A/N: Hohoho, it's the chapter you never expected (or forgot about). Next chapter will be out soon (tomorrow?), it just needs to be revised and be thought about a little bit more, so I promise I'm not trying to torture you.

Again, pending out for anybody interesting in beta reading. :)

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Guest Response:

Knee:
Indeed, they meet once more, haha! Glad this chapter was still twisty despite entering the frays of canon again - which was mostly thanks to realizing that Bakugo spent two days in the hands of the League before being rescued, whereas my memory would have told me it was only a couple of hours before Kamino Ward went down. But yes, yes, yes, to all of that. I think Katsuki is learning faster here though than in canon, due to sort of being put in this responsible-older-one role. But you shall see how things go. :)

It's cool to hear that this was your favorite chapter yet, I hadn't been expecting that at all. Thanks again for reviewing, and keep being awesome!

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Chapter Twenty One

"Kurapika," Leorio said, voice tight, his fist clenching the beetle-shaped phone like it was a lifeline, knuckles white. "Gon's now disappeared too. We have to go looking for them. Forget about the Phantom Troupe, just for now. Until we find them."

The phone buzzes, and Leorio's grip on the phone tightened. He wasn't happy about the response.

"No - that's not what I." He nearly growled with frustration. "Kurapika. He's gone! No trace! He told me goodbye, Kurapika, and didn't explain anything else. That's not like him! Something's wrong!"

Another buzz.

"Forget the auction!"

"There'll be other chances! It's not the last time the eyes will be out there."

"Then try again next year! I'm sure you'll be able to cozy up with other business partners…"

Again, again, again, the same.

"Why can't you stop looking for your dead friends, and start looking out for your living ones!?" Leorio shouted suddenly, panting, real anger rising up in him, done with this obstinance. "Kurapika," he said in a low tone, more serious. "There's nothing you can do for them now. But you can do something for Gon and Killua." He hesitated, then decided to use his trump card, voice heavy, significant. "Don't you remember all the times that kid helped us out on the exam?"

A long hesitation. Leorio held his breath, hoping.

Then finally, another buzz. Acquiescence.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's good to have you back on board, Kurapika."

He hoped it would be enough.

.

Leorio packed up his instruments, face curved into an easy smile, trying not to show how heavy he felt, how grimly the weight of the world and constant bad news pressed down upon him.

"You did good today, kid," he told the sickly boy, coughing at his bedside, who returned the smile back at him. Zezu. What a nice kid. "Just hang in there tight for me, alright? I need to talk to your caretaker for a bit."

When he walked out of the room with his suitcase, however, his smile fell right off. He was unable to keep it in place before, even as he heard familiar footsteps exit the room just after him.

"How is he?" Zezu's caretaker, Natkiro, asked quietly.

Leorio shook his head, expression creased in pain. It took him a moment before he was able to look at the man.

"It's getting worse," he said, equally quiet, serious. He saw the shock of the statement hit the man's face before blooming into a wary acceptance. "The labs were able to confirm my theory, but… there's just no way to remove the toxins clouding his body. It's not a matter of money, it's…" The words felt sour on his tongue. "It's just not possible. No medical facility has the necessary equipment. It's never been done before."

The other man tucked in his lips, eyebrows furrowed. Then he pressed, "And… what about his ability? Could there be any hope there?"

Leorio sighed.

The caretaker had been bringing it up incessantly the past few weeks, in a desperation that Leorio knew all too well, when he had watched his own friend slowly dying all those years ago. It was the same desperation that had drove him to start his journey to become a Hunter - as well as his desire to not let it happen to anyone else. And yet, here he stood. The same cycle was repeating itself again.

Only this time, it wasn't a lack of money that would kill the boy, it was… a cold, hard stone wall that yielded no mercy at all, no hope of possibility. Maybe it was this that kept Leorio coming back, trying, and trying again, even when the odds seemed hopeless.

"Maybe," Leorio said, carefully. He didn't want to give the man false hope. He bit his lip, then continued, "I actually asked a friend over, who is more of an… expert in these kinds of 'abilities'. I can't promise anything, but he might be able to see something I didn't."

If Kurapika were coming to help anyway, Leorio may as well put his friend's time to its best use. This was about saving a life, after all.

