The Artistic Approach
Summary; Kurapika is the best student in Leorio's art class. And the teacher couldn't help but feel some sort of attraction to him… LeoPika
Disclaimer; Everything is of the creation of Yoshihiro Togashi-sama. Everything but the plot of course.
Notes; I had this idea while coming home from my friend's house. Spent an all-nighter there doing absolutely nothing. XD I should've typed this up at her house, but she has a Spanish keyboard that got me really confused. I don't really think that the title goes with the story, but it's the first thing that popped in my head and I liked it. Lol. Anyways, here's a full-blown that I hope to finish. Hope you enjoy! :)
-XK
P.S.; I stole the last name "Quinn" for Leorio from someone. I forgot who it was, but if you're reading this, I hope you don't mind.
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Chapter One: Class Begins
Leorio Quinn shuffled the empty canvas and art utensils under his arm while he held a pen in his mouth and dug in his pocket for the keys to his art room.
The late bell had already rung, chiming for the last minute students to hurry the hell up and get to their classes before their teachers noticed. Leorio's students were lined up against the wall of his room, just like he ordered every morning he was a tad bit late.
But what had caught his eye every time was the beautiful blond that always made it in the front of the line. His name was Kurapika Kuruta, a third year student and the best art student this teacher has ever seen. He could sketch a scene so well, that'd it'd look like a photograph. He could paint so well, some believed his artistic talent surpassed many famous painters such as Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. Somehow, that blond always ended up first in line whenever Leorio was running short on time.
Leorio struggled to get his key into the lock and hold all the canvas and paints and paint brushes under his arm.
"Hurry up, Old Man!" yelled someone from the near back. It was probably non-other than Killua Zoldyck, one of Leorio's least pleasant students. He was a first year student. True the boy had talent (though barely adding up to Kurapika), but his manners were as sour as a lemon.
A laugh followed his comment and without looking, Leorio knew right off the top of his head that it was Killua's right hand man, Gon Freecss, who was also a first year student. He didn't have a lot of talent for the arts, though he could splatter a canvas so well it would look like one, but he was great to have around. He always cheered people up with his happy-go-lucky attitude and always found the best in people, no matter how bad.
Still, the young arts teacher wrestled with his keys, the lock, and the supplies until a soft, sweet alto voice asked, "Would you like some help, Mr. Quinn?"
Leorio looked at the owner of the voice and his heart beat faltered a bit.
Kurapika cocked his head to the side a little, the reached out to catch the falling supplied from under Leorio's arm. He grabbed the canvas first under one arm, then the paints and brushes in his other arm.
"T-thank you," Leorio stuttered and finally got the key in the lock. He opened the door and allowed the blond artist to enter first.
The rest of the class filed in, gathered at their desk, and chattered quietly until Leorio got everything together and was ready to start class.
The room was huge for an art room. There was multiple desks squeezed together to create groups that only took up half the room. The other half was filled with easels and ceramics wheels for other arts. And there was a small garden just outside and Lerio always left the doors open when the wind was calm.
Leorio had allowed the students to sit with whom ever they liked and didn't really care how rowdy it got. He wasn't all for peace and quiet all the time. As long at the teens got their pieces finished, it was all good. He believed socializing can also help with inspiration for their art.
Also, the art building, like the band building, was separated from the school so that the main classes don't get interrupted by the rowdiness of the art room or the playing by the band room. The administration didn't mind.
Kurapika followed the teacher to the back of the room, waiting for instructions. Leorio cleared off some cabinets and shelves, then stuffed some used canvas and big jugs of paint in the storage closet before turning to Kurapika.
"Here, I'll take these," he said and took the brushes and paints from Kurapika's arm. "You can put those canvases against the wall over there."
The blond laid the canvas against the desired wall and after Leorio thanked him again, went to take his own seat at a desk.
The desk he sat at, Leorio noticed, wasn't filled with a lot of kids—just three others who sat on the other end of the table, leaving the blond completely alone. Those tables could fit at least eight to nine people per. He guessed the boy wasn't all that popular. Proof that looks don't always get you everywhere. Kurapika was gorgeous.
