Author's Notes:

PAIRINGS: Leorio/Kurapika (Leopika).

RATING: Mature.

SPOILERS? Yes, until chapter 390 of the Hunter x Hunter manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. You may want to click off until you've caught up with the Succession War Arc, or have decided that you don't care. I do attempt to explain the context for the uninitiated.


Chapter 41: Melting together, wrenching apart

For the first time in five years, Cheadle convenes a meeting of the Zodiac Twelve, held in the usual conference room. Although a fourth of the Zodiacs remains in the Dark Continent, the rest have by now returned.

Owing to his nerves, Leorio shows up at the headquarters of the Hunter Association a full fifteen minutes before the assigned meeting time. Pyon, who was among the first set of Zodiacs to leave the Dark Continent, is also one of the first to arrive at the reassembly. She's listening in as Botobai and Ginta trade stories about their separate encounters with the infamous Five Threats, but upon sighting Leorio, she immediately bounces over to claim the seat to his right.

Pyon now fires off a series of questions, and Leorio endeavors to answer each one. In this manner, he ends up sharing practically his entire life story since the day he parted with her.

Leorio tells Pyon that he only spent a year in the Dark Continent, in accordance with his original plans. He moved to the New Continent, where he enrolled in the top medical university in the region to complete the remainder of his schooling. Because his time under Cheadle's mentorship was credited as a part of his studies, he was permitted to graduate at an accelerated pace. He cleared his licensure exams easily enough, then continued to work at the same New Continent hospital where he completed his internship.

When Cheadle finally left the Dark Continent to return full-time to her duties as Chairman of the Hunter Association — Mizaistom served as Acting Chairman while Cheadle was away — Leorio decided to come back with her.

"You're still with Cheadle, then?" Pyon asks. "I have to admit, I always thought your relationship was sort of strange. But if it works, it works, right? Especially if it's lasted this long."

"No, Cheadle and I broke up before I left for the New Continent."

Pyon's eyes are sparkling. "I'm guessing there's a juicy story behind that."

"Not really. It was just. . . ." Something was missing. Nothing ever felt right. "The timing was wrong. But we're still good friends. You know Cheadle. She's the best. I respect the hell out of her, and I always will."

"You're being super mature about it, huh?"

Leorio shrugs. "It was a long time ago. But how about you, Pyon? Do you —"

Pyon waggles her index finger at him. "Nuh-uh! It's your turn on the hot seat! I won't let you wriggle away from my questions!"

"Well, what else do you want to know? I can't wait to get off this hot seat. . . ."

"Since you got back, what's been keeping you busy?"

Leorio tells her that, for around two months now, he's been working as a Disease Hunter at the public hospital located closest to the headquarters. Within a week, he effortlessly befriended everyone at the hospital, but that was only because every single person — each colleague, superior, nurse, and staff member — was cheerful and welcoming without fail.

"Isn't that because it's you, Leorio? Even back when you were a Rookie, your charisma boosted you to the top of the rankings and almost won you the title of Chairman."

"Charisma . . .?"

At this point, Leorio hears a scraping noise close by. He turns and sees that Gel has arrived to claim the seat to his left.

Ah! Leorio wanted to save a seat next to him for —

No, this unexpected development is for the best, isn't it? As people always say, everything happens for a reason.

As Leorio is still dwelling on this, Kurapika and Mizaistom enter the conference room together.

At the sight of Kurapika, everything instantly comes rushing back. Even though Leorio repeatedly reminded himself not to make things weird with Kurapika today. . . . Even though he spent all night practicing the suave lines of Leorio 2.0 in front of the bathroom mirror. . . .

Try as he might, Leorio can't help what's going through his mind. Kurapika still looks like a dream come true. He's even more gorgeous now than he was five years ago, if that's even possible. And most importantly, he looks healthy and fit. The way he fills out that impeccably-ironed powder blue button-down shirt and dove gray suit. . . . Leorio finds himself wondering whether he should also invest in more blue button-downs, more gray suits.

The next thing Leorio notices is that Kurapika and Mizaistom appear closer than ever. Leorio knows he shouldn't care. Wasn't it Leorio's own decision to distance himself? But even after all this time, it still causes him a twinge of annoyance to watch Kurapika and Mizaistom acting like the best of friends.

