#kurapikaxreader

His head shot towards the sound faster than my mind could realize what had happened. Since it was still daylight, I forgot to turn off the flash from the night before. My breath caught in my chest as the blonde strutted towards me. 

My arms lowered the camera with a weak smile. “You took my picture?” he asked. Up-close, I could see every inch of his beautiful features. The slight curve of his face, the tufts of hair falling into his eyes, the deepest brown eyes, and even the chain that hung from his ear. 

“Y-yes,” I stuttered while dropping my camera into my lap. The film slipped from the bottom of the camera and became caught in the wind. My arm reached for the flowing paper but I was too late as it skidded across the ground. The man held his foot over the picture that landed right next to him. “I’m sorry. It was a nice picture. I wanted to show my friends what you were wearing.”

His head cocked slightly to the side before he leaned down to pick up the small, square. It hadn’t had time to develop but even I could make out the basic definition of form and muddled colors. 

“You want to show your friends my outfit?” he asked while handing the developing frame back to me. “Why?”

I perched my mouth with the hopes something clever would appear. Instead, I felt like a bubbling mess. “I-I thought you looked nice.” Heat fought its way onto my cheeks before I gripped the edge of the picture. As I go to pull away, he holds onto it tighter. “If you’d rather keep it, that's okay. I really shouldn’t be taking pictures of strangers.” My mind whirled with thoughts of how I should let go of the picture. It was of him. He should be the one to keep it. 

“No, it's alright,” he said while finally letting go of it. “Do you normally take pictures of people you don’t know?”

My eyes went back to my camera as if it were a safety blanket. “No. You would be the first. I just thought you looked nice.” I finally had enough courage to look back up at the man. For a split second, I thought I could see a hint of red on the cusps of his eyes. Red that matched the same blush on his cheeks.

“Interesting. My name is Kurapika,” he said while holding out his hand. “Would you mind if I wrote on it?” I looked at the stack of pictures that held a few words at the white space at the bottom. I handed him the black sharpie and the picture. It only took a second for him to put his number and 4 words “Try not to fall.”

After that fateful day, pictures of us became more frequent. A corkboard full of him. Each day held another picture of us together. Many of them were candid photos of him in suits or in his normal clothes. Each date, each movie night, each dinner was photographed by me. 

Some pictures were only of him. Some were of us together. Rarely any of myself. Behind the camera was my muse, and it didn’t help that I had a great model. The board filled too quickly for me to count the different pictures. He was always the one to write on them. They were cute phrases like “first date” and “park and picnic.” 

One day, he allowed me to do a photoshoot where I was able to choose each outfit he put on. He trusted me more than I could allow. Watching him change into different outfits sparked a feeling that only poets and musicians could describe. I was not one of them. 

Everything was the perfect photograph. Until it wasn’t. After a few months of us dating, I finally got the courage to tell him that I loved him. I decided to commemorate it with a picture so that I could always have Kurapika’s look. It was going to be perfect. 

He took me to the restaurant where we first met. If I wasn’t too consumed with my own feelings, I would’ve known that his smile felt off. I took a few photos of him drinking his coffee and relaxing in the wicker chairs. 

Finally, my brain matched my heart in courage and I held the camera up to my face and said, “I love you.”

The lights flashed but it wasn’t the picture I wanted. It wasn’t the same smile on his face that was plastered all over the photographs in my room. He looked confused or puzzled. “I have to go” was all he said. “Plus, I thought I told you not to fall for me anyways.”

All this build up for one instant of memories to be burned. Even when he left town, I still held onto the final picture of the boy I fell in love with as a reminder why I shouldn’t do it again. 

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Thank you to the Anon who asked for the prompt. If you’d like to request a prompt, please message me with a character and prompt!

*Requests are open*

Your house is often lonely. With your lover occupied with his career and self destructive vengeance, it left you many nights at home with only the echoes of your mind to keep you company. As the television lit up the dark corners of your room, it failed to light up the dying spark in your eyes. After being let go from your office position at the Hunter’s Association Headquarters, you relied heavily on your boyfriend to keep you company.

It had been a tasking career, one which deprived you of much of your social life. After leaving your friends in your home country to live with Kurapika, he became your only form of interaction apart from the occasional small talk from your coworkers. It was nice at first, with the intertwining job schedules and the increased motivation to make it work. After a year of waiting, the reality of your decision became clear.

It was a double edged sword.

