Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter

Chapter 25: Pairo's determination

The sound of clashing echoed from the distance as Kurapika looked back with a frown of concern in her eyes at the still ongoing battle behind her. A tear fell down on her cheek as memories flooded her mind.

It started from the memories of when she just turned into seven. It was supposed to be a happy celebration as the people of Kuruta believe that turning into seven is the start of maturity in terms of physically and mentally. The child will start to know what is right and wrong, to have a sense of responsibility, and most importantly to start saving memories.

But the part of having a happy celebration was far from what Kurapika has expected. It was the time when her power has awakened. Just the night before her actual birthday, she got really sick. And of course they cannot have a celebration if the celebrant is missing.

Kurapika really wanted to have at least a small celebration that time. She especially wanted to see the people around her have fun despite that the children of the village tend to avoid her because of her odd colored eyes. Most of the Kuruta people have brown eyes; some of them have blue or green. But only she has golden eyes, making the children thing that she's not actually one of them.

Having nothing to do, Kurapika got bored on her bed. She decided to go out for a fresh air. She walked into the forest wherever her feet took her and found a clearing with a small river and took a rest in front of it. Without her knowing it, she fell asleep and her fever got worse. She woke up with shadows surrounding her and ready to attach her. Out of utter fear, her newly awakened power went out of control as vines grow from everywhere and lash out to the shadows. It was already dark by then, with only the light of the moon illuminating the forest.

The shadows seem to have taken aback by the sudden appearance of the vines as they stepped backward while trying to fight the lashing vines with their weapons. Kurapika started crying, calling out for help until a familiar voice called out to her and somehow managed to get to her side.

"It's alright, Kurapika!" the person knelt down and took her into a warm embrace. "It's alright."

Kurapika finally calmed down as she looked at her savior. "Kuro chan."

Kuroro smiled at her as he caressed her hair. "You're safe now," he told her. "You're just hallucinating," and looked at the people around them. It turned out they are the worried villagers and her father looking for her.

The next thing Kurapika knew, even some of the adults started to fear her, which became a cue for the children to completely avoid her, except for one.

-0-

Pairo does not understand the ruckus that's happening around the village. He has been hearing about Kurapika being inhuman, that she has a terrifying power that could destroy the whole village if she wanted to. They even spread a rumor that she's actually a child of a forest spirit. It was odd; they all know that Kurapika is a genuine Kuruta, a genuine child of their current chieftain.

All of them watch Kurapika's mother carried her for nine months. Some of them even witness her birth. So how can they tell that Kurapika is a child of a forest spirit? Pairo understands why they fear her power. He believes there is a reason why she have that power, they just don't know it.

Pairo looked at the storage house in front of him. This is the place where all the records are being kept, and Pairo's determined eyes states that he would find out the reason for the existence of Kurapika's power. And so he entered the building and found a lot bookshelves lining in front of him, keeping old and new books, books that he have never seen before.

"Wow," he exclaimed at the sight before him, as the smell of decaying paper penetrating his nostrils. The storage house was fairly maintained and the inside is clean, no cobwebs, no dust. But the books where as if they were never opened ever since they were left here to decay on themselves. What a waste, he thought to himself.

Pairo actually loves books, but he never had the chance to enter this building. He was never given a permission to enter. The elder said that he will only be allowed to enter this building when he turned 16. That's too long to wait, Pairo thought to himself. So he decided to use the ruckus as a distraction to the caretaker and sneaked into his room and took the key.

Pairo smiled as he praised himself for a job well done. He started rummaging through the books, looking for something that might have a clue, or that might have the answer to his question. After hours of rummaging through the books, Pairo let out a heavy sigh as his search still bears no fruit. He feels like he about to give up soon, being tired and hungry at the same time, until a voice echoed from the door.

"Looking for something?" a young man was leaning on the door frame, watching him with a bored look in his dark eyes.

"Kuroro san," Pairo acknowledged. "I am looking for a book that might explain why Kurapika have powers that none of us bears," he told him.

"Is it out of curiosity?" the young man asked.

"That's one thing," Pairo answered as he took another book and sat back on his position. "I just want to prove that she's not what they think she is."

Kuroro smiled at his answer and shifted his position to fully face the young boy and entered the room, bringing with him a book at his side. "Here," he said, giving him the said book.

Curiously, Pairo put the book he was reading on his side and took the one from Kuroro. It was an old book with a thick cover in faded gold. Pairo opened it carefully as the leaves could come off at the slightest force.

"Have you read this book, Kuroro san?"

"I did, some years before I came here."

"This is all written in Kuruta language."

"Mind you, I studied the language just so I can read that," his voice was mixed with mild amusement, as if remembering something. Provably the hardship of having to learn a new language and having finally learned it.