Mizaistom leans in and whispers something into Kurapika's ear — close enough that his breath stirs Kurapika's earring — and Kurapika nods in response.

Despite the rising and falling of a variety of tones in the conference room, Leorio listens hard for Kurapika's voice, as familiar to Leorio as the back of his own hand. He just about makes out Kurapika's reply to Mizaistom.

"Sure, Mizai," Kurapika is saying. "Let me know what happens later, and I'll do the same for you."

With this, Mizaistom goes to sit beside Cheadle, who is at her usual place at the head of the table. Kurapika, on the other hand, goes around the conference room to politely convey his greetings to every member present.

As Kurapika acknowledges Gel, Leorio steels himself. But Kurapika skips over Leorio and addresses Pyon first.

"Pyon, would you be so kind as to allow me to take your place? I need to speak to Leorio about something important."

Pyon hesitates, then gives up her seat. She heads over to the other side of the table, and while she keeps her eyes on Leorio and Kurapika, she doesn't say a word.

Kurapika sits on the chair to Leorio's right and finally looks Leorio in the eye. "Leorio, it's been a long time."

Kurapika's gaze is undeniably intense. He's not wearing contacts, Leorio notices.

Leorio forces out an awkward laugh. "It's been too long! We should have caught up sooner! Why are we only doing this now?"

"I know. I've been desperate for a chance to catch up with you, ever since I heard the news of your return. I repeatedly emailed the Chairman, reminding her to hold this meeting sooner rather than later. I even pestered Mizai to pester her about it. I would have done anything for an opportunity to see you again, Leorio."

Leorio feels like it's hard to breathe as Kurapika tells him such things, bluntly, with an utterly serious expression.

"So where do you live now?" Kurapika inquires. "Which area?"

Leorio tells him.

"Do you live alone, or are you married?"

"Married? Me?!"

"You're not married? I see." Over the table, Kurapika's white-knuckled grip relaxes. "But are you dating someone? Chairman Yorkshire, perhaps?"

Leorio can only stare, his mouth hanging open. Is this really happening? Is Kurapika asking him these extremely unsubtle questions, with no qualms whatsoever? Whatever happened to social niceties, to small talk? No, Kurapika was never one for small talk, was he?

After quietly surveying the shocked expression on Leorio's face, Kurapika says, "I'll take that as a no, then. We're both single, it seems."

Kurapika reaches for one of the file copies that Beans left at the center of the table for their perusal. As Kurapika does so, his hand not-so-accidentally skims over Leorio's.


Once the meeting has concluded, Leorio walks off in a daze.

Wow. He didn't hear a goddamn word that Cheadle said during that entire time, did he? The golden presence on Leorio's right was simply too overwhelming for him to comprehend anything else going on.

One second, Leorio is walking alone, then the next second, he's got company.

Kurapika has caught up with him. "Leorio, why did you leave so fast? I wanted to talk to you some more."

"Sorry, I have to head back to the hospital. Lots of, you know. . . ." Leorio's voice trails off.

"Wounds to patch, lives to save," Kurapika finishes for him. "I understand. At least allow me to walk you to the exit." Kurapika pauses, perhaps to give Leorio enough time to object to his company, but Leorio doesn't. "So where exactly are you working now?"

Leorio tells him the name of the hospital. "I'm assigned to trauma surgery, currently."

Kurapika's eyes widen. "So close. All this time, you were so close by. I work here at the headquarters, you know. Well, to be more accurate, I travel back and forth, but half the time, I'm right here in this building. I'm heading the Reform Committee for the Hunter Bylaws."

Leorio already knew about this, actually. In an unshakable bout of curiosity, he asked around about his ex-best friend. But he still pretends to be surprised by this revelation.

Kurapika is silent for the rest of their brief walk toward the exit. But before Leorio can make it out the doorway, Kurapika speaks up.

"Leorio? I'd like to see you again, as soon as possible. Is that okay with you?"

Before he even realizes what he's saying, Leorio is blurting out an eager assent. And even though this response was wholly unplanned, he can't bring himself to regret it when Kurapika smiles at him — a smile so unguarded that Leorio's brain temporarily disconnects from his body.

Leorio can't think of a single blasted word to say, but maybe no words are needed between them at this point. His arms reach forward, as if on autopilot, to pull Kurapika toward him.

