. He was going to make it work out. He just had to… he wouldn't watch another friend die before his eyes… especially not this one.

"I know you're in pain…" I know you're in pain tonight… "I know you better than that, Kurapika!" I can see it in your eyes… "You think you can die valiantly now, and dye on me, right?" You want to let go and end it, right? "I can't stop you, even if I wanted to…" I won't hold you back… won't put up a fight… "But you're going to listen to me and listen good first!" As long as you listen to me… one last time…

"Kurapika…" Leorio's usually calm expression melted and he was left open and hurt. Tears trickled down his face. "These might be the last words I say to you!" He wasn't holding anything back, kneeling before Kurapika's bed and wrapping his arms around the weak patient. "This could be the last time I'll hold you. And for all the limes I let slip by, I'll make this one last! This is my last chance to tell you, so hear me out one last time!"

He lifted one hand to Kurapika's face and pushed a few of the stray strands away from his eyes, revealing Kurapika's own tears forming. Just hearing the doctor sent Kurapika into a frenzy. There was extreme pain in his voice, and it sunk straight in to Kurapika's heart. It would have been sweet, if it wasn't so cold and bitter. It wasn't the sickness anymore… now it was fear. He realized that he didn't want to give up any more. He wanted to live.

"I love you now, so… don't die." Leorio whispered.

"I've… been waiting for you to say that. Don't tell me that you just realized this now…" Kurapika said, resting his hand on top of Leorio's. And he smiled. "Oh well… I guess that means I'm not allowed to die anymore, huh?" He smirked. Leorio's face lightened up a little and he nodded fiercely.

Leorio got up to go out. The tender moment was at an end.

"Hey! Leorio?" Leorio turned to look at the bed-ridden Kuruta questioningly. "I love you too. Don't you die on me either…" Leorio closed his eyes and smiled softly.

"I promise."

He promised to cure Kurapika. Leorio wasn't going to let go of him now that he knew the truth.

I never said that I'd always be there,

Because I can't

I never promised you the moon

I can't reach it

I'll never be the prince you dreamed of,

But then again,

You're not what I imagined either.

These might be the last words I say – to you.

This could be the last time – I'll hold you.

And for all the times I let slip by,

I'll make this one last!

This is my last chance – to tell you,

So hear me out one last time!

I love you now…

So don't die!

You're better than what I hoped for,

I know that

I guess you're more than I deserve

But I have you

Guess I'm just a lucky guy now,

Cause you're here

And that's all I could ask for after everything we've been through.

These might be the last words…

Goodbye

This might be the last time…

Hold on

And from this moment on

I know I'll fight for you

This is my chance

Here it is…

I love you.

Don't die…

If you die…

I won't forgive you.

I love you…

"Your greatest sickness was your desire for revenge." Leorio said with tears in his eyes.

"I know that." Kurapika looked back at him. "I can't promise you that it's over, either… I might just push you away again. But it's not over! Not for a long shot. As long as I live, I know I'll be fighting for that which I need… I can't rest peacefully until they're gone…"

"I know. And I'll keep fighting too… for that which I want…"

"Leorio…"

"I will! And remember your promise?"

"How could I forget? It's all I've thought about since that day." Kurapika smiled. "I've been waiting for a chance… any chance to tell you… I'm not fighting for revenge any more. I just want to end this for the chance to rest in peace… because when I can… that's when I can run to you." He smiled weakly. "It's all I want…"

"Don't die…"

"I know… you won't forgive me if I do, right?" Leorio nodded seriously. "Right, then. I'll be back." Kurapika said, turning away.

"I'll be waiting." Leorio said, looking at his friend, who just also happened to be the one person he loved more than life itself. That was the promise they had made years ago when Kurapika got sick. He got better, but the threat never went down any. He was still waiting for that day to come when Kurapika would stop, and they could be together at last.

"You better be…" Kurapika said, glaring at Leorio.

"Or what?" Leorio glanced at him, unafraid, and slightly amused. The Kuruta was becoming more playful these days.

"I'll never forgive you…" He said, pretending to sound hurt.

Leorio smiled and laughed. "Ok… I'll be here…"

"Good." Kurapika said. "What was it about that sickness I had that night? It scared you more than it should have… Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Yes." Leorio said calmly and easily.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell me?" Kurapika asked turning to face his friend, who just shook his head and shrugged it off.

"Nope."

"Why?" Kurapika was starting to become a little frustrated by his friend's calm antics.

"Because." Leorio said simply. "That's over now, and I'm not worried anymore. I have just what I wanted. It's no concern of yours about the past, no matter how good or bad. Because, together, we're going to make our own."

"Leorio…" Kurapika smiled. He liked this answer a little better. "Fine. Suit yourself. I have to go, or I'll be late."

"Don't be too long." Leorio reminded him. Neither of them were sure how long it would be until they'd meet again, but it couldn't be soon enough for either of them. Parting hurt them severely, but both of them were too proud to say anything. Kurapika remained silent, with no good answer in mind. So he just shrugged and smiled.

If you die, I won't forgive you…

If you leave me, I'll haunt you…

But no matter what… I won't forget you…

When there is nothing more I can do,

I will wait for you.

And when that seems hopeless…

I'll wait some more.

Until you come home…

I promise…

Four years had passed. It seemed hard to believe that it had been so long, but finally, Kurapika was ready to come home. Actually, he had been ready a long time ago, but that wasn't an option, now was it? Pride kept him away. Now he could return to do what he really wanted.

He didn't wait. All the information he needed, he found on the web, concerning a certain Hunter whom he owed a long-awaited visit. As soon as he entered the apartment, the man sitting at his desk turned around. Kurapika was soaked to the bone, but that didn't stop them from running in to each other's arms…

"You waited." Kurapika said, almost in disbelief. "And I lived. So what now? We decided what to do if we broke the promise, but never decided what to do if we kept it."

"I don't know, but… I really want to kiss you." Leorio said.

"Sounds wonderful…"

AHHHH! The sappy fluff! My teacher always told me it was bad, but here I am, writing it! He'd be soooo disappointed! Oh well… (I never liked him anyway! ) Please review! Flames are used for roasting marshmallows, not to send to authors of stories… remember that!

I love all my reviewers! There are too many to thank, but… you know who you are, and so do I! I thank you, and beg you to keep reading! Thanx.

C.L.