SETTING SUN

Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers apply, Hunter X Hunter and all mentioned characters are not mine. I bow down to my eternal mentor, Yoshihiro Togashi-sama, he's a real-life genius!
Notes: YAOI, YAOI, and...more YAOI. This fanfic contains romantic relationship between two men, and so if you're at all disturbed by the concept, please read no further. Leorio+Kurapika pairing ^.^ I got the idea while reading Leorio's story in my profiles page, and from the weird thing I have for kids ^.^ Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

His gaze rested on the dimming sun behind the darkness of his glasses, feeling the sweetness of its warmth just by looking at it. He had always liked watching sunsets, because he felt that the afternoon was the only time he could really look into the sun, and was the only time that the sun would be weak enough for someone like him to look at its exquisite beauty. Not even in the morning could he really watch it, for the sun would immediately lose its kindness and would eventually burn his eyes if he took too long in his watching.

He didn't really know how long he sat there. He watched the sun disappear in the faraway horizon, that never-ending line that separated him from the heavenly brightness for the umpteenth time. That was another mystery he wanted to look into. No matter how much he wanted to run after the hiding sun, he could never see it until the next day because the very thing that hid it would run away from him when he got too close.

Leorio sighed. There were so many things in the world that he painfully wanted, fully knowing the impossibility of it all to be his. Let alone be held in the palm of his hand, to touch even just for a while. There were a lot of things he wanted to have, but the truth of not being able to hold it would always depress him to no end, cleaving a painful longing inside his heart that would never fail to make him shut his eyes in its throbbing ache.

But from all the things that he desperately longed for, there was that very special thing that rose above the rest. There was something he wanted so much that he would give up everything else he wanted just to be able to gain it, just so he could touch unworthy fingers in the softness of its touch.

He closed his eyes, memories and visions flooding back in his mind. Soft strands of silky blonde hair that could've beaten the grace of a ballerina as they danced in the breeze hypnotized him. Deep, cerulean eyes of soulful sapphire, looking back at him with unfeigned innocence, making him drunk. Eyes so painfully addicting that he could've sworn he'll do anything just to worship those eyes. Pale, creamy perfect skin that never ceased to tempt him to reaching out and touching it. He felt lost just by wanting it. He wanted to touch it, feel it, taste it. He wanted to take it in one kiss where he would drown in the sweetness before he would come up to find the very well of its rich taste in soft, welcoming lips.

He couldn't remember a time when such fantasies would not run by him. It filled a certain kind of pain in him as it mixed with pleasure just by the thoughts of it, only to come back to pain again. Like fantasy and reality coming up to clash in his face. But sometimes he could've sworn that such dreams and fantasies felt so real that his skin would burn whenever he opened his eyes to stop himself from feeling any further.

Leorio felt his whole body shudder in the warmth of that familiar wanton flame, engulfing his whole body that he had to shut his eyes to suppress a moan. Sweat trickled down the side of his face, his breathing coming up in shallow gasps as he tried to level himself. But the very difficulty of such an attempt was too much of a challenge to him, knowing fully well that the very source of his shameless desires was just inches away, seated in that almost feminine grace, beautiful and breath-takingly perfect that the sole act of looking seemed like a mortal sin.

As if feeling his gaze, blue eyes shifted from the twilight skies to look at him, wide and filled with a certain kind of concern as they rested their magnificent stare on him. Thin, charming eyebrows rose up in a sign of question, head tilting to one side as those deep eyes looked at him critically. "You all right, Leorio?"

Leorio watched those deep, rosy lips as they moved to form those words, yet again suppressing an internal shudder when he heard his name being uttered by the very voice that seduced him to no end without even knowing it. He felt a scorching blush come up to his cheeks that he had to look away lest his companion would see it. He brought out a mock cough, trying to push away the lump that unconsciously found its way at the back of his throat and held him mute. Making sure that his voice wouldn't put him to more shame than he was at the moment, he started. "I'm just fine, Kurapika."

