A/N: Written for Florallover

Synopsis: Kurapika and Gon are in a happy relationship until Gon runs off with Leorio. Kurapika, broken-hearted, has a hot one-night stand withBisukeand a brief, unhappy affair with Basho, then follows the wise advice of Retz and finds true love with Machi.

Kurapika and Gon were sitting quietly across from one another. It was the most awkward dinner they had ever shared, that even included their first official date. Kurapika lowered his fork, wiped his lips with the cloth napkin from his lap, and stood up. Just as he was about to take his plate into the kitchen Gon finally found his voice.

"Kurapika?" The blonde turned his head enough to look sideways at the sixteen year old. "Are you… mad at me?" Gon ducked his head, not really wanting to see the expression Kurapika would make. He didn't want his… friend to be mad at him. Were they even still friends? Gon peaked up to see Kurapika's blank expression.

"No Gon, I'm not." And with that Kurapika turned away without another word for the entire evening despite Gon's various attempts to rekindle their friendship. He hadn't meant to fall for Leorio… hadn't even thought of the other older teen in that way until… Gon chewed on his lower lip as he remembered when Leorio had taken extra special care of him last winter when Gon had gotten really sick. He understood that it may have been Leorio's nature, but even for weeks afterwards Leorio had given Gon special attention, worrying about him constantly while Kurapika hadn't…

Gon sighed and simply turned out the lamp in the guest bedroom he was sleeping in for the night and closed his eyes. Tomorrow he and Leorio would be leaving since Leorio had found an intern position at a good hospital in the neighboring city. Gon thought that may make it easier on the two to return to being friends…

Killua… Gon thought as he wondered what his best friend would do if he was here to help right now.

Kurapika stood silently in the door way of the guest room, looking at the sleeping form of Gon before he sighed and closed the door. What he had said earlier was correct, Kurapika wasn't mad at Gon but that didn't mean he was okay with them splitting up. After years of knowing the boy and his love for him blossoming at the same time Kurapika had thought maybe he would finally have someone to call his again… But now with Gon being taken away by Leorio Kurapika was once again left alone.

Feeling not in the slightest ready for bed, the Kurta decided a walk around the block once or twice may do him some good. It was a lovely spring night so he did not even need to carry a windbreaker with him. No one else was about, something Kurapika was grateful for. His face was casted into a frown and there seemed to be nothing capable of making him smile, not even as the moon shone and casted mini reflections on the puddles that lined the sidewalk. It had rained heavily the past couple days a herald that winter was over and spring had finally arrived for good – or so Kurapika hoped.

Running one hand through his blonde locks Kurapika stopped a moment to stare at the real moon in the sky instead of the ones at his feet. It was a gorgeous sight… something he and Gon had done a lot of last summer. They would lay outside, side-by-side, on nights like this (on a blanket if the ground was wet) and would watch the stars until they fell asleep. The ghost of a smile came to Kurapika's lips. He was glad he had those memories; he didn't want to trade them for anything especially now that they were never likely to reoccur.

Stepping around a particularly large puddle, Kurapika neglected to avoid the woman who had come around the corner. The two bumped into each other and Kurapika barely managed to catch her hand to prevent her from falling onto the wet ground.

"I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, clutching her white gloved hands to her chest as she ducked her head.

"Ah, no… it's okay. It was my fault anyways. I'm sorry."

She raised her head, peering at him cautiously from beneath her bangs, the rest of her long blonde hair collected into a high ponytail.

"I know that voice… Kurapika-kun?" As Kurapika looked closer he too recognized the person in front of him.

"Bisuke!"

"I knew it!" Bisuke clapped her hands as she twirled in her cute pink dress. "Wow Kurapika, long time no see!"

"Yeah… you too." He rubbed the back of his head a little awkwardly. Bisuke was Gon's teacher from years back. To run into her now…

"How are you lovebirds doing? I haven't heard from Gon lately. Is everything okay?"

…was not what Kurapika wanted. He shifted his feet and Bisuke took notice of his bunched shoulders. The delight at seeing the Kurta fell away and Bisuke instantly sensed something was wrong. Taking him unexpectedly by the hand Bisuke dragged Kurapika behind her and the two ducked into the closest bar.