The feeling of being a new couple outweighed common sense. The sweet dates where your darling Kurapika gave you the most restless butterflies in your tummy. The tingling heat in the apple of your cheeks when he slipped his hand in yours. The tightness of your chest when his fingertips ghosted along the expanse of your stomach with the utter focus of nothing but his love.

He brought you euphoria. Pleasure.

My god it was wonderful.

But paradise can only last for so long. You realized this as you stared at the clock blankly for the umpteenth time that night. 1:19 AM. Kurapika hadn’t come home in days. You tried to empathize with Kurapika and his goals in life, following him blindly and being his biggest supporter no matter what. As long as you had his love, you would do anything for him.

His love.

You jumped up in surprise as the front door clicked open in a silent squeak. You stirred anxiously as you awaited to see a figure in your peripheral. Soft pads of footsteps sounded from the hall. A head of blonde hair stepped from the shadows. Gazing at his face, the dark circles and sluggish movements didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t like it was an unusual sight.

He looked up at you, looking mildly surprised to see you sitting on the couch.

“..I’m home.” He stated simply.

“Welcome home, my love.”

You smiled weakly at him, drained. The silence rang throughout the air for a few moments before anyone spoke.

“You’re up late. Were you waiting for me?”

You stood up slowly, placing the soft blanket laying across your lap to the side. Walking over to him with calculated steps, you whispered.

“I always wait for you.”

He let you lead him by the hand towards the bedroom. You wondered how he kept his hands so elegant as a bodyguard for an underground figure.

You’d ask him later.

Opening the door, you stepped into the familiar feeling of comfort given by your room. The moonlight streamed through the tall windows, the curtains pulled back to the side. Muted sounds of the streets below resounded in your ears, along with the gentle tick of the clock on your wall. Too mesmerized by the atmosphere, you failed to notice the noise of the closed door or the approach of the scarlet-eyed hunter. He gently placed his hands on your waist, and placed his body along the curves of your back.

You let out a relaxed exhale as your boyfriend left gentle kisses along the expanse of your neck, fingertips slipping underneath your shirt with practiced movements.

The short sleeved pyjama top fell to the floor soon after. Piece after piece of clothing was lifted off your bodies like clockwork, forgotten among the caresses of exhausted lovers. He lifted you from the ground, laying you on your back in the large bed placed in the middle of the room.

Time did not resume like normal in this rare dance between you. Making eye contact with the moon in the sky outside of your window, you briefly wondered what his somber eyes have seen in his long years of stationary watching. If he gazes upon your being with unbridled pity.

You couldn’t decide whether your next sigh was from the depressing thoughts or the sudden touch against your fluttering vagina.

He lifted your legs over his shoulder as he teased his finger along your labia, gathering as much slick as he could before smoothly dipping his finger inside. Quiet noises of pleasure left your lips as he worked his finger along your velvety inner walls. Staring at you lazily, he arched the pad of his thumb against your waiting clit.

The pressure from your lower body was sending low waves of pleasure from your lower belly to the perk tips of your erect nipples. The pleasant feeling made you lay your head back on the bed, eyelids closed. The sweet sounds of your slick were beginning to sound, and Kurapika acknowledged this as an adequate time to press his middle finger in your greedy hole.

He sped up his fingers with an open mouth kiss to the soft inner skin of your thigh. Your moans echoed throughout the room like an icebreaker as the underlying tension between you was evaporating. Upon angling his fingers, he hit that special bump along your walls that made your toes curl. While calling out his name, he added a third finger, and he exhaled shakily as you sucked his finger in with ease.

The squelching sounds of his fingers pumping in and out of your vagina made you want to cover your ears, suddenly enveloped with an inexplicable emotion similar to grief. A hard press against your g-spot instantly dissolved any of those emotions, however, and you cried out in protest as he removed his fingers.

He crawled up from his lying position in between your quivering thighs, throwing your legs over his shoulder once more before pressing the head of his cock against your impatient folds. Upon his gaze at your face, you turned away in embarrassment. He smiled drowsily before tilting your chin up towards him. Forced to look at him, your mouth dropped open as he finally pressed his cock inside you.

After taking an adjusting second to process the intense pleasure, he let out a muted groan and began thrusting inside your waiting pussy. You moaned his name and latched your nails into his back. Rolling your eyes back into your skull, you offhandedly glanced at the clock on your wall. 1:31 AM.

Your breasts bounced as he rocked back and forth, and the bed frame creaked at the motion it rarely experiences. Kurapika’s head dropped in the crook of your shoulder, allowing you to hear his breathy pants against the shell of your ear.

