A/N: Hi there! We want to thank anyone who took the time to review! We're very thankful! Of course we're also happy for anyone who's favorited us and is following our story. So, here it is, the second chapter. The main focus this time is on Leorio and Kurapika. To those of you hoping for more Killua and Gon action, that will follow, I promise! Once again, I remind those of you who are up to date with the manga, that we began this story about a year ago, and had different ideas about how some things would turn out ;)
Now, we hope you'll enjoy the new chapter and if you feel like it, please leave a review to let us know that you still want to find out what will happen next. Thanks!
Chapter 2
When Killua explained that a date between two men shouldn't be too different from what a man and woman would enjoy, Gon realized something. Why couldn't he think of these things all by himself?
"Ah, I guess you're right! Mito told me to pick places for dates, that I would like myself, because that would put me at ease and being relaxed was important for making your date have a good time. I always had fun when I was dating."
He smiled at Killua, happy that there wasn't a problem at all, which made him wonder at the scowl he saw flashing across his best friend's face then. It passed in a millisecond, though, so that Gon wasn't sure if he had actually seen it in the end.
"Okay," he just nodded at Killua's promise to explain his plans later. The other always had sound plans and Gon rarely was a help with them anyway, so he just relied on the former assassin's expertise.
As usual, his silver-haired friend was perfectly prepared. He unfolded a map, and showed him the locations and the fastest route to scout them out. After memorizing it as best as he could, the two of them left the hotel. Once they were outside, Gon grinned happily as he breathed the salty air and stretched while they walked. He always felt better being outside, somehow.
Killua had marked six possibly romantic restaurants. The first was way too pricey, and the second one felt kind of sterile, like a hospital canteen, which something Leorio didn't need reminding of, the two of them were sure. The third was a possibility. It wasn't too big, had a comfortable air, and the prices were affordable, but they decided to look at the other restaurants, too.
When they arrived at the fifth restaurant, Gon was sure it was the perfect place. There were tables outside with people enjoying a drink in the soft breeze. With only one look, Gon knew they were all locals. It was always a good sign if locals frequented a restaurant. When they took a look inside the establishment, 'cozy' was the first word that sprang into Gon's mind. Though the furniture was mismatched (there were at least four kinds of different chairs and three types of tables), it looked comfortable. There were red and white checkered tablecloths, small vases with flowers and candles on every table. The day's specialties were scribbled on chalkboards. Befitting an island, they were mostly fish dishes, and the prices were good, especially considering this was a tourist spot.
"I really like this place!" Gon shouted out. "This should be perfect. I want to try the 'Linguini con Frutti di Mare'," he pointed at one of the boards. "I have no idea what it is, but it sounds delicious!"
The spiky-haired teen laughed happily. He had a really good feeling about this.
"You have good instincts then, young sir. You decided on noodles, or 'pasta' in my tongue, with mixed seafood that was caught just this morning, in a delicious tomato sauce. Will that be two servings?" A middle-aged man with dark hair and mustache asked them from behind a small bar. He approached them with a warm smile.
Needless to say, their restaurant hunt went just as smoothly as Killua had planned and hoped for. The first two places they visited were quickly dismissed due to food price and atmosphere factors, and the third place was deemed passable unless they found something better. Thankfully, the fifth place they stopped by was perfect, just like Gon had exclaimed. The restaurant was filled with locals and tourists alike, and it had a really comfortable atmosphere to it. It wasn't entirely romantic, (because if it was too romantic, there was a possibility that it would make Kurapika and Leorio feel awkward as soon as they entered), but as soon as the sun would start to set, it would create a really comfortable, and homey atmosphere, which would help them in the long run. Not only that, but the menu contained very different and exotic foods that would help with that date-like atmosphere in a fancy restaurant.
Killua couldn't help but chuckle at Gon's excitement to try the exotic sounding special, but he was surprised the next second when a finely dressed middle-aged man addressed them about the food in question. With the former assassin's critical eye, he quickly deduced that the man they were speaking to was actually the owner of the establishment. How perfect.
"Yes, that will be two servings, but can you hold that order off for a few hours?" Killua answered for the both of them as he approached the man behind the counter. "You see, my friend and I have a bit of a problem that we would like to try and fix, if possible…"
It was here that Killua explained his situation to the older man, who had declared he was actually the manager of the restaurant. The silver-haired teen told the manager that there were two friends of his who were stubborn about their feelings for the other (he didn't explain that they were both guys), and that Gon and him were trying to get them together. Killua then went over the basics of his plan to the manager and Gon, stating that he and Gon would invite their friends over to the restaurant, but just as they were given their menus, Gon would pretend to be sick so that Killua would have to take him back to the hotel. In reality, though, the two of them would hide themselves within the restaurant and watch their two friends as they were forced to eat alone together, and hope that the atmosphere around them would help them to open up to each other.
With the manager excited about the forced date, who Killua had also learned was a romantic at heart (and rather effeminate, he noted), and Gon's agreement to the plan, Killua told the manager to have their food prepared for them and placed in carry out boxes for them to take later, and the manager took them to their table. The table itself was a comfy looking booth in the corner of the restaurant, which was perfect for blocking prying eyes and setting a more than cozy atmosphere. After the manager explained that he'd hand them the menus as soon as his friends came in and asked for them, he left to go and finish whatever work he had to do. That left Gon and Killua to stare at their designated booth, the former assassin already noticing a slight predicament they had fallen into.