She forced the younger boy onto a bar stool and ordered a couple of ice cold beers.

"Wanna talk about it?" Bisuke asked only when the two had received their drinks. It was likely Kurapika would refuse her help but Bisuke liked the kid - and Gon too - so she would ask anyways. Bisuke shrugged as she figured he may confide in her… and if not, then they could drink the night away!

And drink the two of them did well into the early hours of the following morning until the bar closed and the two were left to wander down the streets, basking in the warm inebriated feeling caused by the alcohol. Without a sure destination in mind the two walked aimlessly, talking about inconsequential things, until Bisuke mentioned they were near her hotel and invited Kurapika up to her room for a cup of coffee.

Kurapika, still under the effects of alcohol, happily agreed. He tried to think of why he was even out tonight but the heavy train of thought left his mind the second the two of them entered the hotel's elevator and Kurapika became aware of just how close Bisuke was to him…

He would explain it away later as the alcohol taking control of him but what Kurapika did then would have shocked any of his friends – drunk Kurta or not.

Standing immediately beside Bisuke as the two rode up in the small elevator, Kurapika's hands brushed the warm flesh of her's. It caused a heightened response in Kurapika, so abrupt that he couldn't help but do it again.

Bisuke too noticed the pleasant feeling of Kurapika's hand brushing her own. She leaned her body in his direction, their shoulders brushing and gooseflesh rose on her arms. It was such an enticing feeling… and in the confines of the elevator Bisuke was tempted to step even closer to the younger blonde.

However before she could take a step the doors opened and the two exited onto her floor. Bisuke lead Kurapika down the hallway, cursing her luck now that her room was located so far away, and tried to catch Kurapika's hand. She wanted to feel that warm flesh again!

Her impatience disappeared once they had finally reached her room, and without wasting time Bisuke swiped her key card (though she failed the first time) and lead Kurapika into her small rented room. The door automatically shut and Bisuke moved off to the small kitchenette area, remembering the main reason for leading him here was for coffee.

The Kurta occupied himself with walking to the large windows and looking down at the cityscape. How it looked under the early morning moonlight! It was a breathtaking scene.

"What do you take in your coffee?" Bisuke's voice brought Kurapika back from his thoughts, pulling him into his body again as he forced himself to face her. A little smile appeared on his lips as he noticed she had removed her gloves, one visible hand laid against the wall as she poked her head around it, the rest of her body cut off from his view.

"Milk."

"Alright, coming right up!" Bisuke ducked out of a view only to return a moment later in full body and carrying two steaming mugs of dark liquid. "Enjoy."

Each took a plush chair on opposite sides on the table that was placed beside the window they drank their coffees in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence at first but as time wore on each was beginning to grow uneasy. What could they say to one another? What could they possibly talk about? Kurapika refused to tell Bisuke what was happening between him and Gon (though she would probably find out from the spikey haired teen sooner rather than later) and Bisuke was trying to find a delicate way to force it out of him.

At last Kurapika finished his drink and stood to take the cup away, wanting to escape. It was late and he needed to get back home to Gon…

Bisuke's hand clasped the Kurta's wrist and he turned to her with tears filling his heads. There wasn't any reason for him to return to Gon anymore.

A shudder went through Bisuke at the contact with Kurapika, but the tears in his beautiful sapphire blue eyes were her undoing. Gaining her own feet and pulling Kurapika to her in one smooth motion, Bisuke crushed her lips to his. Her forcefulness shocked Kurapika. The cup slipped through his fingers and smashed to the floor, but was unattended as he too got caught up in Bisuke's rhythm.

The next morning Kurapika escaped just as the sun came through the window, ashamed at what he and Bisuke had done last night though he shouldn't have been. He and Gon were no longer together, Kurapika could do what he pleased with whomever he pleased. But still the guilt nagged at him. So Kurapika returned, only to discover Gon had already left. All of his things had been cleared away, leaving no reminders for the Kurta. All he had were his memories…

However, despite Kurapika's personal life he managed to collect himself. He forced his unwarranted guilt away and took a much needed shower. The Kurta had work to attend to and he refused to let something as… trivial as his personal life get in the way of it. He was a man who took his duties seriously.