With the changed angle, he pressed into a spot that sent violent shivers along your spine. Just as the stretch against your tight walls began to feel increasingly pleasurable, he let out a loud moan, and stilled.

Your pants were the only noise in the nostalgic atmosphere of your shared bedroom, and the realization of what just happened was beginning to come to you slowly. You stared at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry.. I had a long day.” He whispered in the crevice of your neck.

“It’s fine.” You croaked out, and looked at the clock.

1:32 AM.

His now flaccid cock pulled out from the warm, sticky, wetness of your vagina. He rolled over, and let out a soft sigh as he put an arm over his eyes and the other over his torso. You could still hear the muted sounds of cars and the bustling city as your eyes closed in gentle thought.

When was the last time the two of you had genuine, loving sex? When was the last time the two of you had both confided in each other for pleasure, and talked about whatever the hell you wanted as the moonlight casted a kind light across tangled limbs in the sheets? The clock ticked almost mockingly as you turned your head.

“Kurapika?”

Silence. He was already asleep.

Almost not surprised, you gently moved to go clean yourself up in the bathroom. Stepping into the room with nothing but an illuminating night light, you closed the door carefully behind you.

With a muffled sob, your back hit the tiled wall and you fell to the ground.

The dam had finally broken as you silently dry heaved with fat tears running down your face. You only cried harder when the evidence of your previous act began to slowly trickle out from inside of you.

You felt utterly empty. The unobtained orgasm, albeit small, was the final push of negative emotions to cause the breakdown on the cold bathroom floor. As you curled into yourself, violently sobbing into your hands as to not wake your lover in the next room, you wondered.

You chuckled, knowing full well that your husband was merely down in the basement where you kept all of your extra belongings and decorations for the holidays. Shaking your head, you smoothed your hand over your daughter's temple.

"No honey. He's not lost. Just be patient for a little longer, okay?"

"But the tree looks so sad!" Caiya exclaimed, "Daddy needs to hurry so we can make it pretty!"

"Ba ba ba ba."

In slight surprise, you looked downwards at your lap, watching as your 9 month old son, Cayden, started making grabby hands at the large, dark green tree in the corner of the room. And you didn't miss how the action made Caiya's eyes light up like fireworks.

"See? Even Cayden wants to decorate the tree!" she grabbed the infant's hand gently, "Don't you Cayden?"

"Buuuuh…"

"It's your first time decorating the tree." Caiya pointed out, gesturing to herself with her thumb, "But I'm an expert. So I'll teach you everything you need to know!"

You raised your eyebrow, teetering on the edge of speaking until-

"Oh you will, will you? Wasn't it Mommy who made you an 'expert' in the first place?"

Both you and your daughter turned your head in complete synchronicity, eyes landing on the form of your husband as he made his way into the living room, arms outstretched as they held 3 large storage bins that were stacked on top of one another, absolutely filled to the brim with the ornaments and lights that would decorate your tree.

"Daddy!" Caiya squealed, running over to him, hands outstretched, and you yourself maneuvered your body to stand up, arms still cradling Cayden close to your chest. With a small grunt, Kurapika placed all 3 bins on the ground, then stood up to wipe at his brow with the back of his wrist, lips leveling into a small smile as he caught you taking a few steps to reach his side.

"Is that everything?" You asked sweetly, and he hummed, wrapping a gentle arms around your backside, stroking your hip.

"Mmhm," he kissed your cheek, pulling away to watch Caiya as she tried her hardest to unhinge one of the bins' lids, "Someone's excited."

"You have no idea." You said breathily, just in time for Caiya to rush towards the both of you, her tiny arms wrapping around your's and Kurapika's legs as she looked up at the both of you with a hopeful expression on her cute features.

"Mommy, Daddy, can we start ? Can we start ?"

Giving Caiya an affirmative nod, you took her hand to lead her over to the boxes filled with the ornaments and Kurapika squatted down next to her. Using both hands, he opened the lid to each container, to reveal a sight that had Caiya's eyes glittering in amazement.

Sparkly decorations of all kinds stared back at her, in all different colors and shapes. Red, blue, green, silver, gold. There were so many, and that didn't even include the colorful lights and twinkling packets of tinsel that were tangled in between.

"Wahhhhh so pretty !!!!" Caiya exclaimed, picking up a sparkly, red sphere and you reached an arm out to stop her.

"Hold on honey. We can't do the ornaments just yet."

