-= |Standard Disclaimers Applied | Idea by pixie-atme | Rated R for yaoi with LIME and slight LEMON| =-


Only You


Ch. 2

Uh-oh. Something tells me I'm going to get it.

"Where the hell were you? I hope you know what time it is already!"

He blankly stared back at the enraged Kuruta, his best friend's eyes cold sapphires with faint traces of crimson anger in their depths. He said the words in a voice laced with pure venom, his soft undisturbed tone a trifle worse a yell could have been. Though for some twisted, inexplicable reason he found the other's silent outburst amusing, smiling to himself as he pushed the half-opened door all the way and entered his presently dark room. Kurapika had keys to his and the young ones' quarters so it really didn't come as a surprise to find him there - without a single light turned on, no less -, scolding him even before he could step inside. What interests him though was why he was there. It's not every night, no, past midnight that he returns to discovers the object of his affections waiting for him. He opened his mouth to ask, but entirely different words came out of him.

"It's not as if you care," he stated coldly.

Smooth move, Leorio. Really smooth.

"No, I don't. Gon was worried sick though when you didn't show up for dinner," he replied just as callously.

Figures. Avoiding the direction of the bed as it only threatens to stir up memories of a particular incident that morning, he walked towards the couch, turning on the light switches as he passed them. What Kurapika replied and how he said it did hurt, but the pain wasn't all that foreign. He sat down on the soft cushion and closed his eyes, listening to light footsteps as they broke through the stillness of the room. No longer living with two restless and noisy twelve-year olds, his nights have been deadly silent. He moved out from the room the three of them shared when they finally met up with their fourth friend - after much persuasion and a couple of calls - and images of him started to fill his dreams, making him toss and turn in the middle of the night.

I better get him out of here before I do something we will both regret.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to look behind him. Kurapika still stood by the doorway, half-hidden within the shadows, eyes still trained on him. And by the deadly glint in them, he could tell the blonde already has in mind what had happened that morning though Leorio has been doing all he could to get the two of them dwell on other thoughts. He sighed heavily and pushed off the couch to a standing position, turning around to face the Kuruta. He moved, striding towards him and promptly started apologizing, but a chain-clad hand being raised stopped him dead on his tracks. Contrary to what he supposed, Kurapika spoke first, and what he said certainly didn't go well with his remorseful plans of action.

"I don't give a damn to anything you have to say, Leorio," he started, voice as cold as steel. "Just...just forget about what happened this morning. I don't want Gon or Killua to notice anything."

And with that, he was out of there before Leorio could even blink an eye.

*~*~*~*~*


The look on his face...but I've done it, though subtly. I really don't want the other two to get involved in this.

Rounding the corner, he relaxed a little and heaved a sigh of relief, finally through with what he had to. It's getting harder and less uncomfortable to talk with Leorio each time he does, and he fears that'll it'll only take a little more time before they feel completely uneasy with each other and eventually end their friendship. That's what happens when you fall for a friend who doesn't love you back, doesn't Leorio know that? He is such a jerk to risk what good relationship they have for a chance at something he knows he'll never have.

Well, I'll just have to fix things before matters get worse then.

Walking the dimly lit corridor, he stopped and rubbed his cold hands together while waiting for the elevator to come. Once it did, he quickly stepped inside and pressed the buttons, feeling suddenly very cold. He shivered and wrapped his arms around him, feeling ill. The doors finally opened to the floor where his room was in and he stumbled out, trying to find his way and at the same time get rid of the fog that hung in his mind. Luckily his room wasn't that far and he managed to get inside it and lie down heavily on his bed before passing out.

*~*~*~*~*


He pushed himself up into a sitting position, a weary hand brushing sweat off his brow, wondering if Kurapika will be coming to wake him up this morning. Opting not to find out, he got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, wondering why he wasn't at all tired even though he only had a few hours of restless sleep. And then the answer hit him and he almost laughed out loud. He had fallen asleep on the bench in the clearing yesterday afternoon and didn't wake up until it was already quite dark. It took him an hour or so to get out of the park and that's the reason he missed dinner and got back late.

And remembering that, he suddenly remembered the girl and the necklace she left behind. He finished brushing his teeth and hastily returned to his room, searching for the piece of jewelry. He found it in the back-pocket of his old worn-out jeans. He blinked. Jeans? He usually wears pressed dark-colored pants nowadays, a part of his usual three-piece suit. Why then was he wearing- he shook his head, dismissing the question. No time for that now. He'll have a quick breakfast with his friends and then excuse himself to search for that girl.