"Gon…what should our sitting arrangements be?" The blacklist hunter asked uncertainly as he glanced over their table with a critical eye. It was a simple table with the same red and white checkered table cloth on it, along with some candles, which would hopefully be lit by the time Leorio and Kurapika arrived, and there were two comfortable looking booth seats on both sides of the table. "From what I remember reading," the ex-assassin continued, "people who are dating generally sit opposite of each other…but wouldn't it look strange to Leorio and Kurapika if they came here and found us sitting opposite of each other instead of next to each other? Naturally, I would think they'd assume that we'd sit beside each other…"
Killua actually felt stumped at that moment. If he and Gon sat next to each other, which made Leorio and Kurapika sit next to each other in the opposite booth once they arrived, then as soon as Gon and him left, the atmosphere might feel awkward because Leorio and Kurapika would be left sitting next to each other in a booth with the other one being empty…
But, on the other hand, if Gon and him sat opposite to each other, which would make Leorio and Kurapika sit opposite of each other as well, it might look strange to the couple coming in, which might tip them off that something was up…Of course, there was also another possibility that Leorio and Kurapika wouldn't think anything of the two of them sitting across from each other, and just sit down without the thought even crossing their minds…But what scenario should Killua put faith in to make sure his plan worked?
Although Gon had decided on the food just by its fancy name, he was excited when the manager told him what it was. He felt happy when Killua decided to follow him and try it too, for later.
His friend then went on to explain his plans for the evening to the man. Of course, the explanation was meant for Gon, too, and he did his best to follow it, but, in the end, it was a little too much for him to understand all in one go. Still, he just nodded in agreement, knowing Killua would tell him the details again if he asked. Contrary to him, the manager seemed to have understood what was asked of him and left them at the table he had chosen for them.
Killua felt unsure then about the seating order. Gon looked at the booths as the other asked him for his opinion.
"Oh yeah. For a date it's better to sit opposite each other, so you can look into the partner's eyes. So it would be best to get them into that position. I'm not sure it would look suspicious if we sat opposite each other while we wait on the other two. Hmm, maybe we should try it?"
Gon just slid into one booth. When Killua followed him automatically into the same, the spiky-haired teen saw the problem. He turned in his seat to face his friend.
"I guess you're right. It seems natural for us to sit next to each other. Hmmmmm..." He scrunched up his face as he tried to think of a solution to that problem. After a moment Gon's eyes shone with happiness. He had come up with a solution. "A game! If we were playing cards while we waited for them, it would look all natural to sit opposite. I bet we can get a set of cards somewhere around here."
The happy smile on the enhancer's face faltered then. Although Gon had listened, he hadn't fully understood the plan, and, even though he hated to admit it, he had to ask for another explanation. He didn't want to look stupid, but if he wasn't told again, he wouldn't know what to do and that would be even worse.
"Ehm, Killua? Can you explain the plan once more and maybe... a little slower?"
Without any condescension or reprimand, his best friend reiterated his ideas for him once more. This time, Gon understood, but he felt nervous. He noticeably fidgeted in his seat then.
"Are you sure that can work out? Leorio is a real doctor now. I'm not good at lying anyway, and playing sick before a doctor...I'm really not sure about this."
Apologetically, Gon looked at Killua. Was he destroying the other's plans? Could this work anyway?
"I know I said this was the perfect place for a date, but I'm not sure this can work for Leorio and Kurapika. Do you really think they will be swayed by the romantic atmosphere? I don't know if this really works on two guys."
Unsure and a little put out that he actually had doubts about Killua's plans, he looked at the other even more apologetically.
It took only a moment for Gon to confirm what he had feared. Dang! How were they going to pull this off without suspicion?!
When his best friend suggested they try out their sitting arrangement, the former assassin followed his friend into the booth. It felt so natural to be beside the other, he didn't know if they could actually pull it off if they tried to sit on opposite sides. It was then that Gon came up with another suggestion.
A game?! Why hadn't he thought of that?! That was perfect! Killua almost slapped himself for not thinking of that sooner. They could make everything work out as long as they were playing a game.
"Yeah, that's perfect!" Killua exclaimed in excitement as he tried to remember if there were any stores nearby where they could get cards. "I think there are a few stores we can try out that are a block away from here that might sell cards."
It seemed Gon agreed with him, but an apologetic look met Killua's eyes a second later as his friend asked him to repeat the plan a little slower. Killua just smiled knowingly, half expecting this situation to pop up again. With eyes shining with understanding, the silver-haired teen retold his plan to his best friend, going slow and making sure that Gon understood everything he said this time around.
By the time he was done reiterating, Killua noticed how Gon was fidgeting nervously in his seat. Did the other have more doubts after finally understanding his plan? It seemed that his spiky-haired friend actually did, because Killua was hit with two obstacles simultaneously; if Gon could pull off being sick in front of Leorio, and Gon's uncertainty about gay romance.
Gon was staring at him like a disobedient puppy that knew it had done something wrong. Killua's stomach twisted uncomfortably then, not wanting his friend to feel badly about his uncertainty, because he had every reason to feel that way.
