Hey guys..Long time yes I know. Im quite busy with real life stuff...So bare with me...You might not like this chapter...especially how it ends..youll see why. if your fine with it like that, ill be happy to leave it this way. if you want another chapter with yaoi, ill be happy to upload an epilogue.

Deal? xD

I want you guys to know that I am speeding things up a little bit.-skips to were Kurapica beats Ubogin:p-

Read and Enjoy:D

Chapter 12

Three months later...

Kurapica's nen skills had rapidly increased and developed. He even developed and perfected the chain technique. All this with the help of Killua and Gon.

Leorio also gave in his fair share of whatever he could give. He was mostly busy with university stuff, and neither of them really had five minutes alone ever. So the whole love confession was never out again. But the love never faltered. Still, it had always been awkward between them, like an unspoken conflict always happened when either of them were in the same room. Especially since Kurapica had blocked Leorio, told him to forget about what happened. He didn't mean it that way though, he just doesn't want to think about love in these three months of training. Leorio took that as a sign of Kurapica against the whole love thing. So he kept his distance and regretted he ever forced Kurapica to kiss him.

Kurapica also managed to succeed with the practicing with the help of Hisoka.

He wouldn't really call it help since Hisoka was the one who set him up in the first place.

"Why do you want me to win against Ubogin so badly anyway?" Kurapica asked panting as he dodged Hisoka's attacking cards.

"What? You think I randomly threw that bet at you. I'm interested in your skills and plus, HELLO, your friend's and your mom's lives are on the line!" Hisoka replied as he back flipped away from Kurapica. He really didn't care about Kurapica's relatives, what he cared about was getting that real kiss from Illumi. He licked his lips as he stood upright again. Challenging Kurapica, he motioned for him to attack, mockingly with his hand.

Kurapica ran across the abandoned valley with both blades in his hand, aiming directly for Hisoka's neck. Suddenly, Hisoka charged too, and it seemed like he tore right in the middle of Kurapica's shirt with his left hand.

But It was just the shirt, Kurapica was unharmed. His blades though, were not. As both men separated again for space, Kurapica's blades fell to the floor as they cut away from the handles.

"What the..?" Kurapica grunted.

"I did it when I was first launching those cards at you. Be careful next time. There's no way you can beat Ubogin with these skills." Hisoka said.

That's where the fight ended, and that was when Kurapica had to go back home so he could start the other part of the training. It was true he was really exhausting himself. But he was used to it. All he needed now was four hours of sleep a day and really, that was more than enough.

Of course, the Hisoka fight was 1 month after the challenge was on.

Now, at three months, Kurapica is changed.

He's much different. Mentally, emotionally, and physically.

And there's one way to prove it before his big duel with Ubogin.

Another duel with Hisoka.

Of course, his training with Killua and Gon was lovely. They did all they could to help him out. They did an excellent job, if it wasn't for them, he'd still be down there. Fragile. Helpless and weak.

But what he did with Hisoka, was the perfect closure for every night's training. A one on one match with the joker himself.

"Time's up. Let's see how you've become." Hisoka said, as he played with his cards, shuffling them from hand to hand. A mischievous cocky smirk plastered on his face. Kurapica hated Hisoka's unpredictable attitude. But he's seen so much of it, that he became almost used to it.

"It's not like you'll give me an extra month or something if I failed this time." Kurapica said as he readied his chains.

"Call this a pretest. If you beat me, know you can beat Ubogin. Deal?" Hisoka offered.

Kurapica knew Hisoka too much, there was always doubt when it came to Hisoka, but nonetheless, he said, "deal."

They separated and took their fighting stances.

All of a sudden, both of them disappeared into the darkness of the alley.

A collection of Cards out of nowhere launched at a shadow lurking behind some cars. Kurapica could be seen dodging.

Hisoka took that as a chance to launch his second attack, but Kurapica dodged again, and reappeared behind Hisoka.

Before Hisoka could respond a heavy and quick kick was delivered to his upper back.

"Fuck." He grunted. "You've managed to kick me, I'm in awe." Hisoka said with a hint of sarcasm on his voice.

Kurapica and Hisoka kept on fighting. Dodging attacks and delivering kicks and punches.

Both of them seemed equally matched.

When suddenly Kurapica was jerked from the ground all the way to the sky, with some invisible force.

"Shit, he used his pansy gum." Kurapica whispered to himself.

"Yes I did. You're basically done for." Hisoka replied gallantly.

"Not really." Kurapica challenged, but he was yanked again and this time smacked into a car.

"How so?" Hisoka replied practically amused with Kurapica's stubbornness.

Suddenly, a chain out of nowhere appeared. From Kurapica's fingers after he stood back up, it manifested and branched out on the street. Cold and rattling it spread out to Hisoka himself and it ended right on his chest.

"What the…?" Hisoka was shocked.

"You think I didn't notice when you stuck that pansy gum on me. I saw all your steps Hisoka, you did it when I dodged your cards. But I did the same to you. Pierced my invisible chain to you, you missed it because you were too busy planting your pansy gum on me."

Hisoka was in awe. Really. "…the slave becomes the master…" he started chanting to old Metallica tunes.

"Huh?" Kurapica replied.

