#ngl i might rewrite this later cause i do not like how its going

[ssleepdeprivedauthor]

Ten years.

CH. 4

“Kurapika! Kurapika!” Gon excitedly wrapped his arms around Kurapika, in awe of their reunion.

“Gon? Is that you?”

“Mhm! Woah, It’s like I haven’t seen you in… ages. How long has it been? You look so different!”

Kurapika smiled, which Leorio would take as a win.

“Around ten years. I’m glad to see you again.”

“Me too! Killua’s happy too, though he couldn’t make it ‘cause he was gonna spend time with Alluka.”

“Alluka? Who’s that?”

“Oh right, I forgot you don’t know about well… everything. Uh, Alluka is Killua’s sister. She’s really cool, she’d probably love to play with you!”

“…I see. Maybe one day.”

Leorio coughed. “So, um, Kurapika, just to confirm— how long are you staying in Yorknew again?”

“One week, most likely. I still have business to attend to.”

Leorio wanted to get on his

knees and beg Kurapika to stay, because after ten damn years, why was he leaving so suddenly? Didn’t he want to spend time with his friends?

Instead, he went into his kitchen and started to prepare a meal. He remembered Kurapika mentioning his favorite being some type of Kurta stew, but since he had no idea how to make that, he settled on a simple curry udon for dinner.

“Y’know, you could stay longer.”

“I really can’t.”

“And why not?”

“I told you, I have business to attend to. My work isn’t going to wait around for my leisurely activities.”

“That’s stupid! You’ve done a lot for them, haven’t you? They should be giving you a long ass break, hell, they should let you retire and still pay you for the rest of your life for all that shit you did!

“As nice as that sounds, I cannot quit yet. I’m close, but I haven’t achieved my goal yet.” 

“Seriously? Here we go again, about your obsession with that goal. Why is there no end? You’re putting yourself in way too much danger, Kurapika!”

Leorio broke up the curry roux, stirring slowly. He hoped Kurapika would like it. 

“After everything that’s happened you should at least stay in Yorknew for about a year. A week is way too short.”

“I told you, I can’t.”

“Is your ‘business’ really the reason?”

“Yes. I need this job.” Kurapika lied through his teeth, knowing he could never say the real reason. Of how he couldn’t hurt his friends more. Of how he was so undeserving of them. Of how they were too good to him, for everything he has done. 

Especially Leorio. For God’s sake, Leorio was cooking dinner for him right now. Kurapika’s stomach growled, and he realized he really hadn’t eaten much today.

If Leorio knew the things he’d done, he’d never forgive him.

Kurapika still wanted his forgiveness, though. 

Leorio huffed. Guess Kurapika’s stubbornness hadn’t changed since the first day they meant.

“Uh-huh, sure. If you don’t wanna tell me then don’t.”

Kurapika felt an ounce of guilt for lying, but he knew this was for the best. It was. It was for the best. His friends needed someone actually appreciative of them.

Gon stood silently in the corner during Kurapika and Leorio’ entire altercation, the realization now hitting that Kurapika would only stay one week. After ten years apart, why would he only be staying one week? That didn’t make sense, did it?

Kurapika did say he had work, but what type of job would make Kurapika work so hard with such little recreation?

“Kurapika, you’re a bodyguard, right?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t there more bodyguards than you? Why can’t they work while you take time off?”

“While it may be true there are other bodyguards, I am by far the strongest and most capable to protect my client.”

Gon really wished Kurapika wasn’t that strong at that moment.

Leorio did too.

“But you can’t just stay for a week! We haven’t seen you in ages! We need to hang-out, talk, catch-up…”

Leorio was then hit with the actualization that Kurapika was really gone for ten years. Sure, he knew that in the back of his mind, but it never occurred to him how long ten years really was. Ten years. That was 3,652 days apart. 87,648 hours.

Did Leorio really survive that long without him?

Every desperate phone call, every text, every voicemail.

Besides the simple read icon beneath his blue messages, Leorio wouldn’t have even known Kurapika was alive.

When he first saw Kurapika again, he knew he wouldn’t let him die.

Kurapika’s eyes softened and he looked down at Gon, gently patting his head. “We will spend time together. But I really do have to leave after a week.”

Leorio placed the Udon curry on the dinner table, while it was still nice and hot. He really hoped it tasted good. He set up the area, spoons next to each bowl.

Maybe, just maybe if he cooked amazing, delicious food, Kurapika would be willing to stay.

He knew it was a long shot, but stil.

Kurapika sat down and said his grace, his face lighting up a bit when he tasted the food.

Leorio felt a grin spread through his face. “Is it good?”

“Yeah… It’s really good. It reminds me of the food my mom used to make when I was young.”

Another win, Leorio thought. He’d make that curry every day, just so he could see Kurapika’s face have that small expression of happiness on it again.

Kurapika continued eating while Gon sat down too, gobbling down the food at almost record speed.

“Gon! Slow down, you’ll choke!”

Gon stuck out his tongue. “You’re not aunt Mito, don’t tell me what to do!”

Gon paused for a small amount of time.

“Kurapika?”

“Yes?”

“After you leave for work, when will we see you again? Months, years? Please don’t say it’s another ten years though, that’s way too long to spend away from friends.”

Kurapika finished the last of his food, slurping down the noodles and drinking a cold glass of water Leorio had prepared for him.

When would he come back?

Would he come back?

Kurapika mulled it over. 

“I don’t know.”