-=SDA (Standard Disclaimers Applied) Hunter X Hunter, its characters, story, Rukuso, etc. are proprieties of its maker, Togashi-sama, and producer, etc.=-
Rukuso
Awakening
~/the past : memories : thoughts/~
~*~
I fell backwards and closed my eyes. Someone, I don't have a clue to who, catched me before I hit the ground. This person is larger than me, Leorio probably. One yelled...Killua? Gon took my hands in his. I don't know why but I'm sure it's him, they were hands free of self-doubts and evil thoughts.
~/ Friends... /~
~*~
"How is he?" Killua asked as he entered the bedroom. Leorio was sitting next to the blonde who lay on the bed, still unconscious. Gon was sleeping in their own room, exhausted after everything that has happened.
Leorio shook his head and looked up at Killua. "His fever is still very high but he's well enough to wake up," he said, paused, and then continued. "But he still won't. It seems as though he doesn't even want to wake up."
"Kurapika..."
"And Gon?" the older boy inquired, raising an eyebrow at the look of pure worry and helplessness on the assassin's face. It was a rare thing for Killua to be afraid but he looked absolutely terrified right now.
"He's sleeping. He's been crying ever since we've come back. I wonder what happened..."
"Looks like they've been through some terrible ordeal," Leorio replied, shaking his head again. "Maybe it wasn't such a brilliant idea to come to this place...now, I'm not so sure if Kurapika really is ready even after all those years."
~*~
Normally, when I wake up from sleep, like any other person, I open my eyes. It almost seems like an involuntary action - or maybe a reaction, I'm not sure, not that I care - and this is the first thing you do once your mind has left the darkness of slumber and rest. You open your eyes to look at whatever it is that finds itself situated in your line of vision...Like I've said though, that's normal. At the present however, I am far from being what one would consider normal. I woke up. Somehow I've managed to go against nature - I didn't open my eyes on reflex.
~/ Or maybe I just don't want to see what I am going to... /~
Now that's quite pointless. I'm awake enough to remember that my friends found me last night. I can feel the blankets around my shoulders so I'm pretty sure I'm back at the cottage, in my bed. Probably the first thing I'm going to see should I open my eyes and look up is the ceiling of the room I've chosen to be mine. Either that or Leorio's concerned-doctor face.
~/ So then why am I afraid to 'wake up'? /~
That's talking literally of course. That's what material things I'd see, to open my eyes now though would be like coming back to reality and the far-from-nice things that comes with it. I don't think I'm ready yet to face everything so I keep my eyes shut. Maybe I'll fall asleep again and then never wake up at all, but that's unlikely. Besides, I'm still alive and a few things have been left undone.
~/ What? Thinking of having another round of those 'angel of destiny' craziness last night? /~
No, not that. I have my friends to take care of - and help - and I think that that's my true destiny. Last night wasn't all craziness either. It showed me that I have already fulfilled my life as the last living Kuruta, that I've already done what I could and what I've vowed to do. Now I can live 'my' life, Kurapika's life. The life of an adolescent amidst his friends who is just being who he really is, not some crazed revenge-thirtsy bloodlusty loner. Last night made me realize that. And that whole affair with the angel of destiny thing? It was just a way to show me that I can't be who I am not and that I have friends. Unlike that emotionless angel, I'm just a mortal who needs to belong and be loved. I have feelings and I admit that it's my weakness. However, because of this 'weakness', I managed to save those who are important to me.
~/ Those important to me? Who are the people important to me...the ones I love? /~
My friends - Gon, Killua, and Leorio...oh, and Senritsu and those other people working for the Nostrads under my leadership. They are the ones who mean a lot to me and I'd rather die than see 'them' die. Not one of them is going to get hurt if I can do something about it.
~/ But am I sure already? I mean... /~
I am sure...can you do me a favor? Would you please stop trying to make me think otherwise?
~/ ... /~
I'm sorry. But really, your little brother is alright now. I'm sure already of what I'm going to do and I'm happy with my friends. You showed me that last night.
~/ ...good luck and good-bye, Kurapika. /~
Good-bye, aniki, and...thank you. I love you. I'll miss you.