A mixed look passed across the old man's face. Resignation, hope, and bitterness, all in one. Leorio understood, and he clasped a hand on the man's shoulder.

"Keep your chin up," he said, putting on his smile again. "The least you can do for Zezu is keep smiling, all right? I'll keep working hard with the labs to see if we can find another solution, and follow up about this ability…."

The old man nodded. He breathed in, then out, then slowly gathered an expression of determination onto his face. He returned Leorio's smile now.

"Thank you, Doctor," he said humbly. "For working so hard for this boy."

Leorio's smile turned wan.

"It's my job, Natkiro. Of course I will try to do everything that I can."

The man shook his head.

"The other doctors… They never tried as hard as you. They looked at him, and pronounced him as a failed case, only staying on for the money, filling my ears with lies… It took me so many years to realize." His eyes looked piercingly at Leorio. "But you. You have never told a lie in this house, have you?"

Leorio quietly shook his head. "No." He paused. "Like I said, it's my job to…"

"But you have done more," the caretaker said sharply. "You have at least found what the problem was, when others gave up. Even if now we are still not able to cure him, keep your head up high, Doctor. You, at least, have maintained your dignity."

Leorio swallowed, and alarmingly felt a sting in his eyes. He bowed his head.

"I am unworthy of such words," he said formally, feeling the truth in them. When the man immediately began to protest, he raised his hand. "But I will try to live up to them."

He swallowed again, then turned to face the door.

"I will keep trying, Natkiro," he said. He hesitated, feeling as if there were more to say, but couldn't find the words. He began striding to the door.

"I know you will, Doctor," the man said from behind him, quietly. "You are a good man."

.

Kurapika arrived at his motel room in Yorknew city outskirts the next day. There was a knock on the depressingly-empty room, and Leorio had achingly gotten to his feet, after having spent the entire day poring over medical and bioengineering texts, his eyes nearly swimming, a dull ache entering his temple. When he had opened the door, his fresh-faced, blond friend had looked surprised.

"Leorio!" Kurapika said, alarm in his voice, as he looked up and down his friend's figure and the scattered state of the room. He immediately stepped inside, eyes wide, brushing past Leorio at first, then grabbed his arm, steadying him and taking him to the couch.

"Let me make you some tea," the last surviving member of the Kurta clan said. His sharp eyes immediately found the corner-kitchen counter, striding quickly over there. Within moments, the hot plate was turned on, a pot of water boiling.

"Ah, it's fine, Kurapika…" Leorio said, feeling embarrassed at being caught in such a state. "This isn't what you're here for…"

"This is exactly what I'm here for," Kurapika said sharply, blue eyes looking at him. He crossed his arms over his blue tunic. "You said to look after my living friends, didn't you? That's more than just Gon and Killua. What have you been doing?"

His voice, normally calm, was now sharp and angry. Leorio shook his head.

"It's not about me. It's about these kids. Look, Kurapika, there's this other kid - related to the case, I promise - he's been badly sick, I promised you would take a look at him…"

The Kurta grimaced.

"Get some rest, Leorio. We can talk when you have slept." His friend's normally calm voice betrayed some alarm.

Leorio shot him a dirty look. A moment later, when a sharp pain lanced through his temple however, he had to admit defeat, groaning, pressing his fingers into his forehead.

At Kurapika's accusing silence, he finally explained, "I've been studying late… Trying to figure out if there's a cure to this kid's problem. Reading whatever I could. And," he spoke more urgently now, "there's something else, too, on the Hunter's Tavern, I found - " He swallowed, his throat felt so dry - had he been drinking enough water? " - I found something about Gon."

Kurapika was silent for a long moment, before the sound of bubbling water filled the motel room. From the corner of his eye, Leorio saw the blue-enclothed figure begin to move, the clinks of cabinets opening, cups being set down.

Just a few moments later, Kurapika was setting two cups of tea on the coffee counter in front of them. The steam coming from them managed to ease Leorio's nerves the slightest, and he inhaled the scent, bringing the cup just to his lips.

"Thanks, Kurapika," he said quietly, setting the cup down again. It was still too hot to drink.

The Kurta remained silent, as if deliberating over something.

Finally, he said,

"Leorio. The auction ended."

Leorio sputtered, then stared at his friend.