God, even the mention of that name was torture to him. But he marveled at the way that very name seemed to glide through his tongue and lips oh so smoothly, having every moment's practice as it repeated itself over and over in his head. At night, when those gravely physical dreams of the other boy tormented him in his sleep, he would always catch himself whispering his name, sometimes too painfully that he would feel a single tear roll down his cheek while his heart throbbed inside his chest in a maddeningly fast beat.

He had always wished to tell him how he felt, to at least let him glimpse a bit of himself just so he wouldn't feel so lost. But it would always scare him just by thinking of the possible things that Kurapika would say when he found out. The most probable was rejection. Despite the thought of knowing that Kurapika would never hurt him in any unreasonable way, he still dreaded thinking about the whole thing. He knew that a single "no" from the beautiful boy would shatter his whole world to the point of death. Not to mention that the exposure of such a secret could end their friendship then and there, and that was the main thing he dreaded. Kurapika had been his best friend after all.

But further thoughts were interrupted as he felt an unnerving presence a little bit too close for comfort. That was when he realized that Kurapika was leaning a little too close, lean arms resting on each side of his side of the bench, trapping him under a critical gaze when he unconsciously stared back.

"Something's bothering you. What is it?" came that familiar voice again, suspicion and concern gravely flowing out, mixed with an almost stern tone together with its gentleness. He wasn't sure if Kurapika's voice was just showing too much or he was listening a bit too deeply.

Leorio had to look away lest he would lose himself in those eyes yet again. It was pointless trying to hide from Kurapika, the guy's practically a walking sensor. Not to mention a walking computer. He was not at all dumb. In fact, Leorio sometimes feared that the younger boy was even smarter than he was. Not that he would be able to admit that, his ego wouldn't let him, even if that very fact danced in front of his face for a thousand times.

He sighed, shaking his head. "It's nothing, Kurapika. I'm just fine," he insisted, putting on a forced smile. He could very well know that Kurapika wouldn't be fooled by such a foolish display. He could only wish that he would just bite in and get the idea that he didn't want to talk any further.

Kurapika frowned, seeing through that smile, but thankfully for Leorio, he decided to drop it. He leaned back to sit straightly on his side again, and Leorio had to suppress a sigh of relief. He had gravely thought that he would lose all his senses, feeling fully warm and uneasy under such a close proximity with someone he had longed for every single day of his life since he met him. It would be difficult to pry himself away if ever he'd lose every decent thought in him and do something he would regret later on.

The younger boy sighed, then shrugged before he looked at his friend again. "You were saying something about leaving. What do you mean?" he asked, turning his head to one side to fully face Leorio.

Leorio, thankful that the mood had changed, sighed as well. Thinking back for an answer, he remember their last conversation. He had told Kurapika that he would be leaving for a town a bit far from the city. All he said was the location of the said place, that is was a bit close to his hometown, only a bit too drowned in poverty compared to his own. He hadn't exactly come to the point of telling him why he was leaving, so he figured that it must be the thing that was bothering Kurapika.

He took a deep breath and looked ahead. "Remember when I said that I wanted to be a doctor?" he asked. When he felt Kurapika nod after a moment's pause, he continued. "Well, I figured that the money I had stored from being a Hunter would be enough to help this town. There is only one small clinic there, and only a number of untrained doctors. There really isn't a professional healer there, all they know is what their inherited from the older ones, kind of like a knowledge that was only handed down from one generation to the next. I promised to help them out first."

Kurapika looked at him with what seemed like surprise in his eyes. "What do you mean by the money stored from being a Hunter? You mean all these times that you would pull money out everything, you were only planning to use them for those people?" he asked almost incredulously, his voice rising as he leaned closer again in disbelief.

Feeling uneasy under those eyes again, Leorio sheepishly scratched his cheek, giving out a small smile. "Er, yeah. I don't need that much money for myself anyway."

Kurapika only stared at him for what seemed like hours. But later on, a small smile broke on his beautiful face, and he grinned teasingly at the other man. "I see. So you keep a kind heart under you after all these times, eh Leorio?" he teased, patting his friend's shoulder in a gesture of almost a mockingly proud assurance.