"Well, first off, we really don't have a choice in the matter for you pretending to be sick," Killua explained with a sigh. "I can't think of any other alternative which will get us out of the restaurant without seeming suspicious, and I can't be the one that pretends to be sick, because both Leorio and Kurapika know about my many immunities because of my assassin's training. To think that I would get a simple stomach ache or something like that is practically ludicrous and would tip them off that something was up. Not only that, but Leorio would probably be so concerned that I actually got sick, he would probably try to tag along. I mean, he'd try to tag along anyway if you were sick as well, but we can at least pull it off that you just have indigestion from some sweets that you got from a vendor on the street, and that you'd just need some medicine and sleep to get through it."
Seeing as Gon was still staring at him with uncertainty, Killua went on to explain with more determination.
"Seeing as we have so little options, you're just going to have to try and act out your illness, Gon. How about as soon as we get our menus and we start looking at the food, you'll moan a little bit and rub your stomach or something. Play this up for a few minutes while you rub your head on occasion, like it hurts to read the menu. Leorio and Kurapika will probably be asking if you're okay by this point, but just keep saying that you're fine. As soon as a waiter comes to get our orders, cover your mouth abruptly and try to get out of the booth. More than likely, you'll have to get past either Leorio or Kurapika in order to do so, but if they see you're in a rush, and if they take into account the way you were acting before, they should get out of your way in a hurry. From there, just run in the direction of the bathroom, and I'll insist on checking up on you. I know I'll probably have to fight with Leorio for a bit on that, but I'm certain a death glare will make him listen to me. We'll wait a few minutes and then I'll be the only one to come back to the table and explain that you got indigestion from some sweets we got at a vendor an hour or so ago. That shouldn't be too hard to believe for them, especially if I tell them that I insisted we try the sweets out. After I convince Leorio that you just need some medicine and some rest, we'll leave, run a good few meters away, and then use our zetsu to sneak back into the restaurant unnoticed to observe them."
Killua just sighed again as he took in Gon's reaction. He swore he could see smoke coming out of the other's ears.
"Don't worry, I'll explain that again, and I'll make sure you memorize the entire plan before we call our friends to come down here."
Seeing a look of relief cross his friend's features then, Killua steeled himself for what he was about to do next. One of their situations was fixed, but now the former assassin had to tackle the fact that Gon didn't understand how a gay relationship would work in the setting they were in. A part of the teen was thrilled at the chance to make a believer out of his crush, but another part was afraid that he wouldn't be convincing enough…especially since he was going to show a side of himself he was certain that Gon had never seen. Just how would the other react?
"As for your uncertainties about if this will work for Leorio and Kurapika, Gon," Killua brought up then as he stood up from his seat and walked around until he was sitting down at the booth across the table from his friend. "I think I'll have to show you how this could actually work."
Gon looked very confused then as he stared directly into the silver-haired teen's eyes, but Killua took it all in stride. He hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself by doing this.
"I want you to close your eyes, Gon, and focus entirely on my voice," Killua instructed then, watching as his friend put full faith in him the next second by closing his eyes. "I want you to imagine what I am saying in your head."
Killua took a deep breath then as he tried to figure out how to start. As he looked out the window beside their booth then, he finally figured out what to say.
"Imagine you're in your typical dating scenario…but you're with someone you really like. Someone that makes you laugh…makes you smile…Someone who makes you feel all warm inside when you see them…Someone who you never want to leave your side…" Killua started off slowly, his voice a low hum as his sapphire eyes never left the face of his crush who was sitting before him, oblivious of his longing stare. His words were directly from his heart, but Gon would probably never figure that out. "Imagine that you're sitting here in this restaurant, and the sun is setting, casting a warm glow within the room and upon the person you love, who is sitting across from you."
Killua could actually see it himself as he continued with his description, of Gon's black hair shining in the warmth of the setting sun as he sat across the table from him, smiling happily. The former assassin's entire body ached with longing, but he tried to suppress the feeling as best as he could. If he didn't, he might actually act upon it, and ruin everything he had planned and maybe even his and Gon's friendship.
"The candles upon the table are lit as well, giving the corner booth you're sitting at even more of a cozy, romantic air as you stare lovingly at your date before you…and you take their hand in yours," Killua continued softly, his voice becoming a little wistful as he acted upon his own words and gently took one of Gon's hand (which were on the table) into his, his thumb rubbing gently over the top of the other's hand, just like a lover would.
"If only,"the slightly smaller teen thought sadly.
"Open your eyes," Killua instructed softly then, and when Gon's hazel orbs met his, the former assassin couldn't help but stare back hopefully. "You're date has been another man all along…Does it feel any different to you now? Can you still not see it working?"
Killua was internally berating himself by that point for dripping his words with so much double meaning. Would Gon be able to detect it? Would he be able to see that Killua wanted the same thing from him as he did for Leorio and Kurapika? Would he feel disgusted by him now?
"It's…really not that different from a…normal couple…right," Killua stated more than asked then, his silvery bangs coming down to cover his eyes from view. The former assassin felt so self-conscious then, which was a very foreign feeling to him. He had never opened himself up like this, and he half wanted Gon to understand what he was truly getting at, but another part of him prayed that the other didn't understand his romantic intent, afraid that he'd be turned away.