She frowned, "Why?"

"Daddy has to put on the lights first," you explained, gesturing to Kurapika who already had a handful of lights fisted in his hand, "We won't be able to put them on properly with the ornaments in the way."

Slightly defeated, Caiya's shoulders dropped.

"Oh...okay."

"But," you continued, "I'm sure Daddy could use your help with the lights. They need to be untangled before we can put them on the tree."

"And there are alot of them," Kurapika butted in hopefully, tuning in on your conversation, "What do you say, Caiya? Will you help me? We'll be able to start decorating the tree sooner."

Any sad feeling Caiya had was immediately tossed away with the essence that she was needed, chirping an "Okay!" as she handed you the ornament that she had been holding while running over to Kurapika's side.

Twenty minutes passed by of light conversation and a few laughs, you tending to Cayden while Caiya and Kurapika worked on the lights, and before long, the four of you were standing in front of a beautifully lit up tree, which of course meant one thing.

"Yay! Ornament time!"

You and Kurapika chuckled, watching amusingly as Caiya picked up another sphere shaped ornament, this time colored silver, and hung it on one of the branches of the tree, pulling away with a satisfied "humph" before fetching another.

You and Kurapika moved in to help, using your unoccupied hand to grab hold of the ornaments Kurapika handed you from the container, you and him sticking to the top of the tree while Caiya worked to decorate the bottom. It was when you were about to hang a little, plastic, golden fairy that the air was breached with a static ringing sound, and you peered at Kurapika who was standing up, his hand stuffed into the pocket of his jeans.

He pulled out his phone and gazed at the screen, then looked over at you.

"I need to take this." He said, motioning to the hallway, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

You gave him a nod and he walked off, flipping his phone up to his ear while muttering a "Hello?" into the other end.

Turning around, you were just about to hang the fairy ornament on the tree before you were distracted again, only this time, it was by a gentle tug on your sweater.

Caiya was standing at your hip, looking up at you with a quizzical expression.

"Where did Daddy go?" She asked, and you gave her a soft smile, adjusting your hold on Cayden as you squatted down to her level.

"He had an important phone call to take care of honey, that's all."

She looked down at the floor, "Was it his job again?"

Your smile faltered. Even though Caiya was only 6, she was well aware that her father had to handle a lot of important business where he worked. It kept him away from home quite a bit, sometimes for days at a time, making it difficult on some occasions to hide how tired and drained he was.

And of course, Caiya noticed it.

It was the little things. Yawning a bit too much during meals, dozing on the sofa, struggling to stay awake while he read her and Cayden a bedtime story. Bless her heart she had actually covered him up one night with a blanket from the couch when he had fallen asleep at his desk, originally coming out to the kitchen for a cup of water.

It was obvious that she worried about him, and you did too, but as a Mother, you did your best to cover and distract, silently hoping and praying that Kurapika's work hours would get better. There's been a little improvement over the last few months. The thing is, whatever Kurapika didn't manage in person, he managed over the phone.

Just like now.

Putting on a face of semi-fake reassurance, you placed a hand on Caiya's shoulder.

"It probably is sweetheart," you admitted, knowing full well she could see through you if you lied, "But he shouldn't be too long. They know he took time off this month for Christmas so they probably just need help with something really quick."

Caiya's eyes glimmered with uncertainty. So you palmed her cheek comfortingly, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Come on," you urged, "What do you say we put some more decorations on the tree, hm?"

That seemed to distract her a bit, head nodding as she grabbed another ornament from one of the containers and resumed decorating the tree.

It was quiet for the next few minutes, save for occasional conversation between you and Caiya and soft babbles from Cayden as he cutely observed your every action, eyes wide in awe and curiosity.

You were starting to grow nervous, as Kurapika still hadn't returned, but you knew that worrying wouldn't do you any good so tried your hardest to shove any concern to the back of your mind.

However, that didn't last long, and the uneasiness all came flooding back when the unexpected, unsettling, voice of your husband came booming from down the hall.

"Absolutely not! Go to hell!"

You flinched, eyes widening, and you could make out Caiya going stiff next to you as well out of the corner of your eye. Her hands that had been holding an ornament sunk nervously downwards as her body inched closer to yours. It was hard to miss the twinges of fear that radiated off of her small form.

"Mommy?" She squeaked, "Why did Daddy yell? Is something wrong?"

You hesitated to speak for a second, taking a moment to gather yourself up. Then, you laid a hand on Caiya's chubby cheek, and she dropped the ornament to squeeze your palm.