Leorio scowled at him. He may admit that Kurapika was pretty likeable all in all, but really, the guy's words can be so sharp sometimes. "What does that suppose to mean? Am I not nice enough to you?"

Despite Leorio's vehement protest against his statement, Kurapika just laughed. "Well, you DO get to wrestle with Gon and Killua at times that there were those instances that I wondered why any of you are still alive," he teased further, seeming like he was enjoying the other man's glare at every word he makes.

Leorio snorted, muttering witty thank you's to the heaven for taking the two said kids away from him for a while. They were good friends to him, but really, they could be so hyper sometimes that they make him feel like he was babysitting instead of hanging around with them.

He then looked at Kurapika, who fortunately had seemed to get over his laughter. Leorio watched him look at the now dark skies of the night, that small smile lingering on his perfect lips as the same smile reflected in his eyes while he watched the slow-moving clouds.

The very innocence that surrounded him was enough to keep Leorio staring, his lips also twitching in what seemed like a tiny hint of a smile. He sighed, looking away again when he felt his stomach do its usual dance inside of him that made him feel uneasy. He wanted to tell Kurapika so much, but he couldn't think of a way how. And now that he's leaving, he knew it would be months before he'd see the other boy again.

Unless...

"Hey, Kurapika?"

Kurapika turned back to look at him, and Leorio looked down at his suddenly trembling hand, watching it play around with the edge of his shirt as he searched for the right words to say. "Uh...will you be busy these coming months?" he asked, a bit too uneasily. But he ignored the discomfort he felt behind his throat as he looked at his friend, anxious for the answer.

Kurapika blinked. "Er, I don't think so. Why?"

If possible, he would've heaved a heavy sigh, but he kept his poise somehow. He nodded and replied, "Well, if you're not busy, maybe you can come with me." He paused to think it over, and decided that those just might be the best words that could tell him what he meant. He wondered if his voice still trembled though.

Kurapika looked at him with wide, soulful eyes for what seemed like endless hours. He was silent, lips slightly opened in an obvious depiction of mild surprise and awe. Leorio waited patiently for the answer, growing more and more anxious with every ticking second that he would've gladly taken back what he had asked if Kurapika would make as much as a small sign of refusal.

But his patience somehow had been rewarded when that familiar smile found its way back to Kurapika's lips. "Really? You wouldn't mind?" came the slightly worried question, an uneasy expression on that almost feminine face as he looked back at the older male.

Leorio, relief again flowing through his whole body, couldn't help but grin. "'Mind' isn't at all the word, Kurapika," he said, every single word truthful. In fact, he would've gladly jumped up and kissed the guy in thanks, but he figured he might just earn a punch on the face if ever he planned of doing that. He shook his head, and just looked back at his companion. "I could use a bit of company there after all. So, is that a yes?"

Kurapika grinned back and nodded. "I AM intrigued by the concept of you acting all nice and caring for once after all," he said, earning a mock glare from the other man. He laughed. "Thanks for the invitation, I'll try to help out when needed, okay?"

Leorio nodded, letting that last comment pass somewhat. "Yeah. And thanks," he said, smiling as they resumed their comfortable silence as they looked up at the skies again.

He thought it over. It just might be one of his best ideas yet. It may be the perfect chance for him to be together with Kurapika, and to finally tell him how he feels. After all these times of hiding, he could only wish for the best, hoping against hope that he might stand a chance.

* * * * *

The ship was fairly big and elegant, sides and railings clean, beautiful and free of the usual rust that would almost always coat the metal bars of a ship's balustrade. The floors were made up of flawless, well-polished wood, hard and solid against his feet. People of different personalities and appearance are spread among the rooms and facilities, speaking in different ways with their own different companions. The whole ship in itself was of a fine class, even if not the best.

Clear, foamy blue waters splashed on either side of the vessel, dancing along a graceful arch before going back to the ocean from which it belonged. He watched in unfeigned amusement, allowing their stylish dance soothe him in a tranquil daze. He ran his gaze along the translucent waters, smiling at the beauty underneath another beauty. It never ceased to amaze him how much splendor the world still hides, and he couldn't believe he had let such things pass.