"You really did it." Hisoka exclaimed in joy. "Im so proud of you baby!" he reached over and hugged Kurapica and rubbed his hair. "My pansy gum doesn't kill! But your chains do! So you just defeated me Kurapica. You really did. Honestly, fair, and square."

"Yeah. I know." Kurapica was happy. And proud. He is everything he was not three months ago.

His mind accepts it. He's strong now. That was something he never could have imagined three months ago.

"Thank you." Kurapica said as he pulled his chains away from Hisoka. He wasn't really going to kill him, Hisoka wasn't a target. Although he would have liked him to be, but he took an oath. It was Ubogin and Ubogin only.

"For?" Hisoka asked.

"Just thank you." Kurapica said his blue eyes boring straight into Hisoka's green defeated eyes.

"Go get him." HIsoka ordered.

Kurapica didn't tell Gon and Killua about the Hisoka fights. Which is why, he didn't tell them about going to fight with Ubogin exactly the next day.

He didn't want them to know.

He didn't want Leorio to know.

Maybe it was selfish of him? He didn't care.

What he cared about, was that he didn't want them in any kind of danger. He didn't want them to interfere if something went wrong.

And he didn't want them to be there if he failed.

"You've come." Ubogin said. As he popped out of nowhere in the deserted valley.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Kurapica replied. His brother was as huge as ever, and he was as delicate and fragile as ever. But this time, these appearances wont fool anyone.

Its skill verses skill.

Pure skill and hard work.

"You, defeat me?! HA?! In your wildest dreams. I don't know how father and my brothers died. But I know it had to do with you. And for that, I will CRUSH you. You hear me? I've always wanted to just crush you…but my father forbid me for some reason. Now I have the chance."

Kurapica was not hurt.

Kurapica didn't care anymore.

All what mattered to him now was Leorio.

And his own dignity and strength.

He wasn't intimidated by Ubogin's strength and fake bravado.

I could do this…he reminded himself as he stared up at the full round moon in the starless night. He reminded himself of the other night, he defeated Hisoka. With his chains. I could do it.

They fight started.

Burying Ubogin was harder than Kurapica thought it would be.

He would have left him lying dead on the dry desert sand of the outskirts of the city.

But Kurapica didn't do that.

He wouldn't.

He just killed someone. As much of a goal as this was to him, it still hurt.

It really did.

Even though he is now free of Ubogin and the rest of them. Of all these years of pain and torture. He still, just killed a man. With his own free hands. With his own free will.

He pulled the dead corpse into the pit, it was so lifeless and empty.

His mind was empty as he put back the last pile of sand over the body.

He defeated Ubogin.

Leorio and his mom are now safe.

He is now strong and self dependant.

Should I go?Should I run? I cant go back to Leorio now…

Now that I have a built a wall between us. He'd never forgive me…He'd never put me under his wing like he did before. He'd never accept me…I'm sure he's moved on now…

And my mom… I cant possibly go back to her now. After what she has done to me.

I'm content enough that they are both safe…But I just cant go back…

Killing Ubogin was indeed something he would never have been able to do before…it was like an impossible task to accomplish. But with the help of Killua, Gon, Leorio and Hisoka, he did it.

Sure Hisoka was the one who set him up in the first place, but now Kurapica could see how much of a favor that was. Sure it involved killing a man, but it also involved setting Kurapica free.

Does he still love Leorio? Yes…I do. He thought.

Does he love me still? Or did he ever love me? I don't think so. Especially not after what I have done to him. Ran away like that…Ignored him…Placed a fine wall between us…

He crouched down and watched the beautiful round red moon. His eyes were also scarlet. And one tear escaped his crimson eye. But I cant go back…I can't. He wont accept me…

And with that, he decided to run away. He stood up, through away the shovel…

Its true that he can never ever forget about his step father, the inhumane things he had done to him. Or his step brothers and what they did. Or his mom and how cruel she was. Those people, and what they've done, even now as they are harmless to him, will still leave a burning scar forever engraved in his soul. Things will never be normal. Things will never be okay. But at least, he's done something about it. He set some grounds…

And Leorio…Never will he forget Leorio. Never will he forget his caring smile…his gentle words…and still, there's no way he would come back, now matter how much he wants it…I just can't…

Kurapica closed his eyes and remembered when Leorio had kissed him…

That might as well have been the best thing anyone had ever done to him. IF only he'd have one more night in Leorio's arms…he'd love more than anything to have that…more than anything to smell the scent of the man he loves. To look into his eyes one more time, and tell him that he loves him. One more chance…One more kiss…Just another kiss. His lips…his eyes…his words...melted Kurapica...Why did I run? WHY? I guess I just couldn't handle it back then…Oh if only he did it now…Id hold him…embrace him…I'd kiss him back…

But not now...I just cant now...especially after what I have done…

So he walked away..

Into the horizon.

Yet again.

To find another city.

Another life.

A new beginning.

And so came the dawn of a new day….

Is this the end? Lol! depends on you...:p

Sorry you guys..but I really am busy with real life.

I know this chappie was very…erm…unsatisfying. But…I just wanna end things really fast…I should post up one more chapter…An epilogue perhaps?..what if Leorio crosses paths with Kurapica later on...maybe...5 years later?...and what about that hisoka nd Illumi kiss? now that kurapica did infact defeat UboginxD

Peace3 Reviews are really appreciated!