"I'm...I'm not sure honey." you muttered and Caiya pressed her lips together, soft brown eyes twitching in an attempt not to cry.

With hasty reassurance, you pressed a kiss to her temple and stood, squeezing her hand..

"Tell you what…" you tried, hoping to create another distraction, "Stay out here and keep decorating the tree. I'll talk to Daddy, make sure he's okay, and we'll be back out here in a few minutes. Sound like a plan?"

Caiya bit her lip hesitantly, but nonetheless, gave you a curt nod of her head. Smiling softly, you leaned down to peck her forehead one last time, adjusted Cayden on your hip, and made your way down the hall.

Your footsteps were quiet the whole way there, no sounds except for the soft babbles of your son as he chewed innocently on his fingers, giving you a soft "Bah?" to which you placed a gentle hand on the back of his head, relieved when he fell into your shoulder.

When you arrived at your room, you could see that the door was open a crack, emitting soft streams of light to the hardwood of your floor. You slowly lifted your hand to the doorknob and pushed forward, cringing at the slight creak it created, and slowly made your way in.

"Kurapika?" You called, shutting the door with a shove of your shoulder, "Kurapika? Are you-?"

"Y/N?"

You paused, stopping in your place, and Kurapika did the same. It seemed…that the both of you weren't expecting to see each other. Neither of you moved for a few moments, not from your place at the foot of the bed, nor from Kurapika's place at your dresser, with hands you could see that were outstretched, gripping the top rather tightly with his phone no longer in his possession. Instead, it was on bed, seeming to have been thrown with the screen still lit and icon open to whoever he was talking to.

The atmosphere in the room felt...off, stuffy, but you didn't miss the heavy amount of Nen that was pouring from Kurapika's tense form.

You swallowed thickly, taking the tiniest step forward to address the blonde chain user.

"Kurapika...are you okay?" Your voice was so soft, concerned, "Did something happen?"

He didn't reply right away. Instead he heaved a heavy sigh and turned to walk in the direction of your bed, sitting down with his arms propped up on spread legs.

Not once did you take your eyes off him.

"Kurapika?"

"I'm fine…" he gritted, "Just...just a little irritated."

"Why?" You took a look over at his phone, its screen now black, "Who called you? What did they-"

".....I can't believe those bastards."

You furrowed your eyebrows, "What?"

Sighing again, this one sounding much more acidic, Kurapika stood. It was only after he closed his eyes and crossed his arms that he uttered the beginnings of an explanation.

"It was the search company…the one that records past locations of the Phantom Troupe."

You could feel your blood turn to ice, highly aware of how your husband gets when he has to discuss anything about the monsters that mercilessly killed the entirety of his clan. Aware of the vengeance, aware of the pain, aware of the sorrow, aware of the regrets, and aware…

...of what happens as a result.

"Kurapika please…" you started, desperate, "Caiya is right down the hall. You don't need to get angry because of them-"

"I'm not."

Him saying that made you pause again and confusedly stare at him, his face contorting to be one of absolute, utter annoyance. A sharp exhale emitted from his nose as a hand flew up to run through his golden locks.

"It's not the Phantom Troupe I'm annoyed at…" he gruffed, "It's everyone else…"

You tilted your head, "Everyone...else?" and he nodded, seemingly to be biting his tongue.

"All of those fools at the company that can't keep their damn word if their life depended on it," he hissed, "I put in my time to take off WEEKS ago and here they are saying they have leads from another company and need my assistance again to pinpoint possible locations. And I even told them NOT to look too far into things on my days off but of course they don't even have half a brain to listen!"

You took a step towards him, adjusting a now drowsy Cayden and awkwardly tried to ease the situation.

"Can't you just go in really quick when they need you and take care of it? Usually things like that don't take you too long."

He shook his head, "It's different this time."

"...What do you mean?"

He pressed his lips together, and you frowned, now standing close enough next to him to palm his cheek.

"Kurapika?"

"I'd have to travel…"

Your chest tightened, hand falling from his face.

"T-travel?"

"Mmhm."

"Because of the other company?"

"Yes."

"Oh…" you trailed, glancing down at the ground, then back up at him.

"B-but that's not...too bad right? I mean you've gone on business trips before." you pointed out, "If you're worried about me and kids, don't be. We'll be just-"

"I'd be leaving on the 22nd, and I'd be gone for a little over week." he butted in, and your body immediately went rigid

The 22nd? That's…oh no.