As much as Gon tried to think of it, he couldn't find another good reason to leave the restaurant either. Killua was also right in that, if he was the one that pretended to be sick, it would never work out. Because of his family background, Killua could withstand just about any poison. If he really got sick, Leorio definitely would want to take him to a hospital! So the plan really hinged on his performance.
At least Killua had even planned out his acting for him and exactly how he was supposed to do it. Gon listened to Killua's explanation on how he was to go about it, but around the middle part, it just became too much. How was he supposed to remember all that?! Squinting his eyes, he really tried to concentrate. He could tell it sounded like a good plan, even though he couldn't keep up with it in the end. Killua's plans were always good, so Gon trusted in them without a second thought. If problems or dangers were involved, his friend always pointed them out so they couldn't surprise them. Since he didn't end on a warning, Killua really seemed to have planned for any eventualities.
A relieved sigh left Gon when his friend promised to explain the plan again until he got it. The young enhancer really was thankful that Killua knew him like that, and had the patience to tell him things twice or even thrice. At least he still had this patience. Gon sometimes wondered for how long that could go on, but as much as he tried, he just didn't get better at understanding the complex things Killua could process on the first try.
It was then that his companion went about explaining to him how this whole setup might actually work on their friends. Why Killua had to get up and change his seating to do so, he really didn't understand; his full confusion showing on his face. Gon really was an open book, and he knew about this being a fault of his most of the time. But although he did not understand the reasons, he did as Killua asked, and just closed his eyes; nodding in affirmation when the other asked him to imagine the things he was told.
When Killua started to explain the situation to him, he imagined a faceless, long haired woman sitting across from him which instantly evolved into his best friend with the description concerning how he felt about his date. Just like the other asked, Gon imagined the light from the sunset streaming through the window to color Killua's hair a warm orange and make his pale skin glow softly. He saw the flickering light of the candle reflected in his best friend's eyes, giving his sapphire orbs an inner fire.
Killua took his hand then, stroking his thumb softly across the back of it. Gon never thought anything by it. It just felt natural to him, even though they had never done anything like it. As he was instructed, he opened his eyes and looked directly at his friend, who's questions puzzled Gon then. His date had been a man, of course! It had been him! Killua made him laugh and feel all warm, and he never wanted him to leave, but that was self-evident, wasn't it?
Not just a little confused, Gon gazed into Killua's eyes, trying to understand what was actually asked of him. Sadly, the other's beautiful eyes hid behind a curtain of bangs once more, refusing to give him an answer.
"Hm...I don't think it feels different. I guess you're right, it should work," Gon answered slowly, hoping that was what Killua wanted to hear. He just felt very confused then. He had a strong feeling that he was missing something important here. Damn, why wasn't he any smarter?
Hating that he felt stupid and afraid of making an even bigger idiot of himself, Gon wanted to get out of this situation fast. For once, his mind offered him an excuse.
"Hey, Killua, don't we need to get going? We need to find the cards and get back here to call Kurapika and Leorio, and they need to get here before sunset or your plan won't work," the spiky-haired teen burst out suddenly, making it sound pretty urgent. They had all agreed to eat out together tonight, so Kurapika and Leorio would certainly wait for them, but it was the only excuse Gon could come up with at the moment to get out of this situation that totally threw him.
Killua didn't dare to breathe as soon as he heard Gon's answer, disbelief shining in his dark, cobalt orbs. Had Gon actually admitted that he finally understood? That there was no difference between heterosexual and homosexual couples? Sure, Gon had answered slowly, if not a bit uncertainly, but he had still admitted it, nonetheless. Did that mean that he actually had a chance?
The former assassin's hopes were slightly dashed the next second, though, when his spiky-haired friend started talking a mile a minute, stating that they needed to get their cards and call their friends before time was up. Killua knew that Gon definitely had a point, that they couldn't waste any more time, but the silver-haired teen could tell his friend wanted to get out of their situation as fast as possible. The transmutation user's hand still held Gon's, but his fingers were aptly placed along his crush's wrist, giving Killua insight into his crush's heart rate. It had increased over the course of a few minutes, showing that he was anxious.
It felt like he had been slapped in the face then. He knew why Gon was anxious to get away; it was because he had made the other feel uncomfortable. Killua knew that he should have known better than to try, but that didn't change the fact that Gon didn't like the situation he was in.
As if it had been burned, Killua tore his hand away from the enhancer's, his bangs still covering his eyes from view.
"You're right, we should get going before our time's up," Killua stated simply, his voice containing no emotion as he abruptly stood up from the booth and started walking to the front counter again. "We should explain to the owner as to where we are going and when we'll be back, or some dumb waiter will give our table away."
After doing what he had suggested, the two of them finally left the restaurant to go on their quest to find some playing cards. Throughout the whole trip, Gon kept saying and doing things to try and make the former assassin smile. Killua felt a little guilty then. It was obvious by Gon's behavior that he had detected how upset he was; although it was up to debate on if he actually knew why he was upset. Needless to say, by the time they were done buying their playing cards at a random store that seemed to contain everything under the sun in it, they had hardly wasted any time and were able to head back to the restaurant to review their plan. On the way there, Killua couldn't stop thinking about how he had secretly witnessed Gon trying to be sneaky in buying some purple colored hairpins within the store they were just in. This confused the blacklist hunter to no end, but he decided to keep quiet about it for the moment, afraid of what the answer would be as to why his best friend was buying girly hairpins that he didn't even need. Maybe he thought of it as a souvenir he could give to Biscuit, Alluka or…Palm…
Feeling a little disheartened as that last person crossed his mind, Killua tried not to show it in favor of making Gon believe that he was okay. He didn't want his friend to feel guilty over something that he had no control of, after all.