Leorio shook that thought from his head. Kurapika was his student and he was the superior. He could not be even thinking like that. It could probably get him fired. He busied himself for a bit longer to tidy up the back of the room and walked to the front to tell everyone their assignments for the day.
"Good morning, class," he called and smiled when the class looked at him and cheered, "Good morning, Mr. Quinn!" You could especially hear Gon's ecstatic cry from where he sat over everyone else's. Killua's on the other hand, was low, but Leorio suspected the boy called him "Old Man" again. They were never on good terms.
He explained that it was a free day today. The students had choices to either draw in their sketch books, paint on the canvas set up on the easels in the back, or mold clay on the wheels.
Leorio sat down in his chair. Free days meant no one could beg him and he could do whatever he pleased. Taking a sip from the Styrofoam coffee cup of caffeine he just heated up, he examined the room. A lot of the kids went to the easels to paint, few stayed to sketch and the rest went to the wheels. Among the ones playing at the wheels, was Gon and Killua. Dressed in their aprons, they were trying to mold a pot (or at least that's what it looked like) without getting each other dirty. And they were doing horribly at the "not getting each other dirty" part.
Leorio's favorite student sat in his table, concentrated deeply in a drawing that he was sketching slowly and perfectly. Leorio just wanted to go over there and take a small peak. He adjusted his un-needed sunglasses on his nose and tapped his own pencil on his own sketch book.
Bored, he started to sketch something that came to mind. But half-way though the picture, he threw the book on his desk and decided to clean out his storage room a bit. So, going back there, he grabbed some works that were totally misfiled by period and brought them out and purposely set them on Kurapika's table.
The blond boy looked up.
"Hope you don't mind me setting this here. I need to file some papers," Leorio said. "Would like to give me a hand?"
Leorio looked at Kurapika's sketch book to see what he was drawing and saw a young boy that was held by chains. The chains were only halfway done and the other half was just lines to plan out. The boys head held no face and his body was turned to the side, his hands hanging above him tied in the chains. It was a full body picture, but the boy's feet all the way up to half way to his knees was covered in a thick pile of cold chains.
The teacher looked amazed at the drawing. It was beautiful. The chains were so detailed. But before he could examine it more, Kurapika shut it book gentle.
"Sure," he said and went to Leorio's side.
Leorio split the pile with him and they sorted out the works of art by the periods. While the teacher just wanted to get it over with, did it quickly and messily without a care. But his student did is gently to not ruin the pictures. Though Leorio did slow down every time he was lucky enough to land on one of Kurapika's drawing.
This one, he was over-viewing, was one of a self-portrait they had done in the beginning of the year with an animal. Kurapika had chosen a puppy. He was wearing some kind of tunic and was lifting a dog up in the air. He had made his own eyes closed and rubbing noses with the dog. They both looked happy.
Secretly, Leorio wished to be that dog. He shook his head and hit the butt of his hand against his forehead. Stupid! Stop thinking like that!
Kurapika looked at him a bit funny, but returned to working.
After that, he helped the teacher file them and the bell rang. Next, Kurapika had to go to the most dreaded of all classes. Geometry. Gently stuffing the file into the cabinet behind Leorio's desk, he grabbed his stuff from his desk and headed out the door, passing by the art teacher's desk on the way out.
He couldn't help but notice that there was a sketch book open on the desk with a half finished picture of him on it.
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Final Word Count; 1,517
Well, not exactly the 2,000 words I was hoping for, but I got kind of close. And I thought that would be the perfect place to end. Do you think it's going a bit fast for a first chapter, 'cause I kind of do. Bleh. I kind of hope this story will go easy on me, especially because it's about art and that's my passion besides writing. Doesn't combining it make it even more fun? Any one recognize the pictures I had attempted to describe? The first one, the one in Kurapika's sketch book, is from the anime from when he was training with Nen in the forest, and the other with the dog was a fan art I found on Photobucket, except the dog has glasses like Leorio and a tie. Woof! It's so cute. Well, please drop off any ideas, comments, or flames in the Review box. Clicky, below. XD Thanks for reading. Please review. Love you!
-XK