~*~
"Killua?"
Gon woke up to find himself alone inside the room. Outside it was already light and he could hear noises coming from the kitchen - Leorio and Killua having lunch probably. He wondered if Kurapika is up yet and got out of bed quietly, making sure that no one hears him. He walked the narrow hallways and entered what was Kurapika's bedroom and found his friend lying on the bed, his eyes closed, his breathing even. He's still asleep.
He walked nearer to the bed, stopping just beside it. The damp cloth had fallen from Kurapika's forehead and was now on the more or less dusty floor of the room. He picked it up and placed it in the water-filled basin next to him.
"Kurapika."
~*~
~/ Who called my name? Gon? /~
I opened my eyes to look at the owner of the voice. I was right, it was Gon. He looked startled, as if he wasn't expecting it. He probably thought I was still asleep.
~/ Well, I can't really blame him. I guess even now I'm still half-asleep... /~
"Yes, Gon?"
"You're awake."
"I am."
A small frown appeared on his lips and he sat on the chair next to my bed. Somewhere inside the house I can hear Leorio and Killua talking. More likely than not, the two don't have any notions that either of us are awake. I trained my eyes back on Gon.
~/ Now this is strange. Why is Gon so quiet? It's not like him to be so... /~
"Gon?"
"We're friends, right?"
~/ Oh great, he's crying... /~
"Of course we are. Gon, don't cry," I said, pushing myself to a sitting position and reaching towards the kid. He got into the bed with me, sobbing and trembling slightly. He somewhat reminds me of myself as we sat there, like a reenactment of sorts of me and my brother back when I was an age even younger than Gon.
~/ Aniki would hold me and try to comfort me in his room while, he told me, praying mother doesn't find us and mistake him for the one who made me cry, getting him into even more trouble... /~
It was quiet in the room and all that can be heard were Gon's sniffs and sobs. I was pretty sure the sounds carried downstairs and by the time the little kid's cries were reduced to mere hiccups, I felt two pairs of eyes watching us intently. I turned my head to look and, as I expected, Killua and Leorio stood by the doorway, gazes on us. Gon looked up at my movement and his best friend quickly rushed to his side, so fast that he was beside us in a second. Leorio, the not-so-strong-and-skilled of us, took the normal walk and was soon beside us as well.
"What happened last night?"
~/ What now...? How am I supposed to explain... /~
I shrugged and flashed them a smile. "A little visit from my elder brother...as well as a possession of my body of some sort," I answered easily, holding back a laugh at the frightened and disbelieving looks on their faces. "I'm fine now, don't worry."
Gon beamed at me and hugged me around the middle and then Killua hesitantly wrapped his arms around us. Leorio joined after a while, shouting "Group hug!"
~/ Leorio, you moron... /~
Killua hit him in the head and we pulled away from each other.
~/ They never change...Oh well, it's time. /~
I leaned closer to Gon, drawing the attention of the two almost instantly. I smiled then raked a hand through my hair.
"I suggest we leave soon. Thanks for coming here with me, guys, but now we have to accompany Gon on his quest to find his father."
Gon grinned as I ruffled his hair while the two...err...I didn't see what happened between the two of them but they've started bickering at each other again. Weird. It's usually Gon and Killua who are having fistfights. I shook my head and got out of bed.
~*~
FIN
~*~
A/N: Sorry for the abrupt ending. It 'would' have been fun to make this story longer and all that, 'but' I wouldn't want my dear Kurapika to suffer more, now would I? *smirk* Then again, he's almost always the target of my fics...oh well. Thanks to those who have reviewed the earlier chapters. I owe you so much, guys. 'And', of course, please review this one, though I have to ask you 'not' to ask me to continue, 'coz this is really the last chap. of this fic. - Really, someone asked me to continue what was supposed to be a one-shot fic. Now how weird is that? I didn't know what to do... - Who knows? Maybe I'll rewrite this fic someday and 'really' work on it (coz remember this one was just for fun)...
What a long note. Anyway, this fic is dedicated to everyone of you out there but mainly to my co-tribegirls/boys at the Kuruta Tribe who have gone missing but are now back...you know who you are *wink*...and of course to those we have really lost already (may they find their way back and/or remember us at the least). Bye, minna~!