He sighed, memories of a painful past circling his head in a familiar loss. He had lost everything he had ever come to love because of the Geneiryodan, and his heart had been filled with so much hatred that he had ignored every other thing that happened to him. His mind was clouded in a desperate attempt at revenge to the point of insanity. It scared him just thinking about it, how uncaring he would seem whenever those moments pass him by.

Sometimes he would just envy Gon, sometimes even Killua. Both possessed such a boundless kind of naïveté he had seem to have lost. Yes, despite the story behind Killua's life as an assassin, he was still a child whenever he was with Gon, with all of them. Even the wisdom behind the eyes of the young Zoldick never ceases to block away the childish playfulness, no matter what his family does to prevent him from feeling any sort of human emotions. Killua fought his own battle inside of him, and the child in him won.

He could only wish he could be as strong. He supposed that the grief and shock the very incident in his past had caused him to be so furious, so angry, that he had forgotten that he was just a child. A crying boy in the mask of a child's face.

"Kurapika!"

The voice was familiar. He turned back to look at its owner, not even bothering to fix the tousled hair as they danced with the harsh winds. Eyes looked up to meet with the other's brown ones, watching the smile fade away and turn into a frown.

"Something wrong?"

That was the only time did he notice how much he got into those memories. Memories of his past, memories of the two boys that had become what he called his friends. He had drowned too much in his grief yet again that he hadn't notice how much his heart had cried and how much his face reflected his sadness.

He shook his head. "I'm fine, Leorio," he said, even if deep inside he knew it was a lie. Almost every time he would bring out a smile, it would all be a lie. When had he started being so detached?

It seemed that his companion noticed as well. "You don't look fine at all, you know," he said, bending down to look at him and pointing out as if something was on his face. But for all he knew, that something was just the frown he wore.

Finding no point in lying, he sighed. "I was just...thinking," he said, his gaze cast down on the dancing waters again, his grip tightening on the rails. Visions of his memories rushed back at his head that he had to shut his eyes just to make himself forget about them.

Leorio nodded. "Aa," was all he uttered before he found his place beside the other boy, close enough to show that they were together but far enough to give him his space. Bigger, more masculine hands found their way around the railings as well, the taller frame of his body leaning in to look out to the living sea himself.

Kurapika wouldn't really call Leorio especially beautiful, but there was something about the man's charm that he found enticing in its own way. Compared to him, he was most definitely male, which in his case was a very hard thing not to have. There were too many times he had been mistaken as female that he had lost count. Leorio was the kind whom one would find ridiculous to be feminine at all. The toned, well-muscled body was undeniable well enough, face set with a few signs of hair running across a strong jaw line. Movement in itself is a bit rather careless and aggressive, yet with its own trademark grace and allure as well.

But he snapped himself out of what seemed like his personal admiration towards the other man. He mentally shook his head and turned away. A momentary blush found its way on his pale cheeks, not knowing exactly what came over him to think of such things. And mind you, all his life he never really was attracted to any man. Well, not very attracted to more or less anybody, but that was beside the point.

He swallowed, feeling a lump on his throat, still denying his past thoughts of the older male. Slightly convinced that he was still his sane self somehow, he turned back to Leorio. "Do you need anything?" he asked good-naturedly, pushing further thoughts aside as he switched back to his old self, a smile curving up his thin lips.

It took Leorio a while to respond, for he seemed to be gravely interested in watching the deep blue of the open sea, very much like what Kurapika himself was doing just a few moments ago. But he eventually closed his eyes and shrugged out his reply, a momentary grin coming up to his face. "Nothing really," he said, a hand coming up to rest on his hip, still looking at the far distance. "But I think there's nothing wrong if I look for the single person I seemed to be acquainted with in this big place, don't you think?"

A faint laughter escaped Kurapika's lips as he shook his head. "Point taken."

Leorio smiled back. And no, no matter how the very fact that Kurapika's knees somehow seemed to soften beneath his legs, he was NOT drawn into that smile. He was in the verge of hitting himself when Leorio suddenly spoke again.

