*Shades of Red*

by: WhiteGloves

"Watch them again. They'll never disappear"

*LeoPika Pairing/BL*

A tall man wearing a white polo and casual pants was waiting on the port early that morning. He was a man in his mid twenties with a clean cut locks and well shaved chin. His shoulders were broad and his skin was tan. Not that he was fussy about his attractive appearance, but he sure gives a damn about cleanliness. He's a doctor after all.

The gust of the wind was making his collar with two buttons open slap on his collar bone but he doesn't seem to mind. He has always liked fresh air.

The gulls were soaring above the sky and circling the coming ship that was ready to settle on the harbour. The man watched it with anticipation and then looked down the paper he was holding. His eyes softened as he read the name of the sender.

Really, this guy, he thought with his small circle shades glinting in the light of the sun, doing what he wants like usual…

The tall man smiled. The usual… huh…

Once the ship anchored on the port, he waited patiently near the wall and watched as passengers swarm the street to meet their relatives and friends. He watched their happy faces and felt a little warm inside. Moments from now he was finally going to see him… that boy who made a difference in his quiet life. He could hardly contain his excitement.

Then he saw him… the sender of his letter.

His correspondent was a young man with golden locks and serene green eyes. He was carrying a small duffle bag. He got a little taller since the last time he saw him, but there was no doubt about who he was. The silent man can remember the pretty boy clearly as if they've only seen each other yesterday. With fond eyes, he observed the young man. The young man with golden hair was wearing a casual shirt— unlike his former tight clothing. There was still that look of calm indifference on his pale face, but the doctor knew better.

He was glad the cold aura that once hunted the boy's green eyes were gone… he hoped it was forever. Then he saw the green eyes sought the crowd to look for a familiar face. There was a worried expression that came to the boy's features for a moment, but then the green eyes found him and as quick as the worried shadow appeared, it was also quick on disappearing.

The doctor smiled secretly and then pushed himself a little to straighten up.

The golden haired boy walked toward him and he did the same. Then finally when the two were standing a foot from each other, they eagerly looked up to face one another.

"Leorio!" Kurapika's voice was the same and his eyes showed real enthusiasm upon seeing the doctor though his calm face retained its expression. Leorio smiled at him.

"Yo,"

Within minutes, the two were next seen talking for all time's sake while walking upward the small road of Leorio's small town.

"I'm glad you got my letter," Kurapika was saying, walking beside the doctor with eyes ahead of him, "I didn't really know where to contact you until Gon cleared the matter."

"You really surprised me," Leorio walked with hands on both pockets, "I never thought I'd receive a letter from you after all these years…"

"It's been very long," Kurapika nodded quietly, "I'm glad I was able to return… after everything…"

There was a sudden hint of seriousness in his voice and Leorio was damned to even break it. He only gave his friend a side glance and then looked ahead. It was also as if it was yesterday… when they were chasing those ones with marks on their backs…

"Anyways," Leorio interrupted as he scratched his head, "good thing you found my address! But this visit really caught me by surprise! What happened to that guy with heart reading ability?"

"Oh, you mean Senritsu?" Kurapika followed Leorio up a slope and saw they were going up a hill, "She's fine. She was a great friend and I was actually reluctant to leave her right after she helped me go through everything."

"Yep, you should, though that can't be helped." Leorio climbed up a steep road which Kurapika found odd. He looked up at the man to find Leorio grinning at him as if testing if he would follow. Sighing, he tried but then found a hand offered to help him. A little taken aback, Kurapika saw that Leorio was still smiling and decided to reach for the doctor's hand.

"She said I can manage myself now and just need to find myself again," he explained as they walked on another street. From far away he could see a bell hanging on a tall tower, "she said all I need is a break."

"And when she said break you suddenly thought about your old pal me, huh?" Leorio smirked at him as they reached a building. Kurapika looked up at the tall building in wonder.

"That concludes it," the young man answered without much thought, "so is this where your clinic is?"

"Yep," Leorio followed where he was looking, "it's a decent place."

They climbed until they reached the fourth floor. There were two doors on the same floor. From there Leorio took his keys and opened the door on the left and let Kurapika in first.

Kurapika looked around the room as he set his bag on the nearest table. The room was wide and with white walls, covered with paintings of nature. The windows were open with flowers set on the railings. The curtains and table were simple but elegant. The shelves were full of books and bottle medicines of different kinds, there were also at least three beds separated by curtains on the far side of the room. There was also another door on Kurapika's left with a label above it that says 'Emergency'.

Kurapika smiled and then looked back at Leorio who was still standing by the door.

"You really outdid yourself very much,"

"Not really," Leorio shook his head humbly as he looked around with pride, "This is the best that I can…"

Kurapika set his eyes on his friend and a flicker of fondness appeared on them.

"I'm really happy for you," he said simply. Leorio gave him a look and then smiled too.

"Come! Let's drop your things on my room."

Kurapika followed him as the doctor went on the second room on the floor. There he inserted another key from his pocket and opened the next room wide.

