Before this chapter begins, I wanted to clear some things up that I neglected to do in the previous chapter.
First, this series is NON CANON. I wasn't able to find a good place in the continuity to set this story. Also, I'd like to mention that while this series will have about 4 or 5 chapters of story, the rest I plan to make one shots. However, I intend to make other fan fics of multiple chapters which will exist in the same continuity. I will post them in chronological order. In the event that one of my one shots comes before or after one of the revolving stories, I'll mention it before the story.
Second, I wanted to clear up some things about the setting. I decided to set this series in Whale Island, since 3 of the 4 main characters seemed to originate from there (the boat that Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika got on left from Whale Island, so I'm assuming that they're all from different parts of the island. If I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me.)
Now without further ado, please enjoy Chapter 2. Feel free to comment in the comment section and tell me what you think of the story so far.
At 4:00, the group headed back to the apartment building. True to his words, the manager was sitting in the lobby waiting for them with four keys at hand. Upon a silent agreement, the group waited for their fourth member to return home from work, knowing that it would not be a particularly long wait. Kurapika's new job was a mere 5 minute walk from the building, and he wanted to see the apartment as much as they did. Of course, he knew what it looked like and all, but the fact of just walking into an apartment and thinking this is my place, was a feeling that the Kurata hadn't known for years.
"Hi." The blonde spoke upon reaching his friends.
"Hey Kurapika, how was work?" Gon said loudly, causing him to gain the attention of one or more people in the lobby.
"It was good. Compared to working for Neon Nostrad in York Shin City, it's a dream job ." To almost anybody that knew Kurapika to some degree, it was apparent that Kurapika imensely disliked the city of York Shin. He hated the crime rate of the city. He hated the city's traffic at the time of the annual auction. He hated the people and the food. When the group was deciding where to live before settling in this town, Kurapika made sure to make his opposition of the city very clear. He only wanted to come out to York Shin City as a means of getting the scarlet eyes and, of course, chasing the Genei Ryodan. Not to mention, working for Neon was anything but a pleasant experience for the Kurata. Kurapika could think of a million things that he would rather do than babysit a spoiled, unintelligent teenager all day and night. Had it not been for Senritsu, Kurapika would have gone crazy. Kurapika's new job was exactly what he needed. His job was all about finding the locations of valued artifacts using the internet. Not to mention his boss actually had a set of scarlet eyes in his possession and was interested in buying more. Needless to say, Kurapika had very good sources of at least knowing where all pairs of the eyes were located. "Are you guys ready to go up to the apartment?"
"You bet!" Killua yelled. "Gon, I'll race you!" Killua said as he started running up the stairs.
"No fair Killua! You got a head start!" Gon cried as he chased his friend.
Kurapika looked at Gon as he climbed up the stairs. He then, without looking at Leorio, commented "They never change one bit, do they?"
"No, they don't" Leorio replied, his eyes not departing from the now abandoned staircase.
Leorio and Kurapika decided to take the elevator up to their apartment, both tired from their long day. Their apartment was on the sixth floor of an eight story apartment building. During the minute long elevator ride, the two took light glances at each other, but neither bothered to talk. However, they both knew that this wasn't going to last.
When they got to their apartment, they noticed that Killua and Gon were surprisingly waiting for them. Leorio honestly thought that they would have run into the apartment, leaving the door opened. But there they were, waiting for their other two friends. Leorio noticed that Gon was slightly out of breath. He quietly assumed that Killua had won the race. As Kurapika waited to enter the building, he saw no one moving, but Killua preparing to speak.
"Kurapika," Killua began, "…Gon, Leorio, and I were talking earlier, and we were wondering if you'd like to open the door." Kurapika's friends looked up at him, smiling.
"…sure…thanks Killua," Kurapika said with a smile on his face and the feeling of tears forming in his eyes. He was speechless. He was so filled with gratitude, a gratitude that he hadn't felt in years. His voice growing stronger, he said, "Thank you everyone!" He said this as he pushed the key into the door and felt it as the door unlocked.
The four entered the apartment. They entered into a very small hall which led to their living room. The room had 3 loveseats and a big, comfy looking armchair with a TV placed so that all seated in the room could see it and a coffee table placed where everyone could reach it. Gon gave the room his classic smile. The room was perfect for the friends, Gon thought.
Suddenly, Gon's shirt felt a tight pull. He looked at it only to see Killua's hand attached to his shirt. Quickly remembering why Killua wanted his attention, Gon followed him, away from the group. Noticing, Leorio and Kurapika looked at them, and then at each other.
"They must be heading to their room." Kurapika assumed.
"We should probably head to ours." Leorio suggested. Kurapika had nearly forgotten one of the most important things about their new apartment; there were only two bedrooms. From the second that he discovered this, he knew that he who he was going to be sharing his room with. Trying to separate Gon and Killua was like trying to kill Hisoka to him. That wasn't to say that Kurapika definitely would not have chosen Leorio if he could. Kurapika found Leorio to be a more organized person then either of the boys, meaning that they would avoid issues of cleanliness. Leorio had faults as a roommate of course, remembering the last time that they shared a room, but he was by no means a bad roommate.
Leorio had already pondered the room arrangements of the apartment to himself previously as well. Kurapika would have been Leorio's first choice as a roommate any way. Even though Kurapika could be a little uptight, he thought, remembering their last experience as roommates when Kurapika attacked him in the face for walking into their room naked, he had a lot more good qualities. He was quiet, unlike Gon. With Gon as a roommate, he would never get a moment's peace in his room. As for Killua, Leorio could best describe their relationship as mutually acquaintances, bonding over their relation to Gon and Kurapika, bur not much, if anything, else. When alone, the two constantly bickered and insulted one another. Not only that, but Leorio held light feelings of intimidation towards the former assassin. The thought of sharing a room with Killua made Leorio cringe.
As Kurapika and Leorio walked to their room, they peered over at the adjacent room. They saw that all of Gon and Killua's luggage had been brought up to their bedrooms. And that the room had a plentiful amount of space. They assumed that their room would have the same dimensions. However, they put on confused faces as they stared at the kid's bedding arrangements. Instead of two full sized beds, they saw one queen sized bed. Seeing as the children didn't mind the arrangement, the two shrugged and turned to enter their room.
The closed door of their room quietly opened as Leorio turned the knob and pushed the door slightly open. Through the visible crease in the door created by Leorio, the two could see a dimly lit room with beige walls. On opposing sides of the floor, the two men saw their respective bags. Upon turning the light switch by the door on, Leorio noticed the significant change in lighting, as the room lit up right before his eyes. Wanting to further inspect his room, Leorio pushed the door open further and walked in, with his companion following close by. After taking about five steps in the door, Leorio stopped dead in his tracks, with Kurapika soon bumping into him. Though initially confused by his friend's sudden actions, the Kurata quickly realized as he saw that, just as Gon and Killua, their room only had one bed. A feeling of shock and awkwardness filled the room, as not a sound left either man's mouth.