As soon as they arrived back at the restaurant, they greeted the owner again and told him that they'd be calling their friends soon. From there, Killua brought Gon over to their table again and slowly relayed their plan, making sure that Gon understood what he was supposed to do for his sick act before they decided to call their friends. They couldn't mess up once, or else Kurapika and Leorio would be wary of them for the rest of their vacation. Killua wasn't too concerned about Leorio catching on, since he was quite dense, but Kurapika was another matter entirely. Kurapika's mind was very similar to his own, where he could catch minute details and figure out what was going on rather quickly. Hopefully, the Kurta survivor wouldn't catch onto them right away like the young teen feared.
Gon definitely felt the change in atmosphere between them, but he had no idea why it happened. Killua's mood had turned sour, but since the taller teen didn't know the reason why, it was hard to make him feel better again. The only thing Gon was pretty sure of was that, somehow, it was his fault. Maybe Killua wasn't happy with his uncertain answer? But how should he have answered correctly when he didn't even fully understand the question?
At a loss for a way to make things right, he tried a different approach to make Killua feel better. He made jokes and pointed out funny things, trying to cheer his friend up, but he wasn't very successful. When they were at the store, they had to pass through the kid's apparel to get to the toys. Next to the girl's clothes, there were some accessories that caught Gon's eyes. He got an idea then that might cheer Killua up. There were purple hairpins there that were just perfect. Leaving Killua to decide on the set of cards, Gon bought the pins secretly, hoping to surprise the other one later.
Once they were back at the restaurant, they soon returned to their table. Just as promised, Killua took his time in telling him exactly what he was to do to make their friends believe he was sick. This time Gon understood and was very proud of his best friend for coming up with this plan. The enhancer knew he never could have come up with such a convincing idea all on his own. When he looked at Killua at the end of the explanation, the other one seemed concerned. Gon smiled at him reassuringly.
"I understand now. Don't worry, I'll give it my best. Trust me," he begged of his best friend.
Out on the balcony, Kurapika watched the light of the sun dance on the waves rolling towards the shore. It was a wonderful view. He took it in, trying to memorize it. It had been quite a while since he had just enjoyed a beautiful view like this. Actually, it had been a while since he had really enjoyed anything at all. Not just because of the location, this vacation was very special to him. He was about to finally relax and spend time with his friends. Kurapika only now fully realized how much he needed this vacation.
When Kurapika heard something behind him then, he turned around. He looked up at Leorio in his screaming tropical shirt. He knew that he had to come to terms with his hidden feelings for the other one but, right now, in this moment, he just felt happy to see him again. Combing back some strands of hair that the wind tried to whip into his face, he smiled warmly at the other man.
"Kinawa-O was a very good choice for this vacation. It's beautiful," he told Leorio.
Leorio smiled as he saw Kurapika turn around to greet him as he made his way out onto the balcony. He wondered, though, why his heart beat a little faster when his smaller companion combed back a bit of his hair and that warm smile was sent his way.
"It sure is," the former med-student agreed as he leaned on the balcony railing beside his blond friend, his brown orbs staring out at the beautiful ocean view before him. "Wow, Gon really did have a reason to get excited about this view. It's spectacular!"
The two of them stood in companionable silence then as the sea breeze gently ruffled their hair and clothes, the ocean practically calling out to them.
"We'll definitely have to investigate that beach down there at some point," Leorio commented with a warm, yet excited smile on his face. "And look, they even have some large shell structures down there. I wonder if those are just play areas for kids, or if they serve another purpose?"
The newfound doctor stared in awe at the large conch shell structures he had just pointed out that were scattered along the beach before them. It looked like children and adults alike were going into them, so he'd definitely want to check them out at a later time. Before he could think too much on it, though, the rookie hunter's raging headache came back to remind him as to why he had wanted a nap in the first place.
Rubbing his head as a slight hiss of pain left his lips, Leorio glanced Kurapika's way to see that the Kurta was sending him a look of concern.
"Sorry, I have a bit of a headache," Leorio laughed out lightly then in order to calm his friend's fears. "That's why I wanted to take a nap. With some sleep and some pain killers, I should feel better by dinner time, so don't worry. I…I just couldn't take a nap without checking out the view first, though, since Gon was getting all excited over it…"
With another light chuckle, Leorio leaned away from the balcony and started to head back into the room.
"Sorry for being a stick in the mud, but I'll go catch that nap now. You can do whatever you want with your time until we all go and grab something to eat," the emission user explained before he remembered something and turned back around to face his Kurta friend, the older man scratching his cheek in slight embarrassment. "Oh…and before I forget…Um…I really am sorry about earlier…you know…when I commented about your attire. I didn't really mean anything by it, Kurapika, so I'm sorry if you took offense. I was just worried that wearing it would actually cause you to overheat, and I didn't want you to get sick because of that."