Pairo once again looked the book in his hand and read the title. "Heaven's blessing."

"Wah!" a small, excited voice suddenly echoed from the entrance, and then came a little girl with golden hair and golden eyes looking around the books filled room in awe, taking the two boys' attention to her. "What is this place, Kuro chan? I've never seen this many books before," she said, looking at Kuroro with her eyes sparkling.

"Kurapika?!" Pairo stood up in surprise as he never expected the girl to come here herself. "What are you doing here?"

Kurapika looked at her and blinked, and stared at him, as if looking for his intentions. It took her a few seconds to answer his question. "I followed Kuro chan."

Kuroro smiled and put a hand over Kurapika's head. "I cannot go anywhere without you, can I?"

Pairo sighed at the two and thought to himself, 'it's getting dark anyway."

Kuroro convince Kurapika to go home with him, telling her that the storage building is off limit for children. Kurapika was being hard at first until Kuroro promise her to bring her more interesting book when he went back from one of his tours.

The three of them went home and Pairo stayed up late that night to read the book he got from Kuroro.

The book was written by different people, all of them are female, and all of them bear the same power as Kurapika. The firs pages tell that the people of Kuruta family bear different kinds of power, and because of those powers, they were being hunted and used for wars. It was the reason why they are always in hiding.

For years the Kuruta people keep on moving places whenever their hideout is discovered, until their existence is forgotten. The Kuruta people finally found their peace. It was then that the people began to wish that their power does not exist out of fear that they might be found again and repeat the life of hide and seek.

Their prayer was answered by the appearance of the four holy beasts in the form of a blue dragon, a red phoenix, a white tiger, and a black tortoise. The four holy beasts grant their wishes, with the sacrifice on one girl, the host that will bear all of their powers.

-0-

I presented myself before the beasts, hoping that my sacrifice would finally bring true peace to my people. At first, my people persuaded me not to sacrifice myself, giving up on their wishes to live like normal people. I told them to treat me the same way, just like before, even if I become different that the rest of them.

The beasts remove the powers out of my people and transferred them to me. My black hair and dark-brown eyes became golden.

The beasts returned to heaven, leaving a single advice.

"Heed our warning, do not let your emotion rule over you. Your eyes will remain the same as a core of your whole beings."

We, the Kuruta people, continue to live in peace. My people continued to treat me the same like nothing happened. They still love me the same way, and we are happy for the peace that the heaven bestowed upon us.

/

The book was continued, written by the next host, and then the next, telling a significant story of their lives. There are times when the host was treated like a goddess. There are times when the host was treated like a prisoner. But in the end, the people learn to treat the host the same way as their predecessor treated the first host.

There are also times when the tribe has to move places again, for being pursued for their beautiful red eyes.

/

For many generations, the host has always been replaced by only one descendant. And the sadness that came with it is becoming unbearable. Being born without seeing my mother's face is one thing, and living without being able to share my feelings as a host is another.

I wish that the next generation after me would not suffer the same way. If I died after giving birth, please, let the next host have someone to share with her pain and happiness.

/

The two of us are a proof that the chief of heaven heard our mother's wish. I hope that the two of us will live happily for the rest of our lives along with the people we love.

Even if the two of us have to live far away from each other, I will never forget the warmth of my people. They will always stay within my heart.

I know I am being selfish, for choosing someone that does not belong to the tribe. Nevertheless, my love for you will never fade.

I hope that someday, we will finally be able to meet true freedom and peace.

With love, Rika.

-0-

It took Pairo almost a week to finish the book about Kurapika's predecessors, not wanting to bring it out while on the class, so whenever they are on a break, he would sit under the refreshing shade of a tree and continue reading.

The last pages were written like a letter to a loved one, probably for the writer's twin sister. "Kurapika's mother", Pairo voiced out.

Pairo does not remember that much about Kurapika's mother. He was only four years old when she died from childbirth. He did hear about her twin sister before from the elders, in one of their gatherings. All of them wondering when she could be at that time, and hoping that she's doing fine and did not suffer the same fate as Karin, Kurapika's mother.

He heard that Rika was an energetic girl, opposite of her twin sister who is shy and always silent. Just like Kurapika, the twin share every host's hair and eye color. There are times when the children of their age would think that they are actually Lumiere's daughter. And then Rika would say: "But Lumiere is an elf, and she has long ears!"

Pairo laugh to himself at remembering how his mother retold the story of her childhood.

"Ring, Ring," Pairo's thoughts was cut out by the sound of the hand bell that his teacher used to call back her students. Sighing, he put the book in his bag and returned to his class while thinking to himself with strong determination, 'tomorrow, I will talk to the chieftain.'

-0-

The next day, Pairo came into the chieftain's house and told him what he learned from the book, that he should tell the people that they should not treat Kurapika differently and that they should love her for what she is.