Compared to the first one, the next room was a little small with a bed near the window, a set of chairs near the door, a small kitchen with a table set for four and two windows. Another door seemed to lead to the bathroom. Kurapika's green eyes wandered about the room as Leorio, who was now carrying the duffle bag, placed it on the nearby table.

"I can't believe a licensed hunter would live in something so… small," the golden haired commented as he touched the long table with pictures on top of it.

"Who needs a big one when I can be satisfied with a small one?" he grunted with closed eyes. Kurapika settled the one framed photo back on the table and turned to his friend.

"I was just saying… because you kept on bragging about how you want lots and lots of money when we were doing the exam."

"Hey, I wasn't bragging! Not in the slightest!"

"You did. You even mentioned buying a lot of money if you can."

Leorio felt a trickle of sweat run down the side of his face as he made a face.

"Oi! Why are you bringing this up now?"

Kurapika smiled and walked about the room.

"It's just refreshing to remember… about our time with our friends…"

Leorio watched his friend, and then sighed before falling into a smile.

About noon, the doctor has already showed a part of the town to his visitor. Kurapika seemed to enjoy the sight as they wondered, especially when the doctor showed him some ruins of the small town. By lunch time he brought Kurapika to a local restaurant and there talked about Kurapika's visiting plan.

"If you don't really mind," Kurapika was saying as they ate, "I'd love to stay longer if I'm not much of a burden to you."

Leorio looked up and found the green eyes looking at him expectantly.

"I don't really mind," the doctor shrugged, "but you've got to bear with me this time."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Leorio's grin was wide and it suddenly sent a familiar chilling feeling on the golden haired boy's spine. Kurapika remembered that feeling so well which only means…

Leoro grinned and pointed at him then exclaimed—

"You've gotta share the same room with me without being upset and getting wild about it!"

"Eh?" and Kurapika remembered clearly those times where he would knock Leorio off when he was goofing around. The memory sent another feeling of fondness on his tight heart. It was the same warmth Kurapika felt upon finally finding Leorio on the port. Like he felt relief washed over his body upon laying eyes on his dear friend. He wondered about that.

"No complaints, got it?" Leorio was obviously provoking him with that silly smirk of his.

"I-I don't really care already…" Kurapika closed his eyes forcibly and bowed his head. Leorio blinked at him and then settled a little back on his chair.

"You serious?" he said after awhile that made the green eyed boy look up, "I remember how you almost broke my neck last time… you sure you're okay now and not sick?"

"Hey, wait a minute! Why do you ask a question when you'll just bug me for another answer?"

"It's coz I don't wanna end up being thrown down the streets or locked outside my own door!"

"As if I'd do something as selfish as that!"

"You did before!"

"T-that was before—!"

"Yeah right! And then the next thing I'm still locked outside my door!"

"C-cut it already… you—"Kurapika opened his mouth to speak but then found himself lost for words. He found himself staring at Leorio with round eyes. He then realized he was bickering with Leorio. It's been awhile since he acted like that…Kurapika's eyes softened. So this was what Senritsu meant when he said 'finding yourself'…

"Oi… what's the matter?"

Kurapika saw Leorio staring at him closely. The boy blinked and then slowly settled the excitement in his heart. He gave the doctor another look and then smiled.

"It's nothing… I was just thinking how we'd always end up fighting like this before…"

It was Leorio's turn to blink.

"Oh yeah," he agreed with a chuckle, "that really was nostalgic…"

Kurapika stared at Leorio as they resumed eating and then wondered about himself again. What was the reason he quickly searched for Leorio the moment he realized he was gone… Why did he insist in finding Leorio's housewhen Gon's house was ready before him. They were friends as well, right? Not to mention, with Killua's presence, his break to finding himself would be there as well. However, there was that nagging feeling inside him that kept saying it was wrong to go there… it kept saying that something was missing…Kurapika really wondered about that.

They returned to the building right after stopping by some stores to buy important necessities. Kurapika was already getting used to the town when he noticed the clinic door was open. Staring at it, he realized movements from the inside.

"Leorio," he called, suddenly attentive to what was natural to him, "someone's inside…"

Leorio looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh… that's probably…"

Then before their eyes, a woman emerged from the open door and looked straight at the two of them.

"Oh, there you are, Leorio!"

Kurapika's eyes rounded as the woman waved at them. She was a little taller than him with smart eyes and brown curly hair. There was something in her smile as she walked up to Leorio and talked to him so closely that made the golden haired boy a little uneasy.

"By the way," Leorio gestured toward his visitor, "this is my friend, Kurapika. Kurapika, this is my assistant nurse, Mayu,"

The two acquainted themselves politely.

"So he's the friend you've been anticipating to meet?" the woman gave a soft laugh, making Kurapika realize she was probably close to Leorio… he then wondered about their relationship…

"Well now, anticipating is too much of a word hahaha…" answered his shades wearing friend.

"Wow… he's very pretty… are you sure he's a male?"

"O-of course!"