Leorio shifted his eyes away from his blond friend as a light blush came onto his cheeks. He didn't quite understand why he was reacting this way, since he just wanted to make sure everything was okay between him and the friend he hadn't seen for a long time. He guessed that it had something to do with the fact that he hadn't seen Kurapika for so long that he was a little self-conscious around him.
When Leorio came to stand beside him, the Kurta turned back to the ocean view. He nodded with a soft smile.
"Gon gets easily excited, but this time I can definitely see why."
The two of them enjoyed the view, and it felt nice just to share it with the other man. When Leorio spoke up again, Kurapika first looked up at him and then followed his pointing finger. His gaze had been captivated by the glittering of the sea, so he hadn't looked at the beach any closer up until now. In a moment, though, he knew what Leorio was talking about. It looked interesting, he had to admit.
"Yes, I definitely want to go to the beach. And you're right; those shell structures look pretty interesting. I don't think that attraction is only meant for children." He pointed at a pair of adults without any kids around that disappeared inside one of the shells. "Even if it were a kid's playground, we could always send in Gon to investigate. With his childlike enthusiasm, I don't think anyone would stop him." Kurapika chuckled softly.
He heard the other utter a hiss of pain then and turned to him, looking up in concern. Leorio declared it was only a headache he hoped to cure with some pills and a bit of sleep.
"The ocean won't run away. You really should lie down if you don't feel well. A vacation is meant to give you the time to unwind and relax so that you can gather knew energy," the blond admonished softly.
Kurapika watched Leorio head back inside. "Don't worry about it. You just make sure you feel better for dinner."
That was when the brand new doctor turned around. He fully apologized for his earlier comment on the Kurta's traditional clothes. Although Kurapika wasn't resentful about the little incident anymore, it was still nice to hear the other one explain himself and apologize like that. Time had cooled off the Kurta, too, and he could now fully believe that Leorio's concern for his health was the only reason he had commented on his precious clothes.
Kurapika saw the soft blush color his friend's cheeks. This show of how embarrassed Leorio actually was about his comment meant even more to the Kurta than the apology itself.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it anymore. I wear these clothes because they are very precious to me, but, just like I said, they really are suited to this climate. The material is light and cooling in this kind of weather," he explained to his friend. His gaze became very warm and soft then. "Thanks for your concern, and for your apology."
For a second then, their eyes met. There was something there, but before the Kurta could put his finger on it, Leorio turned around again and was gone. For a moment, Kurapika stared at the door, trying to figure out what had caught his attention, but with the other one gone, and the expression only a memory he did not dare to trust, Kurapika had to give up. Shaking his head, he turned back to the beach. Most likely it was just his imagination, and all he had seen was relief.
For a little while longer, the blacklist hunter watched the ocean waves, giving Leorio a chance to fall asleep. Soundlessly, he went into their room then. Taking out a book from his bag, he went back onto the balcony to sit in one of the plastic chairs there. While Leorio was hopefully sleeping off his headache, he enjoyed having the time to actually read a trivial novel. Usually when Kurapika read something, they were security reports, or auction catalogs or the like. Recreational reading rarely fit into his work schedule. He lost himself to his book until his cell rang.
"Hello, Killua. Oh, is it time already?" Looking at the position of the sun, Kurapika realized that he had actually lost track of time. "Where are you? Ah, okay. Yes, we can find that. But it'll take a moment. I think Leorio is still asleep. We'll be there soon."
Kurapika entered their room then and went to the bed. Sure enough, he had been correct. Leorio was still sound asleep. Softly shaking the other man by the shoulder, the Kurta spoke the other's name to wake him up.
A relieved, yet affectionate, smile spread across Leorio's lips as he heard his friend accept his apology, they're eyes locking a second later. It still amazed him that the Kurta was even in his presence; that he was even there on the same island with him. With the way he had been unable to keep in touch with his friend, it was practically a miracle in itself that he had even gotten a hold of Kurapika, and that the other agreed to vacation with him.
All those thoughts rushed through the emission user's mind as he finally turned away from the other with a quick, "See you later," and walked into the room towards his brief case. It only took Leorio a few short minutes to pop some painkillers into his mouth and down it with some water from the bathroom sink, before he made his way over to the bed, took off his shoes, and made himself comfortable. The young doctor had to admit that the mattress was actually pretty soft for a hotel bed, and deemed it was because of the four star rating.
Sighing in contentment, it only took Leorio a few seconds to doze off.
When Leorio opened his eyes again, he noticed Kurapika before him, shaking his shoulder slightly and calling out his name. The young doctor stared at the other in disbelief, wondering if he was having one of his dreams again.
"Kurapika?" He called out uncertainly then, before his memory of the last few hours came back to him. He was on Kinawa-O on vacation with his friends, and he had taken a nap to help his aching head. Speaking of that, his head was feeling much better.
It was then that he heard Kurapika tell him that Killua had called to say that they had found a nice restaurant a few blocks away from their hotel, and that they were ready to eat if they were. Leorio blinked in confusion for a bit until he looked outside the glass door to the balcony and saw that the sun was just starting to set, the sky turning a light rosy color to signify that evening was slowly approaching.