Rukuso
Awakening
~/the past : memories : thoughts/~
~*~
I fell backwards and closed my eyes. Someone, I don't have a clue to who, catched me before I hit the ground. This person is larger than me, Leorio probably. One yelled...Killua? Gon took my hands in his. I don't know why but I'm sure it's him, they were hands free of self-doubts and evil thoughts.
~/ Friends... /~
~*~
"How is he?" Killua asked as he entered the bedroom. Leorio was sitting next to the blonde who lay on the bed, still unconscious. Gon was sleeping in their own room, exhausted after everything that has happened.
Leorio shook his head and looked up at Killua. "His fever is still very high but he's well enough to wake up," he said, paused, and then continued. "But he still won't. It seems as though he doesn't even want to wake up."
"Kurapika..."
"And Gon?" the older boy inquired, raising an eyebrow at the look of pure worry and helplessness on the assassin's face. It was a rare thing for Killua to be afraid but he looked absolutely terrified right now.
"He's sleeping. He's been crying ever since we've come back. I wonder what happened..."
"Looks like they've been through some terrible ordeal," Leorio replied, shaking his head again. "Maybe it wasn't such a brilliant idea to come to this place...now, I'm not so sure if Kurapika really is ready even after all those years."
~*~
Normally, when I wake up from sleep, like any other person, I open my eyes. It almost seems like an involuntary action - or maybe a reaction, I'm not sure, not that I care - and this is the first thing you do once your mind has left the darkness of slumber and rest. You open your eyes to look at whatever it is that finds itself situated in your line of vision...Like I've said though, that's normal. At the present however, I am far from being what one would consider normal. I woke up. Somehow I've managed to go against nature - I didn't open my eyes on reflex.
~/ Or maybe I just don't want to see what I am going to... /~
Now that's quite pointless. I'm awake enough to remember that my friends found me last night. I can feel the blankets around my shoulders so I'm pretty sure I'm back at the cottage, in my bed. Probably the first thing I'm going to see should I open my eyes and look up is the ceiling of the room I've chosen to be mine. Either that or Leorio's concerned-doctor face.
~/ So then why am I afraid to 'wake up'? /~
That's talking literally of course. That's what material things I'd see, to open my eyes now though would be like coming back to reality and the far-from-nice things that comes with it. I don't think I'm ready yet to face everything so I keep my eyes shut. Maybe I'll fall asleep again and then never wake up at all, but that's unlikely. Besides, I'm still alive and a few things have been left undone.
~/ What? Thinking of having another round of those 'angel of destiny' craziness last night? /~
No, not that. I have my friends to take care of - and help - and I think that that's my true destiny. Last night wasn't all craziness either. It showed me that I have already fulfilled my life as the last living Kuruta, that I've already done what I could and what I've vowed to do. Now I can live 'my' life, Kurapika's life. The life of an adolescent amidst his friends who is just being who he really is, not some crazed revenge-thirtsy bloodlusty loner. Last night made me realize that. And that whole affair with the angel of destiny thing? It was just a way to show me that I can't be who I am not and that I have friends. Unlike that emotionless angel, I'm just a mortal who needs to belong and be loved. I have feelings and I admit that it's my weakness. However, because of this 'weakness', I managed to save those who are important to me.
~/ Those important to me? Who are the people important to me...the ones I love? /~
My friends - Gon, Killua, and Leorio...oh, and Senritsu and those other people working for the Nostrads under my leadership. They are the ones who mean a lot to me and I'd rather die than see 'them' die. Not one of them is going to get hurt if I can do something about it.
~/ But am I sure already? I mean... /~
I am sure...can you do me a favor? Would you please stop trying to make me think otherwise?
~/ ... /~
I'm sorry. But really, your little brother is alright now. I'm sure already of what I'm going to do and I'm happy with my friends. You showed me that last night.
~/ ...good luck and good-bye, Kurapika. /~
Good-bye, aniki, and...thank you. I love you. I'll miss you.
~*~
"Killua?"