Kurapika watched the interaction between the two and felt something that suddenly distracted his usual calm demeanour. Something wanted to burst out from inside him but what was that exactly? The two laughed to laugh in front of him. Kurapika bit his lower lip.

"Leorio!" his tone became suddenly loud, "I want to rest!"

Leorio looked down at him in surprise while Mayu blinked. He knew the woman was looking at him but he didn't dare look back. Just at that moment… he was feeling something against the woman who have done nothing to him and he felt guilty about it.

Mayu and Leorio exchanged looks before she looked and smiled at Kurapika. She then glanced at Leorio and pointed at the clinic door.

"I'll wait you inside, doctor."

Leorio responded and opened the door to his room. Kurapika followed him quietly and set his grocery bags down quietly.

"Hey, what's that about?" Leorio asked him as he headed for the door, "Are you feeling okay?"

Kurapika didn't look at him but remained silent. The doctor watched him closely and then looked troubled after a moment as if thinking the possibility of being kicked out of the room after all. He looked back at his silent friend and then headed for the door.

"I'll be right back," he said and left.

Kurapika glanced at the door, and then slowly looked outside the window.

The sun was about to set. The warm feeling in his heart was gone. He suddenly realized what would have been missing if he stayed with Gon and Killua. That was when he walked around and touched the picture frame on the small table once again. It was the picture of the four of them: Gon, Killua, Leorio and himself. The two boys were smiling eagerly on the photo while trying to break each other's neck. Leorio and himself were just behind the two with the shades guy grinning foolishly and himself smiling naturally.

The young man smiled in spite of himself.

Leorio closed the door of his clinic with a satisfied smile. He walked back to his room feeling a little happy that someone was there only to find the place empty. The doctor looked around but there was no one. With a look of puzzlement on his expression, Leorio looked outside the window to the sunset.

Kurapika walked the streets to follow the path toward the view of the sunset. It was lucky the town was small it was easy for him to walk its narrow street. People around the town tend to follow him with their eyes. He guessed they must've realized he was a new comer.

Moments later he found himself standing alongside the road and leaning on the edge of a creek. Seaside was below him with the waves hitting the lower rocks as mighty as it could. Then Kurapika stared at the sun with silent eyes.

Really… what exactly was he doing there? It's been years since he felt really alive and awake. It's been years since he felt light hearted without a chain on his heart… really… after everything… why did he decided to go there…?

"You troublesome guy," said Leorio's voice, "leaving the room without a word! Geez!"

Kurapika shot a look on his left side and saw his friend standing in the middle of the road with a look of I-knew-you'd-be-here on his eyes. A little surprised that he was found easily, Kurapika had to remind himself that he was dealing with a professional hunter after all. He sighed.

"I was just… walking around," he explained quietly and stared ahead of him again. Leorio shook his head and stood beside him. And Kurapika felt again… that warmth in his heart.

"You could have at least informed me that you're gonna go stroll out here," the doctor scratched the back of his head, "damn I thought you decided to disappear again, geez!"

Kurapika glanced at his friend with a small smile.

"Sorry, if I seemed to trouble you."

"Trouble me?" Leorio's eyebrows raised up, "you think you just troubled me? Are you an idiot?"

He leaned close to the golden haired boy who gulped and tried to pull away a little with a sweatdrop on the side of his face.

"Ah… no… I'm sorry…" he managed to mumble. Leorio straightened himself and rolled his eyes.

"You never change, Kurapika," he said after a moment, "appearing and disappearing whenever you want to… acting on your own and making me worried… geez, you need to put on your head that there are people here who cares about you!"

Kurapika stared at his friend.

"Seemed like I had you worry?" he said after awhile with eyes transfixed on the doctor, "but why would you worry? Did you think I am not going to return?"

It was an earnest question, Leorio thought as he caught the meaningful eyes of his old friend. If it was that of an honest question, the doctor thought quietly, then it might as well receive an earnest answer.

"Idiot, I was just worried you'd disappear somewhere I won't find you. That's really troubling especially since it's been too long. Don't get me wrong, but there is something self satisfying to see you safe and sound."

He's saying that as a doctor, Kurapika thought with a sad smile. It's normal for him to worry about his friend… a simple minded guy like him…

"I won't be going anywhere," Kurapika said airily as he looked back at the sun which was almost gone, "I said I was staying for awhile, didn't I? You think I'm a liar now, Leorio-san?"

Leorio shot him a look. Kurapika smiled. It was right after night fall that the two managed to return on their building. Upon ascending the fourth floor, Leorio rummaged for his keys while Kurapika looked at the closed clinic door.

"Where is she?" he found himself asking out of curiosity.

"Hm? You mean Mayu?" Leorio managed to insert the key on the lock, "in her own home, I guess."

Kurapika lowered his eyes, and then glanced up at the doctor.

"What's your relationship with her?"

"Told you she's my assistant," Leorio pushed the door open and walked inside, but before that, he looked back at his friend and winked before adding, "and yep, she's my girlfriend."

*To Be Continued*

Thanks for Reading!