"Dang, I slept a little longer than I intended!" The rookie hunter cursed as he let out a yawn. "Hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight. Well, at least my head feels better, so it was probably worth it."
Laughing and smiling a little at his own words, Leorio stood up from the bed then and stretched his stiff muscles.
"Alright, I'm ready to go when you are!" The doctor announced brightly. "Man, I'm actually really hungry! I only had some airline peanuts for breakfast this morning."
Leorio didn't know how he hadn't noticed his hunger the moment he had landed at their vacation paradise, since he had gone a while without food, but he blamed it on the fact that his mind was completely occupied by his raging headache, getting to the airport so that he wouldn't miss his second flight, and finally meeting up with his friends.
As Kurapika lead the way to their destination, the two of them made light small talk as they looked at the stores they passed on their way to their restaurant, noting which ones they'd want to check out at a later time.
When they finally arrived at their destination, Leorio's eyes widened in slight awe. He had half expected the kids to pick out a random café, but they had actually picked out a really cozy-looking restaurant. The tables even had lit candles upon them to help with the mood.
As the two of them walked into the establishment, Leorio whistling in appreciation as he looked around at the décor, while, at the same time, hoping that the food wasn't too expensive, Kurapika made his way to the counter at the front of the store where a middle-aged man was standing. Upon saying that they were the friends of Gon and Killua, the finely dressed man looked the both of them over with a slight look of surprise for some reason, before Leorio swore that he saw a look of mischievousness glint behind the older man's eyes.
The look immediately disappeared the next second, though, making the former med-student question whether he had seen things correctly, and the older man led them to their booth in the corner of the restaurant. It was there that Leorio laid eyes on his two other friends, who were sitting opposite of each other, playing cards.
"Hey, you guys!" Leorio called out happily, which made his two youngest friends look up from their cards with greeting smiles. The taller man took the initiative to sit down next to Gon then and ruffle the sixteen-year-old's spiky, black hair with affection. "What are you guys playing?"
Leorio heard both a very calm and very excited answer of "Go Fish," before the man who had led them to the table bowed and announced that he'd be back with their menus.
As soon as the older man left them, Leorio turned back to his friends.
"So, who's winning?"
"Me," Killua announced with a smug smirk. "Gon's really bad at it, surprisingly. He told me he had never played it before, but he wanted to because it sounded like fun. I assumed he thought it would be very similar to actual fishing."
With that, Killua sent a teasing look his friend's way, trying to incite a reaction.
It took a moment for Leorio to wake up. Kurapika couldn't help the warm feeling that suffused him when he heard the other say his name in a voice that was low and deep from sleep. The blacklist hunter turned away to hide the soft blush dusting his cheeks the next moment.
"You're on vacation. You're supposed to sleep whenever you feel like it. That's part of relaxing, too," Kurapika said as he stepped away from the bed. "The most important thing is that you feel better now."
The Kurta willed his body into submission and the blush disappeared. This was exactly why he had come here. He needed to get over these hopeless feelings for his taller friend.
In a moment, Leorio was ready and they headed out to the restaurant. Killua's description of the way was easy enough, especially since Kurapika had picked up the habit of memorizing the maps of new places he went to. In his line of work, knowing your surroundings and possible flight routes could save your life.
They arrived at a nice and cozy-looking restaurant after a pleasant stroll. Kurapika liked the atmosphere of the establishment. It wasn't too large and, though there were other patrons, it didn't feel crowded. He had to admit the boys seemed to have picked out a very good place to eat.
Immediately, Kurapika headed for the counter and asked for Gon and Killua's table. The middle-aged man, who seemed to be the manager judging by his fine clothes, looked at them quizzically for a second. The Kurta began to wonder whether he might have misunderstood Killua's description and that they were at the wrong place, but then the man's expression changed suddenly. Owing to his wondering whether they were at the wrong place, Kurapika missed out on the mischievous look the manager sent their way. They just followed him when the other led them to a corner booth.
Gon and Killua were sitting opposite each other, playing a game of cards to occupy their time. When Leorio called out to them, they looked up and greeted them happily. Since the emission-user slid into the booth next to Gon, Kurapika took his seat next to Killua.
Leorio ruffled a slightly disgruntled Gon's hair then and his friends began to chat amicably. Kurapika just watched and listened to them. He fully realized that he had missed all three of them and the special atmosphere they created that could put him at ease like nothing else.
Gon wasn't too happy at Leorio ruffling his hair like he was still a twelve-year-old boy. He was almost a grown-up! But before he could dwell on that thought, the brand new doctor asked about their game. Gon answered excitedly until Leorio asked who was winning the game. Killua answered pretty damn smugly then. A very stubborn expression came onto the spiky-haired teen's face a second later.
"But the name suggests it! Taking up cards is nothing like fishing! And why do I have to think all the time? When I go fishing, I don't need to think..."
Killua's teasing gaze didn't help his mood at all. He just hated to lose to his best friend. It made him feel inferior. It wasn't the losing itself that troubled him, it was just a game after all, but he needed to win against Killua to pose a challenge to him. As long as there were some things at which he was still better at than his best friend, Killua would stay with him because of his ambition. Looking at the five neat piles in front of his best friend and his lone messy one, though, suggested that he wasn't going to win this game tonight. But he fully intended to challenge Killua to new games until he won!
