A small light at the end of the tunnel.

Kurapika's heart pounded in his chest as he approached his village, a sense of foreboding growing with each step. As he reached the entrance, the sight that greeted him was beyond his worst nightmares. The village was in ruins, and the lifeless bodies of his clan members lay scattered across the ground, their empty eye sockets a haunting reminder of the cruelty inflicted upon them.

Kurapika's eyes scanned the scene, and it dawned on him that not only had the Phantom Troupe massacred his people, but the government and the public didn't even had a decency to cover his people. The bodies of his clan members lay exposed to the elements, abandoned without even the decency of a burial. This added insult to injury, fueling his anger and deepening his sorrow.

He clenched his fists even tighter, the rage bubbling within him now mixed with a profound sense of betrayal. "How could they?" he whispered, his voice shaking with indignation. "How could they just leave my people like this? Have they no compassion, no sense of decency?"

Kurapika stood amongst the carnage, feeling the weight of his responsibility to honor the memory of his people. He couldn't bear the thought of his friends and family being left to rot without any respect or dignity.

Tears welled up in Kurapika's eyes as he stumbled forward, his legs feeling weak beneath him. He fell to his knees beside the body of an elderly woman he recognized as a healer, her face twisted in terror. His breath hitched in his throat, and he choked back a sob.

"Unforgivable," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of sorrow and anger. "Unforgivable!"

Kurapika's hands clenched into tight fists as he struggled to contain the rage building within him. His eyes, once a calm and gentle blue, now burned with an intense scarlet fire as the reality of the situation began to settle in. He looked around at the destroyed houses, the broken bodies of his friends and family, and felt a seething anger consume him.

With each breath, Kurapika repeated the word, his voice growing louder and more resolute. "Unforgivable! Unforgivable!"

He stood up, his legs now steady with determination. His face was a portrait of fury, tears streaming down his cheeks as he vowed to himself that he would avenge his people.

"I will make them pay," he growled through gritted teeth, the intensity in his voice sending chills down the spines of any who would hear him. "I will find those responsible, and I will make them suffer for what they've done to my family, to my clan. I swear it on the blood of the Kurta."

As he stood there, his eyes ablaze with vengeance, the wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the echoes of the lost souls of the Kurta clan.

Kurapika knelt down beside the first body, his eyes filled with sorrow and determination. He gently cradled the lifeless form of an elder in his arms, a mix of sadness and rage flashing across his face. As he lowered the body into the makeshift grave he had dug, he whispered a soft prayer for their soul to find peace.

Moving on to the next fallen villager, Kurapika repeated the process, handling each person with the utmost care and respect. Tears streamed down his cheeks, leaving wet trails on his face, but he refused to let his emotions completely overwhelm him. He knew he had a duty to fulfill, and he was determined to see it through to the end.

With each burial, Kurapika's resolve grew stronger. He spoke to each of his deceased kin, sometimes sharing memories or expressing his gratitude for their time together. His voice was thick with emotion, but it never wavered.

As he continued to lay his people to rest, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the village. The wind rustled through the trees, providing a somber soundtrack to the heart-wrenching scene.

Kurapika walked through the desolate village, surveying the tragic scene that lay before him. As he made his way through the carnage, his heart ached with each step. He approached two particularly gruesome bodies, their mutilated forms almost unrecognizable. They were headless, and blood pooled around them, creating a ghastly scene.

He hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. Something about these two bodies seemed familiar, and a chilling thought crept into his mind. With shaking hands, he knelt beside them, carefully examining the lifeless forms. As he took a closer look, he noticed the clothing they wore – a simple, yet elegant style that his parents had always favored.

A sudden, overwhelming realization hit Kurapika like a tidal wave, and he gasped in horror. "No," he choked out, his voice barely a whisper. "It can't be... Mother, Father..."

His hands trembled as he reached out to touch the bloodstained fabric, his worst fears now confirmed. These were indeed the bodies of his parents, their heads taken as trophies by the ruthless Phantom Troupe.

Kurapika's face contorted with anguish, tears streaming down his cheeks as he struggled to come to terms with the reality of his loss. "Why?" he sobbed, his voice cracking. "Why did this have to happen?!"

His entire body shook with grief, but beneath the sorrow, a fire began to grow. The rage that had been simmering within him was now a blazing inferno, fueled by the sight of his parents' brutalized forms.

Clenching his fists, he looked up at the sky, his eyes burning crimson. "I swear on my life," he vowed, his voice filled with resolve, "I will find those responsible for this atrocity and...."

With a heavy heart, Kurapika turned his attention to the task at hand. He carefully wrapped his parents' bodies in a makeshift shroud, treating them with the utmost respect and tenderness. As he laid them to rest in a shared grave, he said his final goodbyes, his voice choked with emotion.

Finally, Kurapika reached the last body – a young child he had known well.

He cradled the small form in his arms, his face a mixture of grief and anger. He looked up at the sky, his eyes dark, cold. "Sleep well, " he whispered.

As the last rays of sunlight faded from the sky, Kurapika stood up and looked out over the graves of his people, his resolve unwavering. This was the beginning of a long and arduous journey, but he would not rest until he had avenged his clan and brought peace to the souls of his loved ones.

.................

Kurapika stood by the graves, his heart heavy with sorrow but his mind sharp and focused. He knew that finding Ikki and Pairo, his two dearest friends who had seemingly vanished, was of utmost importance. He needed to find them, make sure they were safe.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he thought back to his time spent with Ikki and Pairo. He recalled their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and the places they frequented. He knew that Ikki was resourceful and adventurous, with exceptional endurance, while Pairo was the more cautious and thoughtful of the two, possessing a keen foresight.

Kurapika thought about the possible routes they could have taken to escape the massacre, eliminating any that seemed too dangerous or unlikely. He knew that they would avoid well-traveled paths, as they would not want to risk being caught by the murders or anyone else seeking to harm them.

He considered the terrain surrounding the village, knowing that Ikki and Pairo would choose the path of least resistance. The swamps and marshes nearby would slow down pursuers and might even deter them from following. But he also knew that the two boys were well-acquainted with the swamps, having played there together. It was a possibility that they would use this knowledge to their advantage.

Kurapika took out a map of the region, studying it carefully. He noted the locations of the nearest cities and towns, marking them on the map. He then traced a circle around the village to indicate the maximum distance the boys could have traveled since the massacre.

He crossed out the cities that he knew the boys would avoid, leaving only three possibilities: Genua, Bari, and Trieste.

Trieste was the closest, but Kurapika had a feeling that the boys would have gone further to avoid detection. Bari seemed like the safer option, a place where they could blend in and remain hidden. Genua was a larger city, which could also offer them anonymity, but it was also a more dangerous place with mafia and gangs in it.

After much consideration, Kurapika decided to investigate Bari first, as it seemed the most likely destination for Ikki and Pairo. He folded the map and tucked it away, whispering to himself, "I'll find you, my friends. I promise."