*~*~*~*~*


Gon greeted him with his usual "Good morning, Leorio!" and bright smile, but something about the way the young one's eyes glinted and the look Killua was giving him then stated clearly that he's going to be grilled once he sits down. Not managing to come up with a good enough reason for his absence the previous evening – no way was he going to tell them he got himself lost in the park - he dejectedly sat down and feigned oblivion to the kid's a thousand and six questions while the waitress asked them for their orders. Killua rolled his eyes when Gon won't stop his inquiry and placed the orders for both of them. Not really hungry, Leorio decided on a cup of coffee and pancakes. And Kurapika-

"Where's Kurapika?"

His question didn't get any quick answer, but it at least stopped Gon's endless ones. Killua stared back at him and shrugged, looking at his watch. Eight o'clock, he should be down by now. A silent message passed between the three of them and they all stood up, running towards the elevator and shouting that they'll be back to the baffled waitress.

*~*~*~*~*


"Kurapika! Kurapika, open up!"

What's all the racket about? Gon..? Leorio..?

Recognizing the voices he quickly sat up, wincing as acute pain shot to his head the moment he did. Ignoring it, he slid out of bed and stumbled towards what instinct told him was his door, seeing doubles. He didn't even bother looking through the peephole, just opened the door as caution was thrown to the four winds.

He blinked at the frantic looks that were sported on each of his three friends' faces. "Do we have a problem?"

Gon and Leorio blinked back at him, the color slowly returning to their pale faces. "None," Killua answered his question calmly, giving him the once-over as he stepped into the room. "We thought something must have happened to you when Leorio arrived at breakfast before you. You overslept..?"

"What-?" Kurapika started to ask, stopping abruptly when he caught sight of the sunlight filtering into his room and heard the bustles of the morning Yorkshin city streets below. "Ah, I suppose so. I'm sorry for making all of you worry. I'm just…tired." But as soon as the words left him, he knew it wasn't just exhaustion. He closed his eyes against the dizziness that suddenly overcame him as he walked back to his bed, and the wave of nausea that washed over him.

"Kurapika, are you alright?" Gon asked anxiously, following his flaxen-haired friend closely from behind.

Am I?

"Yes, Gon. Don't worry about me. It's just…" he didn't manage to finish his sentence. The bluish fire in his eyes went out and his body went limp, he fell as he lost consciousness, Leorio catching him from behind just before he hit the carpeted floor.

"As always, never believe him when he says he's alright," Killua muttered wryly.

*~*~*~*~*


Damn, my head hurts like hell. Where am I?

Kurapika woke up sometime around noon, not managing to clearly make out of his surroundings. What he was seeing was blurry, but he knew it was the ceiling of some room or the other.

What happened?

He didn't move, just stared up at the ceiling and tried to remember. He was waiting up for Leorio last night…he went back to his room feeling sick and then everything went black before he hit his bed. He woke up this morning – no, his friends woke him up this morning? Yes, they were banging on his door, asking him if he was alright when they entered and he was telling them not to worry and that he was fine when…he frowned.

I fainted?

"Are you finally awake, Kurapika?" a gentle voice asked him. It was familiar but he couldn't place it properly, his head still throbbed in pain.

"Yes," he answered, slowly but surely sitting up. One large hand quickly positioned itself at the small of his back to support him, the other already propping up the pillows. "Thanks, Leorio," he mumbled, knowing it could only be his best friend beside him. "So…I fainted?" he asked, knowing the answer before it was said.

"Yeah. Are you sure you're alright now? Then again, don't answer. Killua's right to say never to believe you when you tell us that you're alright," Leorio replied, shrugging his shoulder as a slight smile appeared on his lips. "But tell me, how long have you been feeling ill? I think you're working yourself too much."

"No, not that much," Kurapika lied, shaking his head and wincing in pain as he did so. "When? I suppose last night after I…" He trailed off, his eyes widening as everything came rushing back to him. Fogged blue eyes cleared and Leorio swallowed when his eyes met crimson glaring ones. "Get out! Get out of my room, Leorio!" Kurapika said almost desperately.

"Don't work yourself up, Kurapika. You need to rest. I'm going out now," Leorio told him, sighing. The brunette stood up rather reluctantly and with a last glance back at the furious Kuruta, went out of the room.

*~*~*~*~*


Might as well go ahead with my plans. Now where should I start looking?