Pushing open the heavy glass paneled door to the public library Kurapika could not help but stomp his feet and blow warm air into his cupped hands. The year had worn on and it was now the beginning of winter, the snow sticking to the ground and coating everything in white. Unwinding the scarf from his neck and folding it over his arm the Kurta made his way, automatically, to the rear book case where the nonfiction books were kept. He spent many hours here lately, pouring over any books he could find on his clan.

Pulling the cell phone from his pocket Kurapika sent a quick reply to Basho, his co-worker and, if Kurapika was to put a term to their relationship, lover. The two weren't technically together-together but the older dark haired man had a small protective streak when it came to the Kurta. If Kurapika wasn't going straight home from work Basho had wanted to know, it wasn't a big deal for him since Kurapika usually went straight home but today he had decided it was time for an outing. And what better place for him than the library where he could lose himself in any number of books?

Approaching the wall-long, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf Kurapika paused and contemplated what he wanted to learn about today. His fingers skimmed over the spins until he happened upon a book he had never seen before. Tugging it out, Kurapika decided he had found his book.

He settled into a wooden chair at one of the unoccupied square tables and started to read, only to be interrupted not five seconds later when one of the librarian's came over to talk to him. The girl was a high schooler who had gotten to know Kurapika over the time he had spent here during the summer and fall, the months following his break up with Gon. The Kurta had decided to drown himself in the world of past civilizations and sometimes a fantasy novel or three.

"Hello Retz," Kurapika greeted the girl who was across from him with her eager face propped upon her palms, leaning over the table so much it could be considered indecent.

"Ku~ra~pi~ka~" She sang with an undertone of menace that was ruined by a stifled giggle. "How come you haven't been around? You that busy working or something?"

"A little." Kurapika smiled a little, always relaxing around the girl without understanding why. She just seemed easy to get along with.

"Well I'm glad I finally ran into you because I have a serious favor to ask and if you say no I'm never allowing you into this library again."

"I don't think you have the authority to do that Retz."

"Don't start with the logic thing!" Retz wailed, stretching her arms to grasp Kurapika's side of the table and slammed her fore head upon the wooden top. It took her only seconds to recover, a small red lump forming in the center of her forehead now. "Seriously Kurapika I need this favor and I will owe you huge! Please, please, please! You're my final hope!"

Unable to stand firm against the pleading look Retz was shooting him Kurapika gave him and heard the girl out. The favor didn't seem all that terrible…

A week later and Kurapika was standing aside in the crowded room wanting to loosen the tie that seemed to be strangling him. He wasn't alone in feeling uncomfortable; the pink haired woman beside him also seemed ill at ease though Machi was doing a better job at concealing it than him.

Retz had asked him to escort her cousin, Machi, as the older woman attended this event. It was a high scale fundraiser for something, Retz had never told him the specifics – just that her cousin needed an escort and who could "keep Machi from strangling a certain red head if he happened to show up". Not entirely sure what Kurapika would do if the situation arose he decided to just ensure Machi didn't see any red heads.

There had been one other thing Retz had said about her cousin as well, and it floated through Kurapika's mind as he viewed Machi from the corner of his eye.

"You and my cousin have a lot in common so I'm sure you could find middle ground to talk about… Just be careful and don't mention the past, 'kay? Talk about books, she's a real fan of medieval romance novels." Retz gave Kurapika wink and moved off to do her job before her chops could be busted for slacking off.

Kurapika may not have known a lot about medieval romance, but he did know about the medieval era and took a chance. Surprisingly Machi was also fascinated by the time period, and the two were able to kill the night by discussing various topics. But it didn't end there. Kurapika and Machi had many conversations on many different topics and soon discovered many things they shared in common – just as Retz had said.

It took some time but eventually the Kurta asked Machi out for a proper date and from then on the two were nearly inseparable. Even Retz was astounded to learn the two were actually dating.