"Then - why?" he asked.

Why had he refused to come, and still be so intent on revenge?

Kurapika was looking steadily down at his tea cup, fist clenched, voice calm and even.

"The Phantom Troupe replaced all the underground auction items with nen duplicates." Kurapika spoke shortly, factually, curtly. "It was recently discovered. They escaped - long ago. The mafia, however, thinks that they are all dead." He hesitated. "I was going to pursue them to Meteor City."

Leorio took a long sip of his tea, trying to process this. It had finally cooled down enough to still be drinkable, but scalding. Still, it eased the dryness in his throat and let the cogs of his brain turn faster.

"So…" Leorio said slowly. "So you didn't succeed. Kurapika..."

Pain flashed in his friend's eyes.

"I thought I had recovered one of the eyes." Now his voice was taut, the calm shattered. "It was just a duplicate. I failed Leorio - I had the opportunity, but I couldn't bring justice for my clan." His twisted face then settled, and he took an equally long sip of his tea, before closing his eyes, deliberately breathing to calm himself. "I did kill one of them. Uvogin. He was careless. But - the others, they escaped."

Leorio was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed, unable to come up with any correct response.

"You'll have other chances, Kurapika," he said, "I can't pretend I understand, but… It's like I said on the phone. We should do what we can for the living, while we still have the chance to."

Kurapika nodded his understanding, tightly.

"You're right," he said, finally, softly. Then he turned a smile to Leorio, hiding the brittleness and bitterness behind his eyes. "I suppose we need to help Gon and Killua now."

Leorio nodded, returning the smile. He knew this was as good as he was going to get from him.

"Sorry," Kurapika said, turning away again. "I have been…"

"Overly focused on revenge?" Leorio suggested, eyebrows raised. "Obsessed? Pushing yourself to the brink? Overworked?"

Kurapika gave him a wry smile. "... not myself," he finished.

He then gave Leorio a piercing look. "Though, I believe that if anyone has been overworked, it is you, not I."

Leorio shook his head. "No…" he said, frowning, merriment abruptly tamped down. "It hasn't been enough." The dark thoughts rose yet again and pressed down on him, an overbearing weight. Gon and Killua missing. Zezu dying. No solutions to be found. "I still haven't found anything."

"Well," Kurapika said, voice uncharacteristically cheery, and he pressed his hand onto Leorio's forearm. "Now you have me to help." He downed the rest of the tea, then stood, and stretched his arm, looked around the motel room, took a deep breath. "Why don't we start with cleaning this place? Reorganize, re-equilibriate."

Leorio looked around the room.

It was as if clouds had been lifted from his eyes and he saw it for the first time.

It was a mess. Papers were scattered around everywhere, strewn around with no sense or order other than a chaotic stream of consciousness that had gripped Leorio during his research. The bed linens were thrown all askew, partially on the floor even. The floor itself was littered with errant books and pens and pieces of paper put together like a map.

Swallowing down another cup of tea, he had to agree with Kurapika's assessment.

"Let's get to it, then," he said, standing up, rolling up his sleeves, ready to get back to work.

.

With the two of them working together, it was short work. Soon enough, the room was sparkling clean, and with it, Leorio felt that his own mind had been cleaned. He felt remarkably better than he had before Kurapika had knocked on his door, and when he commented on it, his friend had agreed with his assessment.

"Not quite like the dead walking anymore," the Kurta had said in wry agreement.

After that, they had gotten to business. Kurapika had determined that Leorio was well enough for serious conversation, and had thus given up on his determination to have Leorio rest first. They started with the Hunter's Tavern.

"You said you found something about Gon on here?" Kurapika asked evenly, when they were crowded around the computer.

Leorio nodded, then typed in "Gon Freecs" into the website's search bar. When he further specified "whereabouts", the large price tag that popped up even made Kurapika's eyes widen.

"This wasn't here a few days ago," Leorio confirmed, trading looks with Kurapika. "In fact… there wasn't anything about this before, since Gon was only a Rookie Hunter. It's the same with Killua. And look."

He hovered his mouse over an additional listed requirement.

"Only one star Hunters and up can have access to this information." He was silent for a moment, letting Kurapika digest the information. "It sounds like they got into something big."

Kurapika nodded, eyes trained to the screen.