"We only have an hour further, would you like to have lunch now?" he asked, now unquestionably looking at him.

But somehow, Kurapika was able to murmur a soft, "sure", almost missing Leorio's nod as he followed him down the ship's deck. He was too deep in his own thoughts and worries about what was happening to him that he somewhat missed a step, and would've fallen in a rather ungraceful manner if not for the strong arms that quickly wrapped themselves around him, helping him regain his balance. He was only thankful that there was no one else in sight who would undoubtedly see him as a klutz, which he surely would fervently go against. Well, except for Leorio anyway.

But the very thought of his supposed to be companion rather shocked him, that by the time he realized that his face was only inches away from Leorio's own, he panicked and pulled away immediately. Fortunately, he found his footing, holding onto the stairway railings for support.

"Careful," came Leorio's immediate concern, but was quickly dismissed by the blonde-haired youth. The older boy frowned in disapproval and insisted on offering his help, but Kurapika would not take it. He shook his head and headed down, not even turning back to make sure if his companion followed. His heart beat in a frustratingly maddening pace, throbbing in his chest like a deep-sounding drum.

But quick, strong strides told him that he was being followed, and surely, from the familiar voice that uneasily called his name for the third time, he knew who it was. But a wince found its way on his usually blank face when he felt that he actually felt nervous just thinking about being alone with him again. And it irritated him to no end that he didn't know what he felt.

But fully knowing that he can't run away from Leorio forever, or even before they reach their destination, he pursed his lips to suppress a sigh and stopped. He turned back to wait for the other boy to catch up with him, letting him lay a hand on his shoulder to ask what was wrong even if he felt a cold shudder run down the point he touched, even underneath the sleeves of his coat. Not to mention that the very opposite of the chill in his arm ran through his cheeks, yet again making him blush for no apparent elemental reason.

Irritated and confused, he brought up a hand up to the side of his face to cover up the blush, making it look like he's fixing the hair that came down his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he thought, aggravated.

What is wrong with me?

* * * * *

Kurapika was acting weird ever since they left the ship, but Leorio tried not to poke his head too much into the younger boy's face lest he'd earn himself a literally crimson glare. Which, in Kurapika's case, could only mean death, torture and grave, physical pain. Much as his mind insisted that the mostly quiet young man would never use his strength against a friend, he didn't want to push his luck.

And so, they walked in an uncomfortable silence down the dusty path, with momentary glances from Leorio to Kurapika. Much to his luck, Kurapika was still in his sudden change of mood, a small frown visibly soiling his beautiful face as his eyes kept still on the ground.

Much as he dreaded even thinking about the possible consequences, questions rang through Leorio's mind like an unending mantra. Not to mention he was gravely worried about his companion's well-being. Ever since what happened on the ship's deck, Kurapika had somehow acted rather uneasily around him, refusing to meet his eyes and talking in one-liners like the way he did whenever he was with strangers. He wasn't exactly friendly with other people, and boy did Leorio realize what those other people felt. The young Kuruta can most probably be as cold as he is warm.

He cleared his throat. "Uh, hey, Kurapika?" he called, bending down to level his head with the younger man's own. "A while ago in the ship, what happened?" he asked, his feet slowly inching away just in case something happens. If ever it did, he would run away. And wish that it was just that simple.

As if on cue, Kurapika's eyes widened, and Leorio thought he saw a tiny sign of bloody red shine through those blue orbs. But just when the older man was about to decide to run away, the crimson part in the young Kuruta's eyes disappeared again, and he shook his head. "Nothing."

Not meaning to push too much, Leorio inched in a bit closer in what he thinks is a safe proximity. Beautiful as Kurapika was, he can be quite scary sometimes as well. "So, uh...you're not feeling weird at all?" he asked, willing himself that this would be the last time for Kurapika and his sake.

Kurapika seem to have noticed Leorio's uneasy movements. Delicate eyebrows rose in a sign of curiosity as he looked at the other boy. "I'm fine, Leorio. Don't mind me," he said, smiling that familiar smile Leorio oh so loved.