"That's right before Christmas." You whispered, "And if you're gone for over a week...you won't be home until after New Years."

Kurapika closed his eyes, jaw clenching, fists wound up so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"Exactly…after I already told I'd be taking time off." he spat acidicly, teeth gritting together "Those ignorant pieces of-"

"Kurapika," you raised your hand up, already on high alert, "P-please don't do this. You need to-"

You couldn't finish speaking, eyes widening and throat growing tight as your words vanished into thin air, eyes glued to something you hadn't seen in a very long time.

You were positive that you had been looking at your husband. Seeing his tense, angered form. Seeing his aura emitting in ragged streams. Seeing his soft, slightly unkempt blonde hair framing his furious, but gorgeous face.

However, you couldn't see any of that anymore.

Instead….all you could see.

Was scarlet.

Fiery, dangerous...beautiful scarlet.

How long had it been since you've seen them? It had to have been at least a few years, probably ever since Caiya had turned 3.

It wasn't new to you though, not at all. Back when you and Kurapika we're teenagers and met during the Hunter Exam, his eyes would turn scarlet all of the time. A signal of high emotion, mostly of anger, more or less caused by the disgusting group of people that had murdered his clan.

He only revealed them to the people closest to him, that you knew, and you had no issue viewing them from time to time. However, when you became pregnant with Caiya, a rather deep conversation had taken place between you both.

Having a baby...meant that you'd possibly be reviving a clan that had been nearly wiped off the face of the Earth. It meant that there would be a new target, new dangers, and a child that wouldn't be able to understand the situation.

Kurapika's eyes had gone scarlet a number of times while Caiya was an infant, but neither of you minded as she was still far too young to pay any real attention to it. But once she entered the toddler stage, that changed, and it was decided that Kurapika would withhold his eyes' second color as well as keep his bloodline a secret until deemed appropriate for Caiya to learn the truth.

She had never seen them, but if Kurapika kept this up….

You feared that that wouldn't be the case much longer.

"Darling…" you tried again, "I know you're angry, but-"

Angry?" He seethed, "Oh I'm not angry….I'm furious!"

His tone made you recoil instantly, eyes wide as he ejected his arms into the air in bitter, hateful rage.

"K-Kurapika…" you muttered, but it's as if everything around him ceased to exist as he continued his malice filled rant.

"They're trying to ruin everything!" He barked, "My time off, the time I'm supposed to spend with you and the kids! The time of year that I should be spending with the people I love the most in this world! Caiya's holiday pageant on the 23rd at school, the party we're supposed to have on the 24th with all of our friends, not to mention it will be Cayden's first Christmas! And they're ruining it! All of it!"

"Honey." you trailed, a bit louder this time to hopefully grab your angered husband's attention, "Please, I know. It isn't fair, but knowing you I know you can work it out."

At this point, Kurapika looked close to losing it, so you stepped forward again while softly shushing Cayden who had begun to stir from the loud noises. You reached a hand out to grip Kurapika's wrist and squeezed it.

"Getting upset won't do you any good," you soothed, index finger now stroking the base of his wrist, "I agree with you. They're idiots and absolutely terrible for putting this on you. But right now, they aren't important. There's still time to handle it, so please try not to fret about it…"

You pulled him closer, letting go of his wrist so you could lay your hand at the base of his neck. Slowly, you brushed his hair away from his face, fingers bumping against the sparkling, ruby earring clipped to his left earlobe. You raised your head higher, eyes meeting his, mesmerized by the pulsating rings of scarlet that radiated against the white of his sclera.

"Focus on now…" you whispered, "On your family."

You glided your fingers across his cheek, frowning at his still seethed breathing and rapid heartbeat. Even though it's been awhile, nothing had changed your opinion on how much you hated seeing him like this, and you sometimes wished you had the power to make all of his troubles disappear.

But sadly, you knew that would never-

"Mommy? Daddy ?"

Your heart plummeted to the pit of your stomach, eyes blowing wide at the sound of that innocent little voice. And Kurapika, despite still looking towards you, seemed to be having the same reaction. Slowly, you both turned your heads, and simultaneously met the sight of Caiya standing slightly behind the door frame, head peeking inside to where only half of her face was visible.

Reality sunk in after several, long, seconds with Kurapika hastily turning away to hide his face while you rushed forward as quick as you could while holding Cayden, trying to block Caiya's view in as much a normal way as possible.