"Even if we were one-star Hunters, Leorio… we still couldn't afford that," he said quietly. He then settled back, tapping his fingers to his chin, looking thoughtful. He looked at Leorio again, eyes sharp and keen. "But you saw Gon before you left?"

Leorio nodded.

"He didn't tell me much," Leorio said, frustrated. "Just that he was leaving to find Killua. Then he said 'goodbye', and 'it's been fun'. Just that."

"... I see." Kurapika exhaled. "At the very least, we know that Gon left willingly. This means he is likely not in immediate danger. And - we know that Killua disappeared after an attack, correct?"

Leorio nodded.

"So these two events must be connected somehow," Kurapika continued, in a deductive tone. "Either Gon found the attacker, who we suspect is Hakira Kyoshi… or someone else who knows her and what she did with Killua. This also means that, if Gon left willingly, that Killua is very likely still alive as well."

Leorio nodded again. He had come to the same conclusions.

"There's more," he said. "We followed your lead to the city council. They took us to an address - to a deceased council member, Toshkiyo Barat, who was… involved with Hakira Kyoshi. I don't know if it is related, but at his house, their kid was there, and he was extremely sick. He's… the kid I wanted you to take a look at." He paused. "He has some ability to make things disappear, like nen - except Gon told me it wasn't nen."

Kurapika tapped his chin thoughtfully. Then his eyes slid over to Leorio.

"Gyo?" he asked.

Leorio shrugged sheepishly. "I've only learned Ten," he admitted. "Only Gon was able to look at him through Gyo. That's why I was hoping you'd be able to help. Besides, you might know more about aura than the both of us."

Kurapika nodded. "I will take a look."

The blonde paused for a moment, thinking.

"Gon must have noticed something that you didn't," Kurapika said finally. "He has keen instincts. If we follow in his footsteps - we might find him, and Killua too." Then, changing topics, to business, he asked, "What's this boy's name?"

"Zezu," Leorio said, feeling relieved. "You'll help?"

Kurapika nodded, turning a smile towards him.

"It sounds like we have quite a mystery on our hands," he said. "A boy who can make things disappear, and Killua and Gon seemingly vanished into thin air?"

Leorio hesitated.

"When you put it that way, it sounds like…"

Kurapika's smile dropped, expression becoming more considering.

"There are latent geniuses in this world who use nen without ever having been trained," Kurapika said seriously. "It's not impossible to imagine that a child might be one, especially if his mother had a similar ability." Seeing Leorio's stricken expression, he then hurried to say, "It doesn't explain all the clues, however - if Zezu alone had a hand in Gon's disappearance, then his whereabouts would never have appeared on the Hunter's Tavern. We can't leap to conclusions, Leorio."

Leorio relaxed, then nodded his head, stroking his own chin thoughtfully now. "Yeah, yeah, you're right." He then cast a hopeful glimmer towards Kurapika. "How about tomorrow morning? We can go meet Zezu, and you can tell me more about his nen."

Kurapika nodded, then settled back into the couch. "Yes, that sounds like a good first step…"

Some of the weight in Leorio's chest lifted. He felt brighter, more free, more confident.

Now that his level-headed, analytical friend was in the game, he was sure they'd be able to find some answers. It felt good to have someone at his back, and better besides that it was Kurapika. He had been able to coax away the Kurta from his incessant quest of self-destructive vengeance.

Even if… even if Gon and Killua couldn't be found, and Zezu couldn't be saved, at least then he'd have done right by one friend.

.

The next morning was bright, birds singing chipper and sun shining through a cloudless sky. It immediately sent a good mood coursing through Leorio, a mood which Kurapika evidently shared, despite overhanging clouds of worry that loomed in both their minds.

They walked briskly to the Toshkiyo mansion. On the way, Leorio explained the situation to Kurapika in more detail.

"Zezu has been sick since being very young," he said, taking on a more lecturely, didactic style he had learned in his studies. "For some reason, his body is unable to process some chemicals essential to our body structure - particularly Vitamin F - and they have accumulated in his body as toxins. His mother, Kyoshi, was reported to have a similar illness." He paused, dark thoughts rising again before he was able to push them down with his newfound rising hope. "His nen ability is our last hope. I've been looking, and looking, but there just isn't much we can do to get rid of the toxin. The vitamin is fat-soluble, so it's dispersed throughout his body - we're unable to get it out and the body's natural processing isn't working."