Ismat gave Pairo a serious look after listening to his every word. He was seated with his legs crossed on the wooden floor of his room. "I know what you mean, young man," the chieftain told him. "I did not marry Karin not knowing anything. She shared all her secrets with me, along with her troubles and pain."

Pairo remained silent, knowing that the chieftain has still a lot to say.

"We were hoping that Kurapika will never discover her power, except for abolishing darkness. Her death with for her own daughter was to be able to live normally like every one of us. She was hoping that the power that every host bears will be forgotten so that we may live freely and at peace.

We never expect that Kurapika's power would awaken in that way, that she almost put the people in danger."

"But she did not mean to harm them!" Pairo was furious for having Kurapika's own father doubt her.

"I know that too well, Pairo," Ismat cleared himself. "And I already discussed this with the elders."

"Then!" Pairo brightened up with hope as he looked at Ismat with his huge brown eyes.

"But this time, it was Kurapika's decision to get away herself."

"What do you mean?" Pairo frowned.

"She decided to live in the mountain where Lumiere lives."

"Eh!" He stood up and ran to the exit.

"Wait, Pairo!" Ismat also stood up. "The mountain is not something that a child can climb by himself."

"Then how I'm I going to get there?"

Ismat smiled and started to walk to the exit. "Come." He led Pairo outside the house and took a small bamboo whistle from his pocket. He bowled on it, but no sound came out.

A few minutes later, a giant bird came down, blowing the wind toward Pairo and Ismat with its wings.

Pairo opened his mouth in awe as he looked with his huge eyes at the giant bird, a bird that is two times bigger than him.

"Magnificent, isn't she?" Ismat said as he looked at Pairo's reaction. "This bird is still young and could grow three times bigger than me."

Pairo looked at Ismat, the look of shock still on his face. "Is this your pet?" he asked innocently.

"I would not call her a pet, but a friend. And she doesn't belong to me, but to Lumiere."

"Oh."

"Well then," Ismat said as he suddenly picked up Pairo and settled him on the bird's back.

"Wah!"

"Take care of him," Ismat said to the bird as he patted her head."

The bird whistled and started flapping its wings and lift from the ground until it finally made its way to the sky and to the mountainous forest. They arrived on the mountain with the elf woman is living, greeted by the sound of clashing bamboo swords.

The bird made a slow landing to the ground and seated herself to let Pairo get down easily. Pairo immediately jump out from the birds back and ran toward the fighting duo. "Kurapika! Kuroro!" he called.

The fighting stopped as the two looked at their new visitor.

"Pairo?!" Kurapika asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?!"

Pairo looked at Kuroro for a while, as if asking for some kind permission.

Kuroro gave him a nod.

Looking back at Kurapika, Pairo brought the book he's been holding, showing it to the little girl. "This book is written by your predecessors," he started. "You did not have your powers for nothing. It was something that holds every Kuruta's wish, the wish for having a normal life and peace. Here, you have to read it."

With curious eyes, Kurapika took the book and opened the first page to read the title and then she opened the last page and read the writing on the cover, "book of myth."

"Eh?"

"Pairo, this is not a real story," Kurapika said as she showed the last page to the boy.

Pairo twitch his mouth and looked at Kuroro.

Kuroro smiled and looked at Kurapika. "It was considered a myth to hide reality, Kurapika. Everything that's written in that book could be real and only those who written and those who witness their lives can verify the truth."

"Your father!" Pairo exclaimed. "I talked to him about this book. He never said that it's not real."

Kurapika looked at the book again, but her face became down. "It doesn't change the fact that I have this power and it's dangerous."

"I know!" Pairo said, "and I also know that you are not going to use it against the people!"

"What if I lose control again," Kurapika was about to cry.

"You won't," Pairo assured her. "Kuroro and I are always here to help you," he told her. "Even Lumiere can assure you, right?" he looked at the elf woman who's been watching them all this time.

"O-of course," Lumiere said, twitching her mouth, unsure about her role in this conversation.

"And even your father and the elders who believe in you!" and then his voice softened, "you just have to believe in yourself."

Kurapika looked at him with wide eyes. This is the first time that someone told her all of these things. Pairo is just another child in her village, someone that is not even close to her, nor somewhat that she spent time with for a long time. She just knew his name because there are only a few children in their village.

Then Kurapika thought to herself that maybe he is right. And maybe there's still a chance that the people will accept her as she is, and that the fear in their heart will be gone in time.

Kurapika smiled with a new determination and a new hope. She looked at Lumiere, and then to Kuroro and lastly, to Pairo. "Let's go home," she told her new friend.

Pairo nodded happily and took Kurapika's hand and started running toward the huge bird, taking with him his little friend who laughed at his action.

TBC

Wow, I've been writing this fanfic for three years!