Kurapika x Reader One-Shot Collection - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Knowing you are about to be killed is terrifying. Knowing you are about to be tortured is unendurable. All you can do is beg for death. That's what I remember the most from the massacre.
I squirm on the ground as the flashbacks keep flooding my brain. Why am I reliving this moment?
"(Y/N)!" Kurapika shouts.
"Kurapika...please...make it stop. The threads are cutting my skin,"
"What threads? There's nothing there!"
I hear Kurapika's panicked voice as I feel the pain. I manage to get up on my knees. I hold my face in my hands. Warm blood trickles down my arms.
"They're pulling my eyes out! Please...tell them to stop!"
I feel Kurapika grab my arms. He pulls my hands away from my face. I can't see him. I can't see anything...only darkness.
"(Y/N)...your eyes...they're gone!" he shouts as he presses my head against his chest. "I'm going to make it stop...I promise."
Kurapika runs his fingers through my hair. I can feel his rapid breaths.
The pain is fading away. My vision slowly returns. I can see Kurapika. His beautiful face is stained with my blood. As I stare into his scarlet eyes, I am reminded of my purpose. I know why I'm always here and why I can't ever leave. I'm dead. I was only brought back to give Kurapika a message.
"Kurapika...I need you to listen to what I'm about to say."
He places his hands on either side of my head.
"Your eyes...they're back...thank goodness!"
"Kurapika! Listen to me!"
"Right...what do you need to tell me?"
"We don't blame you for the massacre. Your mother wants you to stop spending all of your time visiting us. She wants you to live a full life."
"But it was my fault. I never told anyone about the woman we rescued. And those villagers...they witnessed my eyes turn scarlet."
"Stop it, Kurapika!" I shout as I pound my fist on the ground. "Stop looking for ways to blame yourself for what happened."
Kurapika stares at nothing as he tries to comprehend what I just told him.
"Wait...I'm confused...if you're a Kurta, why don't I remember you?"
"My parents and I were the last to join the clan. Neither of us possess scarlet eyes."
Kurapika turns his head to look at my tombstone.
"You were born in 1976...which means you were eighteen when it happened."
"Right. And since I'm dead...I'm still eighteen."
He presses his forehead against mine.
"I'm sorry," he says.
"Stop apologizing! My soul won't rest until you stop blaming yourself!"
Kurapika grabs my hand and gives it a tight squeeze.
"But...I love you. I don't want you to go away."
"Kurapika...I'm dead."
He's quiet for a few seconds.
"What if I were to die?" he asks, almost a whisper.
I pull away from him. "What are you trying to say?"
"There is a Nen dagger residing in my heart. All I need to do is break my contract."
"No, Kurapika."
"Are you not in love with me anymore?"
Tears well up in my eyes. "Of course I am. That's why I can't let you kill yourself."
Kurapika stands up. "There's nothing in this world for me. When I come home at night, there's no one there to welcome me. It's lonely."
"What about your friends? Won't they miss you?"
"Yes. However, they are all busy with their own lives. They'll understand."
I should want to convince Kurapika to change his mind. I know it's selfish, but part of me wants him to end his life to be with me.
"Are you sure they'll understand?" I ask, standing up.
"I'll be back. Please wait for me," he says, caressing my cheek.
My mind wanders as I wait for him to return. I think about a young Kurapika coming home to find us all dead.
Six weeks before the massacre, I remember seeing a glimpse of him riding away on a large bird. I arrived late the day we were all congratulating him on passing the exam.
My heart begins to ache. I don't understand why...I'm not alive. So why am I feeling these mortal emotions?
Is it a sign? A sign to bring him over to the other side? His parents will surely be angry at me. They adore their son. His mother wants nothing more than for him to live life to the fullest. But he's not doing that. He is slowly allowing himself to wither away. Maybe this is what he needs.
Hours later, I see Kurapika running toward me. He is out of breath when he reaches me.
"Good...you're still here," he says, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
"Where did you go?" I ask, excited to see him.
"I took care of everything...I'm ready to spend eternity with you."
"Did you say goodbye to your friends?"
"To some extent," he answers.
"Kurapika...what do you mean by that?"
"I wrote them all letters."
I gently punch Kurapika on his shoulder. "Letters? I feel they deserve more than that."
"You are correct; however, I don't want to waste time arguing with them. My mind is made up."