Kurapika frowned over some of the terminology, but seemed to get the gist of it.

"He's unable to process normal vitamins?" the blonde-haired teen asked, and Leorio nodded.

"Exactly. While this is the cause of his illness, we're still uncertain about why it happened in the first place. I took a blood sample to the lab, and though they confirmed the bad reaction of the vitamin, they couldn't make heads or tails of the DNA sample." Leorio grimaced. "It's a new field of study, so…"

Kurapika nodded, though his eyebrows were furrowed. "So the ultimate cause is still unclear."

When they entered the mansion, Kurapika hardly stopped to stare or gawk at the surroundings; evidently, he was either used to this from his bodyguard job or he simply didn't care. The caretaker came to greet them eagerly at the doorstep when they arrived, eyes flitting curiously to Kurapika.

"This is Kurapika," Leorio explained, "my friend, who might be able to understand Zezu's ability. He arrived just last night." To Kurapika, he said, "This is Natkiro, Zezu's caretaker. He's…" the caretaker's previous words echoed through his mind, "a good man."

Natkiro smiled to them both, bid them welcome, and with a glimmer in his eyes, immediately led them up the stairs to Zezu's bedroom. He kept shooting Kurapika curious looks - likely at his apparent youth - but made no comments. Leorio was flattered by the implicit trust.

"I think Kurapika and I might need to talk to Zezu alone for a moment," Leorio said quietly to him, just before they entered the room. "It'll make some of the diagnostics easier."

The caretaker nodded.

"As you say, Leorio-san," and he left them to enter the dark room.

When they knocked and flicked on a dim lamp, Leorio found the boy's face lighting up, his expression morphing into a smile from above the bedsheets. He couldn't help returning a fond smile.

"Leorio!" Zezu exclaimed, throwing off the blankets, clambering to the edge of the bedside with a cough. "You're back!"

"Zezu," Leorio greeted, the smile reaching his chest, lightening him on the inside. "I'm back. I brought a friend with me, too." He gestured towards the blond-haired Kurta. "This is Kurapika."

Zezu's eyes flitted from Leorio to Kurapika, eyebrows creasing.

"Is he…" he hesitated, "another doctor?"

Leorio was about to speak, but Kurapika took the lead for him, stepping forward and shaking his head.

"No, Zezu," Kurapika said evenly. "I'm a Hunter. Leorio told me about your ability. We're hoping that we'll be able to find a clue for resolving your condition."

Zezu's face scrunched up, obviously unhappy. Scowlingly, he turned to Leorio and accused, "You told someone else?"

Leorio lifted his hands placatingly, having to fight off a chuckle.

"Only Kurapika," he assured. "And he's a very good friend of mine. He won't tell anybody else unless it's necessary."

"And in fact," Kurapika said, cutting in before the boy could respond, staring down at him, "your ability falls into an international secret already, so none of this conversation will be leaving this room." His eyes bored into the boy, his tone making the atmosphere abruptly more serious. "Have you heard of nen?"

The boy cocked his head to the side.

"Nen?" he asked, eyes narrowed. His eyes flicked to Leorio. "...Gon said something about that earlier, but you were whispering - you wanted to keep it a secret - "

Suddenly, the boy found himself coughing, wracking, heaving coughs, and Leorio had to step forward and press at his chest, easing the cough into something more manageable. "There, there," he muttered soothingly. "Take it easy, take it easy."

The attack was soon over, and the boy rocked back, wiping at his mouth. To Leorio's alarm, his hand came away stained red, and Leorio immediately grabbed a hankerchief and wiped off the blood from the boy's arm. It wasn't the first time this had happened.

The boy stared at his arm absently for a long moment, before turning back to Kurapika as if nothing had happened.

"What's nen?" he demanded.

If nothing else, Zezu was a blunt and tempestuous child. Kurapika creased his eyebrows uncertainly for a moment, shooting Leorio a glance, before continuing with an explanation.

"It's an ability that allows you to manipulate your life energy, your aura," Kurapika said slowly. "I believe that your ability to make objects… disappear is a latent manifestation of this ability." He glanced cautiously at Leorio, then said, "I would like to teach you this ability." Leorio's eyes widened, but Kurapika cleared his throat before Leorio could say anything. "Under one condition."