He seems okay now, Leorio thought. And simply because of a beautiful smile, he shut up and decided to let everything else pass. Tilting his head to one side as he continued watching his companion, he eventually shrugged, slightly convinced. He then looked up ahead, his eyes lighting up as what seemed like a house's roof met his gaze.

"We're here!" he declared, opening his arms as if he was really going to embrace the whole town as his steps turned into a fast sprint.

Kurapika watched as his friend ran to the town, his frown breaking as a smile found its way to his lips at the mere sight of it. Leorio seemed so happy, I suppose he's really attached to these people, he thought to himself. And he walked on, every other thought he once had in his mind cast away for a moment's bliss in watching such happiness burst from Leorio.

"Oniichan! Oniichan's back!"

It was a little girl around the age of seven. She came running with open arms to fall in the young doctor's embrace, laughing whole-heartedly as she was spun around and around. Leorio eventually laughed with her and hugged her to him before letting go. "Wow! You've grown a lot, eh Aieka-chan!" he said, bending down to look at the girl.

The girl, Aieka, nodded enthusiastically. "I followed everything you said, and I've grown tall too!" she said, little, chubby hands coming up to hold up above her head, indicating the height she was talking about. Her bright smile could've lit a thousand villages, her eyes sparkling with happiness at the mere sight of such a familiar face.

It made Leorio smile even more. He nodded in assurance. "Yes, that's right. So you've been good then?" he asked the little girl as he ruffled her hair back from her head, earning another hearty laugh.

Kurapika watched all this with his own fascination, that he couldn't help but smile when Leorio ruffled the child's hair in a playful manner. He seems so friendly, so loving. And from the look on the child's face and the brightness of her smile, he knew that Leorio was just as loved.

Had I missed so much? Had I drowned myself too much in my own anger that I missed so much wonders?

And before he could stop himself, his smile disappeared, his head dropping in that familiar stance as he held back the urge to cry out. Watching Leorio now only made him realize how much time he had wasted. It never really eased him at all, getting rid of the Geneiryodan, it really wasn't enough. He thought that he'll find happiness avenging his tribe, but it only made the emptiness inside grow worse.

Leorio, who seem to have realized his current state, called out. "Oi, Kurapika! Come on, let's look for a place to rest, all right?" he asked from afar, his eyes set on the young Kuruta a few meters away from him.

Little Aieka glanced from the doctor to the stranger, her auburn pigtails flying around her small head behind her back. She let go of her Leorio-oniichan's clothes and hesitantly walked towards the stranger. Small hands came up into small fists under her chin. Aieka has always been a shy child, and only Leorio can make her smile and talk so much.

Feeling the doctor's gaze behind her back, Aieka looked behind her to look for a sign of reassurance. The young doctor smiled and nodded his head, a sure sign that it was okay. Aieka smiled and nodded as well, all worries set aside, and ran towards the young stranger. She peered up from the low position her height put her in, and she seemed so small compared to the stranger.

She looked up and saw that the stranger had a sad expression, and seemed oblivious that she was there. But one thought crossed Aieka's mind when she saw those eyes. "Beautiful!" she whispered in awe. Indeed, the stranger in front of her WAS very pretty, with beautiful golden hair and wonderful blue eyes, she's never seen such a person in her life.

A bright smile crossed her child's face and she immediately called for the stranger. "Hello!" she greeted, pulling the hem of the stranger's clothes to her. "I'm Aieka. What's your name?" she asked.

Kurapika immediately woke up from his trance when he heard the little voice, and from the slight pressure of being pulled from below. He looked down at the cheerful girl who looked up at him with a bright smile, repeatedly asking for his name.

He felt his eyes soften a little, smiling as well, as memories flooded his mind.

Memories of a familiar past.

To be continued...

A/N: So far, this is my favorite among my on-going fanfics (",) This should be one-shot, but it somehow ended up to be so long that I'm afraid you guys might go cross-eyed with the length. But this wouldn't take long, I promise! Thank you for reading!

Cherrie ( blackcape@edsamail.com.ph )
http://www.geocities.com/kurapika_eyesofcrimson