I watch as his eyes light up. He looks so happy.
"Okay then...how are you going to break your Nen contract?"
"First, answer my question. My parents...will I see them?"
"Yes. You'll see everyone."
Tears of joy fall down Kurapika's cheeks. "I can't wait. You don't know how much I've missed them."
"They miss you as well. And a little boy...he's always talking about the games he wants to play with you."
"Pairo? Yes! I can't wait!"
Kurapika is jumping up and down like a child.
"Okay...I answered your question. Now answer mine."
"Right. You see that man over there?" He nods to the left. A middle-aged man is placing flowers in front of a tombstone.
"Yes."
"He is responsible for the murder of his wife. The court just doesn't have enough evidence to convict him."
"How do you know this?"
"I'm a hunter. What better way to bring him to justice than to use my chain jail on him?" he explains with a smile.
I nod. "Are you ready?"
He doesn't answer. Instead, he conjures his chains. They're magnificent.
"Emperor Time," he says. His eyes turn scarlet.
Kurapika is about to summon his chain jail when his tall friend comes running toward us.
"Kurapika!" he frantically shouts while waving a letter in the air.
Kurapika turns around to face his friend.
"Leorio? What are you doing here?" Kurapika asks.
Leorio is huffing and puffing. "What...do...you...mean?"
Leorio waits to catch his breath before continuing. "You leave me a suicide letter and expect me to be okay with it?"
"Why can't you respect my wishes? I thought you were my best friend."
"I am your best friend! That's why I'm going to do whatever it takes to stop you from making a huge mistake!" he yells while grabbing Kurapika by the shoulders.
"Let me go!"
"No, Kurapika! It's not your time!" Leorio says, shaking Kurapika.
Kurapika attempts to free himself from Leorio.
"I belong with my clan. And (Y/N)," Kurapika says, going limp in Leorio's arms.
Leorio catches Kurapika. "(Y/N)? The ghost you wrote about in your letter?"
"Yes. She's standing next to you."
Leorio lets go of Kurapika and jumps back in fear. "She is?" He waves his arm up and down in an attempt to feel me.
I wish he could see me. Maybe then I could convince him of how much Kurapika and I need each other.
I reach my arm out and grab Leorio's hand.
"Damn...why the hell is my hand so cold?" he shouts, pulling away.
"It's me," I say, coming into view.
Leorio's eyes widen as he watches me appear in front of his eyes. Sweat drops form on his forehead.
"Don't be scared," I say to him.
"Who said I was scared?" he asks.
My lips curve upwards while I walk towards Kurapika. He pulls me in and kisses my forehead. I look up at him. I'm mesmerized by the beauty in his eyes. I've never seen scarlet eyes this close up before. The color deepens, shimmering throughout his irises.
Leorio stares at us.
"Wow...she's a cute ghost!" he says to Kurapika.
"Yes. I don't know how I never noticed her back when I lived with my clan. Well...I was rather young at the time."
"You like older women, huh?" Leorio asks, a mischievous smile spreads across his face.
Kurapika lets out a laugh. "Technically...she is six years older than me."
I step on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around Kurapika's shoulders. He starts to talk to me using the language of the Kurta. I never became fluent, but I know enough to understand what he says to me.
Leorio rushes toward us. "Hey...none of that now! I don't know what you're saying." He pulls Kurapika away from me. "Say goodbye...it's time to go home."
"Leorio...I am home."
"Stop that bullshit! Do you want me to kick your ass in front of your girlfriend?" Leorio asks, making a fist with his right hand.
Kurapika ignores his friend.
"If I'm going to do this, I need to hurry. That man will be leaving soon...I've been paying attention to his routines for the past few months. I was planning on making him turn himself in for the terrible crime he commited."
I nod. I'm more than ready to have Kurapika come to our side. I watch as a hook-shaped chain falls from his middle finger.
Leorio pushes Kurapika to the ground. He grabs both of Kurapika's shoulders, making sure he doesn't escape.
"Kurapika, listen to me! You're not going anywhere."
"Stay out of this, Leorio! You don't know how miserable I am here."
"Oh...is that how you feel? Miserable? What about everything I've done for you? Gon...Killua...did you even give them a proper goodbye?"
"I didn't," Kurapika says, facing away from Leorio.