"C-Caiya," you cursed your stuttering but continued, "I-I thought I told you to stay by the tree…"

"I know…but you and Daddy were taking a long time so I wanted to see if something happened."

Furrowing her brows, she tried to look past you, and you hoped she hadn't seen too much to the point of wanting to ask questions so you tried to come up with yet another distraction.

But the words didn't come quick enough.

"Mommy," she looked up at you, finger on her chin, "What was wrong with Daddy's eyes?"

You bit your lip.

Damn it.

"Uh...uhm….he just…."

While stuttering your broken explanation, Caiya found it in herself to weasel her way past you, her petite body making such a feat quite easy as she slowly made her way over to her father's side.

"W-Wait, Caiya !"

Ignoring your desperate pleas, Caiya continued towards where Kurapika was standing at his side of the bed. However, in the midst of her quick little steps, the young girl found herself unable to notice a crease that had formed in the rug in front of your bed.

Her left foot caught underneath it, and you merely reached an arm out, too far away to do anything.

"C-Caiya!"

With hearing the loud call of her name, she shut her eyes tight, bracing for impact against the hardwood. Thing is, she didn't remember the floor being so…warm, and comforting.

Slowly (and with much confusion), she opened her eyes, and it was then that she found that she (oddly) hadn't landed on the floor at all.

She turned her head around, taking a few seconds to study her surroundings, and she immediately found herself staring at the face of her father.

"Daddy?"

"Are you okay, baby girl?"

It was obvious that he had caught her, evidenced by his crouched position on the floor. But the more she looked at him, at his slightly concerned expression with his arms encompassed around her body, the more she discovered that…

There was something different about her daddy that she had never seen before.

"Daddy…" she repeated, only this time in wonder as she reached a hand up to the blonde's cheek, palming it with her soft little digits.

"Your eyes."

His breath hitched, but he couldn't find it in himself to look away, and you were just as stricken as him, immobile and silent with nothing to say.

Exhaling deeply, Kurapika set the little girl down on the ground, her gaze never one leaving his face.

"Caiya…" he muttered, looking away for a moment, "I-"

"They look like lights !"

"H-huh?"

"Your eyes!"" She marveled, " They look like pretty red Christmas lights! Like the ones on our tree!"

"T-they do?"

"Mmhm!" Spinning around, Caiya directed her attention to you, and pointed to Kurapika with her right index finger.

"Don't they Mommy?"

"Oh uh…" you stuttered, not expecting this at all. But nonetheless, you went with it, "Yes! Yes...t-they do."

Caiya nonchalantly turned back towards her father, head once again tilting to the side.

"But why do they look like that?" She inquired, "Did you swallow some of the lights by accident, Daddy?"

Despite her innocent humor that he would usually laugh at, Kurapika just shook his head.

"No, sweetheart."

"Then...then why-?"

"It's...a long story…." He interrupted, "And not one I can really explain right now."

He grabbed his daughter's hand, thumbing the angel soft skin, and it was then that he could finally feel the twinges of his anger ebbing away, the pulsing feeling that came with the scarlet's presence growing dull.

"Daddy and Mommy have a lot of…things we need to talk about. They aren't bad things, but they are important. We just need to get them sorted out before we can tell you anything, okay?"

You inwardly sighed, aware of how conversations like this with Caiya usually went. She was typically a very obedient child, and usually shrugged off most things without a bother. But if it involved something of interest, she never hesitated to push and push until-

"Okay, Daddy!"

Your head shot up.

What?

With widened eyes, you watched as Kurapika enveloped Caiya into a hug, pressing a kiss to her temple, the last hints of scarlet fading completely from his eyes.

"Great," he whispered, relieved, "Thank you, Caiya."

Despite your initial shock, you still couldn't help the warm feeling that came over you upon seeing your husband and daughter in such a state. It made you so happy.

Maybe you had been wrong. Perhaps there was something that could make Kurapika's troubles disappear. It may not have happened in a way you preferred, but luckily, things had ways of working themselves out when you least expected it.

After another few moments, Caiya loosened herself from Kurapika's grasp, her short stature making her gaze up at the male, her expression cute and suggestive.

"Can we finish decorating the tree now?"

With a hum, Kurapika bent down and lifted the little girl into his arms, tickling her tummy which caused her to shriek with laughter.

"Of course we can." Kurapika beamed, then he looked over at you and wrapped his free arm around your waist, "What do you say, Mommy?"