At first there's a jagged intake of breath from the body that Leorio presses against his chest, as well as a startled rigidity, then Kurapika seems to melt against him. Leorio can't explain it, but — beyond just muscles relaxing and heartbeat slowing to a more measured rhythm, beyond the arms that Kurapika wraps around Leorio's waist as a categorical communication of tactile reciprocation, beyond the warm breath and the soft rumble of a groan of satisfaction, beyond the brown gaze that Kurapika directs upward to meet Leorio's own and the consequent fish-like flop inside Leorio's rib cage, perhaps the most pleasurable of palpitations — Kurapika is melting more into Leorio with every millisecond of contact, and it physically pains Leorio to wrench their bodies apart again.


The next day, Leorio is walking toward the nurses' station at the emergency department to ask whether anyone has seen a missing page from his patient's medical history, when a recognizable pulse of aura in the air stops him in his tracks. Leorio begins to sneak away, but he's already too late.

Perhaps sensing Leorio's presence in the same way, someone leaning over the counter at the station whirls around to confront Leorio's retreating back. The person calls Leorio by name, so of course he can no longer escape.

Yesterday, Kurapika declared his intentions to see Leorio again, as soon as possible, and here he is now making good on that claim. Spilling over Kurapika's arms are flowers of a species that Leorio is certain he's never laid eyes on before, buttery yellow and dewdrop fresh, effusing the second sweetest scent to ever reach Leorio's lungs.

Of course, the unrivaled sweetest scent is a specific brand of shampoo, a fragrance that Leorio recently inhaled for the first time in years as he stood by the exit of the Hunter Association's headquarters.

Kurapika speaks first. "I understand that you're very busy, Leorio, engaged as you are in one of the most noble professions known to mankind. I only hoped to brighten your day, even by the slightest degree, with this modest bouquet." Flashing a brilliant smile, Kurapika holds out the flowers, which Leorio takes into his own arms.

"Um, thanks, Kurapika." Leorio tries to ignore the nurses who are staring in wide-eyed wonder at this scene unfolding before them, seemingly stolen from a grand romantic drama and shoved unceremoniously into a drab public hospital setting, stinking of antiseptic and bleach.

"I also wanted to extend an invitation to dinner. Would you happen to have some free time tonight?"

"Well. . . ."

The occupants of the nurses' station are silently mouthing for Leorio to accept, with the most excited nurse jumping up and down and wildly waving his arms. He's probably had too much caffeine, this one.

"My shift ends at eleven," Leorio admits, apologetic.

This doesn't deter Kurapika at all. "Excellent. I can think of a number of 24-hour restaurants that you might enjoy. Would you care to join me for a late dinner?"

"If you're willing to wait that long for me, then I don't see why not."

"For you," Kurapika murmurs, stepping forward, "I'm willing to wait as long as necessary."

Are they still talking about dinner? Kurapika's stare is as intense as it was the day before, and Leorio almost feels light-headed from holding his breath.

Kurapika's eyes wander downward now. "By the way, Leorio, are you aware that a piece of paper is stuck to the back of your coat?"

"Eh? On my back . . .?" Leorio spins around, attempting to check it out, but rather than accomplishing this desired objective, he only ends up looking like a demented dog chasing its own tail.

"Wait. Stop spinning. Let me help you."

Leorio doesn't quit twirling about foolishly, so Kurapika's hands dart forward to grab Leorio's hips and steady him.

Leorio can tell that Kurapika isn't trying to be inappropriate in public — if anything, Kurapika only appears interested in preventing Leorio from further humiliating himself — but just the fact that Kurapika's hands are firmly gripping Leorio's hips in front of a besotted audience of nurses. . . . This entire situation causes Leorio's face to flame up in the most conspicuous cherry imaginable.

With his eyes intently observing Leorio's flushed face, Kurapika reaches around Leorio's waist and plucks off the paper in question. He presents it to Leorio, their fingers brushing in the process.

"Here you go," Kurapika says. "I believe the staple snagged on a loose thread of your coat."

Leorio sighs in relief as he examines the sheet. "This is the missing page I've been searching for. Thanks, Kurapika. You're a lifesaver."

"If not me, someone else would have pointed it out. But I'm glad that I got to it before anybody else." Kurapika smiles up at Leorio's face, which is stubbornly holding on to its furious blush. "I'll be at the northern parking lot at eleven, ready to pick you up. Don't forget about me, okay?"