Pride of the Kuruta Eyes

By Christine Lennoire

Chapter Three: Book of Dreams

Kurapika woke up warm and… on the floor? He sat up slowly, running the events of last night through his mind. When he remembered what happened, he blushed. Leorio must have gotten up last night to go to bed. Or… make breakfast? Kurapika stared at him in shock. Leorio was cooking, but he looked deep in thought. 'Probably trying hard NOT to screw it up…' Kurapika smiled. He sat up, pushing the small blanket that was placed on top of him aside gently, so it was resting beside him. Then, he noticed that the cup of hot chocolate from last night was still there, but now, it was cold. But that didn't bother him. He picked it up and took a sip anyway. Besides, it was still good.

"Mornin' sleepyhead." Leorio said, smirking at the blonde. "I didn't know you liked to sleep in so much. You realize what time it is?" Kurapika furrowed his brow and shook his head. "It's eleven o clock, now." Kurapika's eyes went wide in shock. Had he really slept that long? He quickly stood up and brushed himself off, rearranging his clothing.

"I'm sorry. The last few days must have tired me out." He said, sighing. Truth was that he'd never slept more comfortably in his life. "Anyway… what's cooking…? It smells good." Kurapika asked, peeking into the kitchen.

"Thought I'd make some pancakes. It's a little late, but still… I hope you don't mind." Kurapika smiled and shook his head. The Kuruta's stomach was empty, and those pancakes smelled wonderful. The two of them went in the kitchen together, but Kurapika insisted on serving the pancakes since Leorio went through all the trouble of making them. After Kurapika finished the task of finding the plates and filling them with pancakes, he took them over to the table and sat down. Leorio had already put out the mats and silverware while Kurapika had been sleeping still.

"So," Leorio said, retrieving the syrup and a stick if butter out of the refrigerator after Kurapika realized that he forgot them, "Tell me more about this book. Is it some kind of journal or something?" Kurapika looked up, shocked by the question, and then realized that he had fallen asleep before he got very far into his explanation. He had meant to tell Leorio everything, but instead, only finished informing him about the plan. Kurapika shook his head, while chewing and swallowing the piece of pancake in his mouth.

"No, not really." He shrugged. "You see, it's hard to explain, since it was like a tradition for us. This book was passed around amongst us and through our dreams, we could record amazing amounts of information in them… memories, images, events… all that. But, if you were to just look at it, the book's pages would be completely empty. So it is completely useless to anyone who doesn't know what to do or understand how to awaken it. Bad thing is, I'm not the only one who knows…" Kurapika's eyes slanted and he thought of Kuroro, the cheater who stole the ability to open the book from the Elder, and his eyes flashed red.

Leorio didn't understand what happened, although he had a good idea. "It's an ability, right? Only the people who received the ability could do it, and that was the Kuruta, and only the Kuruta. So it had to be Kuroro. Am I right?"

Kurapika nodded. "Yes… he stole the ability from our Elder, the oldest Kuruta, and the first one to "write" in the book. Then… he killed the Elder." His voice was soft and venomous, like the memory alone could bring back all the hate he felt for the spiders… Leorio noticed that look, and recognized it. He knew he had to lighten the mood and fast, before Kurapika went into his depressed and dangerous mode…

"But that doesn't matter now, does it? We're going to get the book, and they aren't. Leorio said confidently, making Kurapika smile.

That's what he needed… a little confidence.

"Yeah." Kurapika said. The plan was perfect. Nothing could go wrong, and he had thought it through very carefully. They had the upper hand over the spiders. There was no way that they could turn the tables in their favor this time…

"And then, you get to show everyone what you want to… and then… maybe you can stop chasing the spiders for once. Have some peace instead, and do whatever you want." Suddenly, a thought occurred to Kurapika… 'What do I want to do besides this? All my life I have been waiting and dreaming of stopping the spiders and putting my people in their rightful place, but I had thought of it so much, that I don't even have goals or dreams anymore…'

And then, there were his friends. Kurapika knew that, no matter what he did, he wanted to stay with his friends from now on. He had left them behind in his life when the spiders came in, but now it was time to bring them back in… because they were important to him…. They were all he had left.