Gon woke up to find himself alone inside the room. Outside it was already light and he could hear noises coming from the kitchen - Leorio and Killua having lunch probably. He wondered if Kurapika is up yet and got out of bed quietly, making sure that no one hears him. He walked the narrow hallways and entered what was Kurapika's bedroom and found his friend lying on the bed, his eyes closed, his breathing even. He's still asleep.
He walked nearer to the bed, stopping just beside it. The damp cloth had fallen from Kurapika's forehead and was now on the more or less dusty floor of the room. He picked it up and placed it in the water-filled basin next to him.
"Kurapika."
~*~
~/ Who called my name? Gon? /~
I opened my eyes to look at the owner of the voice. I was right, it was Gon. He looked startled, as if he wasn't expecting it. He probably thought I was still asleep.
~/ Well, I can't really blame him. I guess even now I'm still half-asleep... /~
"Yes, Gon?"
"You're awake."
"I am."
A small frown appeared on his lips and he sat on the chair next to my bed. Somewhere inside the house I can hear Leorio and Killua talking. More likely than not, the two don't have any notions that either of us are awake. I trained my eyes back on Gon.
~/ Now this is strange. Why is Gon so quiet? It's not like him to be so... /~
"Gon?"
"We're friends, right?"
~/ Oh great, he's crying... /~
"Of course we are. Gon, don't cry," I said, pushing myself to a sitting position and reaching towards the kid. He got into the bed with me, sobbing and trembling slightly. He somewhat reminds me of myself as we sat there, like a reenactment of sorts of me and my brother back when I was an age even younger than Gon.
~/ Aniki would hold me and try to comfort me in his room while, he told me, praying mother doesn't find us and mistake him for the one who made me cry, getting him into even more trouble... /~
It was quiet in the room and all that can be heard were Gon's sniffs and sobs. I was pretty sure the sounds carried downstairs and by the time the little kid's cries were reduced to mere hiccups, I felt two pairs of eyes watching us intently. I turned my head to look and, as I expected, Killua and Leorio stood by the doorway, gazes on us. Gon looked up at my movement and his best friend quickly rushed to his side, so fast that he was beside us in a second. Leorio, the not-so-strong-and-skilled of us, took the normal walk and was soon beside us as well.
"What happened last night?"
~/ What now...? How am I supposed to explain... /~
I shrugged and flashed them a smile. "A little visit from my elder brother...as well as a possession of my body of some sort," I answered easily, holding back a laugh at the frightened and disbelieving looks on their faces. "I'm fine now, don't worry."
Gon beamed at me and hugged me around the middle and then Killua hesitantly wrapped his arms around us. Leorio joined after a while, shouting "Group hug!"
~/ Leorio, you moron... /~
Killua hit him in the head and we pulled away from each other.
~/ They never change...Oh well, it's time. /~
I leaned closer to Gon, drawing the attention of the two almost instantly. I smiled then raked a hand through my hair.
"I suggest we leave soon. Thanks for coming here with me, guys, but now we have to accompany Gon on his quest to find his father."
Gon grinned as I ruffled his hair while the two...err...I didn't see what happened between the two of them but they've started bickering at each other again. Weird. It's usually Gon and Killua who are having fistfights. I shook my head and got out of bed.
~*~
FIN
~*~
A/N: Sorry for the abrupt ending. It 'would' have been fun to make this story longer and all that, 'but' I wouldn't want my dear Kurapika to suffer more, now would I? *smirk* Then again, he's almost always the target of my fics...oh well. Thanks to those who have reviewed the earlier chapters. I owe you so much, guys. 'And', of course, please review this one, though I have to ask you 'not' to ask me to continue, 'coz this is really the last chap. of this fic. - Really, someone asked me to continue what was supposed to be a one-shot fic. Now how weird is that? I didn't know what to do... - Who knows? Maybe I'll rewrite this fic someday and 'really' work on it (coz remember this one was just for fun)...
What a long note. Anyway, this fic is dedicated to everyone of you out there but mainly to my co-tribegirls/boys at the Kuruta Tribe who have gone missing but are now back...you know who you are *wink*...and of course to those we have really lost already (may they find their way back and/or remember us at the least). Bye, minna~!