"I think that's a wonderful idea. After all," you reached up and tapped Caiya's cheek, then gestured to Cayden who was snuggling into your collarbone, "Someone promised to teach Cayden how to decorate the tree."

Caiya giggled, wrapping her arms tighter around Kurapika's neck, and he responded by kissing her cheek.

"Still upholding that promise, princess?"

"Of course!" She gasped, "I am the expert after all!"

"That you are! He agreed. Slowly, he bent down to place Caiya on the ground, patting her head.

"Care to lead the way?"

She raised her arms in the air, "To the Christmas tree!"

Chuckling softly, both you and Kurapika followed your daughter's lead, hand in hand to finish your tree decorating festivities, all worries tossed aside for the remainder of the evening.

~~~~~*Timeskip (Christmas Eve)

"Caiya, sweetheart," you called, sitting on the little girl's bed, "You need to make up your mind and pick a story. Daddy is putting Cayden to sleep and you need to choose one before he comes in here."

"But Mommy!" she rebutted, "I can't decide if I want the one about the fairy or the princess!" 

Pouting, she stood up by her little white bookshelf, holding up each book by her head with her tiny fingers. 

"Can't I have both?" 

You shook your head, "Sorry honey, but it's late. You want Santa to come, right?" 

"Yes…" she muttered.

 "Then you can only pick one for tonight."

Frowning a bit, Caiya sadly looked back and forth between both books, clearly having trouble deciding which one she would rather have read to her before bed. 

Another minute or so passed by and you were about to give Caiya another warning when you felt a warm hand lay against your shoulder. You looked up and found Kurapika standing by your side, knees pressed against the side of your daughter's bed. 

"Caiya, how would you like to hear a new story?"

At the sound of her father's voice, Caiya turned her head, eyes landing directly on the both of you, unable to see the eyebrow raised on your face in question.

"A new story?" She asked, and Kurapika nodded. 

"Mmhm."

Blinking a few times, Caiya turned around and shoved both books back onto the shelf, then allowed her little legs to carry her back to her bed in a hurried sprint.

She raised her hands, silently asking Kurapika to pick her up and he did, enveloping her small body with his arms. He took a few steps past you to place Caiya in her bed, proceeding to then tuck her sheets and blanket up to her chin while you handed her a plushy, stuffed teddy bear with a purple bow around its neck. She took it, squeezing it against her face. 

Kurapika then smoothed the sheets, taking the time to sit down on the other side of the bed so that he was facing the both of you, and Caiya looked up at him with her big, dusty brown eyes. 

"What's the story about Daddy?" She inquired, tilting her head. You were also silently wondering the same thing, so you looked over at your husband with a gaze that expressed interest and intrigue, causing Kurapika to smile.

"Well...it's about me."

Caiya's eyes widened even more, while you sat there in stunned silence, slowly gaining the idea of where this was going to go.

"You?" she asked, kicking her feet under the covers. Kurapika chuckled. 

"Yes. Me and my past…where I come from...why my eyes turned that pretty shade of red...and also…" he looked over at you, reaching his hand out to squeeze yours, "A little bit of how Mommy and I met."

A small, breathy gasp emitted from your lips, and Kurapika simply sent a smile your way, his left eye creasing up in a small wink. 

Caiya clapped her hands together, body jittering in excitement. 

"Ooooo goody ! That sounds like a great story!" Snuggling, further under the covers, she gazed at the two of you in waiting, "Did you and Mommy fall in love at first sight?"

You both laughed, and Kurapika reached a finger out to poke Caiya on the nose.

"Not exactly, sweetheart. A lot of things happened before and between that."

She shimmied about, eager, and adorably impatient.

 "Tell me! Tell me !"

"Okay, okay I will!" He raised his hand up, directing his gaze over at you, "That is...if Mommy will help me?"

A soft blush warmly dusted the contours of your cheeks, the corners of your lips tugging upwards into a tiny smile. You squeezed his hand, your answer obvious. 

"Of course I will."

And you did, letting Kurapika take the wheel first. It was odd, and you thought you would never think as such, of how relieved you'd be that your daughter was finally learning the daunting, but beautiful truth behind the Scarlet Eyes. 

He started from the very beginning, going through his whole life down to every last little detail. You butted in every so often to add in your own little touches, making your life truly sound like something out of a story book.

And though a lot of it was a story that you yourself had lived through most of, having your husband tell it alongside you as your daughter listened word for word with sparkling eyes and the brightest smile as snowflakes blew about outside in the calmness of Christmas Eve Night…