"Yes… I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but… I'm anxious to move on with my life… to that part of my life." He smiled warmly, eating some more pancake. The silence wasn't uncomfortable… Kurapika didn't mind sitting there with him like that. But as long as the spiders were still around, he couldn't relax and be himself. 'Kuroro… I hate you… with every fiber of my being… so much that… it's become an obsession. And I'll be happy to see you die.'

Leorio finished his breakfast and takes his dishes away. He likes this more calm side of Kurapika, so he decides to let him to his thoughts. Because, as nice as it seemed now, it wasn't over until Kurapika had his way, and all the spiders were gone…

"Leorio… you don't have classes today, do you?"

"Nope. I have off the next few weeks. We just finished our large end of the year exam."

"Perfect… can we go see Killua and Gon? I want them to know, too. We'll go to the auction together." Kurapika smiled. Leorio nodded and took his keys off the small hook on the wall.

"Alright. But… let's not let it end like last time, okay?" Leorio smiled. Last time, Kurapika had shunned them out and they had to fight to meet up with him. And after they did, chaos ensued. This time, Leorio wanted them to stick together. Weren't they safer that way? It was only when they split up that they had any problems… that had been the problem from the beginning. "I don't want to lose any more friends."

Kurapika looked at him, and then at the floor. Was it really that bad? The auction was tomorrow, and there was no time to doubt anything. Kurapika smiled and looked up at Leorio confidently. "No… not like last time." He said, nodding. Leorio smiled.

"Great… so let's go pay Gon and Killua a little visit…" The two of them walked in silence, down towards the parking lot where Leorio's car was parked. Although Kurapika was still on pins and needles and would be until the book was in his hands, and he was far away from Kuroro… he knew that his friends were the pillows that cushioned his feet so he wasn't standing directly on them. Maybe they were crazy for trying, but Kurapika was grateful. Right now, he needed them, and he wasn't afraid to ask anymore. When had that started?

Leorio noticed that Kurapika had stopped walking and stood, lost in deep thought. "Kurapika…?" Kurapika looked up, surprised. He hadn't even noticed that he had stopped. He smiled brightly and ran the short distance between them, so they were right next to each other. He looked at Leorio and nodded.

"I'm fine… thanks to you." He put a hand on Leorio's shoulder and smiled the most real smile he had shown any of his friends in a long time. "Thank you… for putting up with me. You guys have always been there for me, regardless of whether I let you or not, you forced me to let you stay. And I'm glad. Right now, that's what I need most. I don't know what I would have done if you…"

"Ok! I get it! Nothing's gonna change. I'm gonna stay, because I don't want to lose a single friend… not anymore." Kurapika closed his eyes and nodded. He never cried… so why was he crying now? This was supposed to be happy… Tears of joy, mixed with a release of all the tears he'd never been able to let go of before… Maybe this was the peace that Kurapika had been looking for. He leaned forward, resting his head on Leorio's chest and felt Leorio hug him protectively.

"Kurapika…"

"Let's go see Gon and Killua." Kurapika stood up straight and smiled again, wiping away the tears.

"Yeah… they'll be happy to see you again." Leorio said. The two of them parted and got in the car. Kurapika could already imagine Gon running to meet him. "Ready?" Leorio asked him. Kurapika smiled and nodded.

'The book of dreams… it is a legend, but more real then that. I thought it was gone… and I never looked until now. Even if this all blows up in my face, I think I could go on without it. I'd find something… anything to do, as long as it's with my friends, and I could move on… I'm sure of it now. The four of us… I can't wait until that day. Take that, Kuroro. Have you ever had a friend in your life? I don't think so! This is where I become whole as you dance with death. May depression and failure tear at your soul, and all the people you have hurt haunt you and destroy you inside for forsaking them. Revenge is sweet, but maybe… it's not for me. That book… is the closest thing to peace for me right now… right after my friends.'

Kurapika knew that he might change his mind, but he wanted things to stay like this forever… to remember being this way always.

Leorio smiled. "We're here…"

TBC

Done, done, done… another chapter done! sings Spiders come in soon, horray! We get to see Gon and Killua next, hurrah! Please review! Thanks to everyone who has already! Keep reading please, I love it when you do…