The boy's eyes were narrowed suspiciously, though Leorio thought he could detect a tinge of eagerness in there too.

"What's the condition?" he blurted.

"That you tell me everything Gon said to you - and if you did anything to him," Kurapika said, watching the boy carefully.

Zezu, predictably, scowled.

"He just asked me about the same thing you did," he said. "About my ability. And my mom. And I didn't do anything to him." He crossed his arms, looking abruptly hopeful, anger already vanished away. "So now you'll teach me?"

"Hold on," Kurapika said, and extended his hand, a pendulum-like chain falling from it. "Are you sure you didn't do anything to Gon? When was the last time you saw him?"

The boy, alarmingly, squinted at the chain. "What is that?"

Leorio and Kurapika exchanged looks.

"... You can see it, kid?" Leorio asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, duh. Why wouldn't I? It's right there."

"It's a manifestation of nen," Kurapika said shortly. "This is a good sign. Now, please answer the questions."

The boy looked to be dying of curiosity, but then reluctantly said, "I only saw him the one time, when he came in with Leorio the first time. I didn't do anything, other than show him my ability." He pouted, then looked from Leorio to Kurapika with conviction. "That was all."

Kurapika nodded perfunctorily, stowing away the chain, and sighed. "I see." He looked back up to meet both Leorio's and the boy's eyes. "Then I will now teach you the basics of nen. This is not an easy ability to learn, but it will enforce your body. Are you sure you wish to learn?"

The boy nodded eagerly, and Leorio had to wonder at the draw of promised magical powers to a young boy's heart.

"Please adopt a sitting posture, you will need to meditate for this…"

.

Leorio had managed to stay quiet the entire time, trusting his friend's judgement, but as soon as they were out of the room and the mansion, having bid farewells to both Zezu and Natkiro, he burst with questions.

"Why teach him nen, Kurapika?" he asked. "He's just a kid, and not even close to being a Hunter. Isn't it dangerous? And a secret? Didn't your teacher teach you about that too, huh?"

Kurapika met his eyes levelly.

"Three reasons," he said. "The first is clearest - nen augments the body. By improving his nen and aural control, he may be able to live longer and healthier. Since he already has had some awareness of nen, I do not see this as breaking my obligation as a Hunter to keep this a secret."

Leorio's protests died in his throat. That one reason already seemed good enough.

"I… didn't know nen would do that," he muttered. "The potential for health…"

Kurapika cut him off, an almost-sad tone in his voice despite the sharpness, "Leorio. We could only do this because he was using his ability already, understand? There's a reason why nen is kept a secret."

Leorio grimaced. "Yeah, yeah, no need to lecture me." He shook his head. "What's the second reason?"

Kurapika looked at him for a long moment, before deciding to move on. "The second reason," he said, "is his specialist ability itself. 'The ability to make things disappear' - it may sound silly, but if he is able to hone his ability well enough… then perhaps he can make his own toxins 'disappear' as well?"

Leorio's eyes widened. Yet another thought that hadn't occurred to him.

"The third reason," Kurapika continued, quickly, not waiting for his response, "is of course, that his ability might hold more clues as to where Gon went. Now," Kurapika looked uncertain for a moment, "this is mere speculation… but I was wondering - what if his ability is not to make things disappear, but to move them, instantaneously? In that case… assuming he has a similar ability to his mother, by training him, we would be able to find out where Killua went."

"I… see."

Leorio had a hard time digesting all of this. He wasn't used to dealing with the strange magicks and oddities of their world.

"It would look the same, wouldn't it?" he mused after a moment.

"Exactly," Kurapika said. He smiled at Leorio. "We're already one step closer to finding out where Gon went."

It really felt like a great weight had been lifted from Leorio's chest.

One step closer...

"I'm glad you're here, Kurapika," he found himself saying, in a moment of honesty, returning the smile.

The Kurta paused for a moment, as if stopped by the honesty of the words. He turned to look at Leorio, really look. A long moment paused where the blue-eyed teen stared at Leorio, almost evaluatingly - or shocked, like the most important thing had just occurred to him.

Then he smiled, and said, "Me too."