"They love you...I think they deserve more than a letter. Dammit...you're my best friend! I want to see you happy. Find a living woman and start a family with her."
"Nobody is ever going to love me. Not like the way (Y/N) does," Kurapika says, his voice low.
I continue to watch as Leorio tries to convince Kurapika he is making a mistake. I should be on Leorio's side, but I can't seem to move. I want Kurapika to come home with me.
At that moment, someone walks behind me. I quickly turn to see who it is. My heart sinks to my stomach as I watch the petite woman with thick golden hair walk past me. She turns to face me. Her eyebrows are drawn together, lips tight.
"Why aren't you stopping him?" she asks me.
I open my mouth, but no words come out. I take a few steps back. I didn't mean to disappoint her.
I watch as she walks toward Kurapika and Leorio. Neither of them notice her, as they are still arguing.
"Kurapika...sweetheart," she says.
Both Kurapika and Leorio's eyes widen at the sight of this beautiful woman.
"Kurapika, you know this lady?" Leorio asks.
Tears are already streaming down Kurapika's cheeks. "Yes, Leorio. She's my mother."
"Your mother? Damn...what a genepool."
Kurapika runs into his mother's arms. "Mom!"
In my eyes, Kurapika is a little boy again as he buries his face in her chest. She wraps her arms tightly around him.
"Look at you!" she says, pulling back from Kurapika. "You're so tall." She reaches up and combs the front of his hair back with her fingers. "And so handsome!" She wears the smile of a proud mother.
Kurapika looks down at his mother. He wipes the tears away from his eyes. "Mom, I'm coming home!"
His mother shakes her head. "No, sweetheart. Not yet."
A look of surprise spreads across Kurapika's face. "Huh? What do you mean? I'm ready to come home."
She points a finger up as if she's about to scold her son.
"No, Kurapika. You don't get to decide that."
"But..."
She cuts him off. "I don't want to see you again until you're finished living the life I've always dreamed of you having."
"What life is that?" he asks.
"One full of adventure."
"I'm already a hunter. How much more adventurous could my life be?"
"My son is a hunter? I'm so proud!" she says. "But you didn't let me finish. I also want you to experience love. There is someone out there waiting for you. You just have to hunt for her," she says.
Kurapika stands frozen in place. "Yes...ma'am."
"Promise me," she says.
"I promise, mom. I'll live the life you want for me."
She reaches out to hug him again. Kurapika holds her while she strokes his back with her hand. "One more thing," she says.
"Yes?"
"It wasn't your fault. None of us blame you for what happened."
I can see more tears welling up in Kurapika's eyes. "I love you, mom."
"I love you too," she says. She turns her attention to Leorio. "You keep watching over him. He's a stubborn one. Always has been."
Leorio smiles. "You got that right! But don't you worry...I'll make sure to keep an eye on him. Leave it to me!"
Kurapika's mother turns to leave. She stops to stare at me. "Say goodbye. We need to go."
I nod.
I run up to Kurapika. "I'm so sorry," I say, tears now flooding my eyes. "I didn't mean for it to get this far."
He grabs the back of my hair. "Hey...no need to apologize. Thank you. You've shown me so much kindness. I'm grateful for that."
I grip him tighter, never wanting to let go. "Kurapika...I love you."
"I love you too, (Y/N)."
Three years pass by. I still watch over Kurapika whenever he stops by the cemetery to visit us. He can't see me anymore and that's okay. That means he no longer blames himself for the massacre. I'm glad his visits are less frequent. He's actually living his life.
I watch as he stands in front of my grave. He's holding a bouquet of flowers. He turns to the sound of a woman's voice calling his name.
"Are you almost done, honey? Someone is growing inpatient," she says.
"Yes. Just one more minute," he says to the pretty woman standing behind him.
Kurapika kneels to place the bouquet of flowers in front of my tombstone. "Thank you," he whispers.
He stands back up and turns his attention back to the woman. She smiles as she watches him walk toward her.
"I don't mean to cut your visit short...she just won't stop asking for you!" she says.
Kurapika kneels in front of a stroller. A precious baby girl sits inside. Her face lights up when she sees him.
"Dada!" she squeals, reaching out for Kurapika.
A proud smile spreads across Kurapika's face as he allows the baby to wrap her hand around one of his fingers.
"Are you giving your mama a hard time, (Y/N)?"