As he looked defiantly at his best friend, the other's gaze was pretty intense; like a soft push. Oh yeah, right! He was supposed to act sick! Putting down his cards, Gon groaned softly and rubbed at his right temple and then his eye.
Gon's reply was to be expected, but it still made Leorio chuckle. Those two would never stop being his little brother figures, no matter how old they got.
The doctor's amusement was cut short, though, when he heard the teen beside him groan. When Leorio turned towards his friend in concern, he saw that Gon was rubbing at his head and his eyes.
"Are you okay, Gon?" Leorio asked, his mind automatically going into doctor-mode as he watched the other carefully.
His spiky-haired friend insisted that he was fine, so the taller man let the topic go for the time being. Besides, the middle-aged man, who Leorio had assumed was the manager of the restaurant by that point because of his nice clothes, had come back with their menus.
"Wow, everything sounds so good!" Leorio practically drooled as his eyes scanned the different types of food on the menu while the manager told them he'd give them some time to figure out what they wanted and left. The former med-student noticed how a good portion of the meals the restaurant made were actually dishes from his country. He hadn't had such food in a long time, so he was more than willing to have some!
Before the rookie hunter could get too excited, though, he heard Gon groan again.
Glancing the enhancer's way, Leorio noticed how the other was rubbing at his temples and eyes again, like he couldn't focus on the menu without them hurting.
"Do you have a headache, Gon?" Leorio quickly deduced as he reached into his pocket for the pain killers he had used for his head a few hours before. He had grabbed them on the way out in case his headache came back. "Here, I have some painkillers with me."
Once again, Gon, in all his stubborn glory, insisted that he was fine.
"No, you are not fine. If you were fine, you wouldn't be groaning like that," Leorio insisted, his voice filling with concern as he offered the bottle of pills to Gon for him to take. "Here, take two."
Gon just eyed the bottle for a second before he slapped one of his hands over his mouth and tried to rush past Leorio and out of the booth. The rookie doctor cried out in surprise for a second before he scrambled out of the booth to let Gon pass. It only took seconds for the young beast hunter to rush past him and further into the restaurant. Leorio just wasn't sure if Gon was rushing to the bathroom to throw up, or if he was just a very stubborn kid when it came to medication, and so he had opted to run away before Leorio decided to shove the pills down his throat.
"What the…?" The taller man grunted out in confusion as he scratched his head, wondering if he should run after Gon or not to see if he actually was okay or if he was just being a pain in the ass. By the way the other had been acting, and by the look on his face before he had bolted, Leorio could only surmise that Gon was actually feeling worse than he was letting on, so…yeah, maybe he should head towards the bathrooms to see if Gon was there.
Just as Leorio turned around towards his friends to declare what he was going to do, he saw Killua kindly asking Kurapika if he could get out. The Kurta allowed the action with an inquisitive look, and Killua got up from the booth and started walking fast towards the direction Gon had just headed.
"Don't worry, I'll check on him. I think I know what might be wrong," the former assassin declared as he started walking away before Leorio could insist that he come along as well.
The newfound doctor sat down at the booth with a disgruntled sigh then; one of his feet tapping anxiously as he waited for the two boys to reappear. He hoped that Gon wasn't feeling too bad, because how sad would that be? Their vacation had just started and one of them was already getting sick.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Leorio voiced his confusion towards his blond friend who had sat back down opposite of him again. "I hope Gon is alright…Maybe I should go and check on him, too…"
Kurapika slowly shook his head, taking his eyes away from the spot where Gon and Killua had disappeared to look at Leorio.
"I don't know. I don't think you need to go just yet. Killua's gone after him, and Gon feels comfortable around him. If it's more than a little indigestion, Killua will get you. They know you're a full doctor now, but some things are settled better with a little TLC than with a pack of pills."
Only after the words were out of his mouth and he saw Leorio's expression change, Kurapika realized he seemed to have unintentionally hurt his friend.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound like a rebuke. What I meant was, Killua just knows him better, and having him around to care might be enough at the moment. Killua will be able to decide if your expertise is needed I'm sure, and he'll come back to fetch you in that case." Hoping his explanation was enough to make Leorio feel better again, Kurapika smiled softly and added confidentially, "Also I'm guessing the washroom might be too small for three people at once." For the size of the restaurant two stalls almost seemed too much.
"Waaaah, Killua! I'm sorry," Gon wailed when Killua entered the bathroom. "I remembered the plan. The whole plan, really! I know that I should have groaned a bit longer and should have waited 'til the waiter came, but...but... Leorio was getting so concerned and he was looking at me so closely and he was trying to give me pills I don't need. He would have known! He would have found us out for sure! I'm sorry, Killua. I just had to make it faster!"
All the words tumbled fast from the distraught teenager's mouth. Most likely, only Killua, who had been around Gon almost constantly, would be able to discern all of it. The young enhancer really felt bad for botching Killua's finely worked out plan, and felt even worse that his friend would believe he was just too stupid to remember it to the last detail.
Big, round puppy dog eyes looked at Killua and begged for forgiveness.
As soon as he entered the bathroom, Killua was assaulted by a frantically apologizing Gon. The former assassin just sighed. Damn it, why did Gon have to be so adorable when he was like this?
"I'm not angry with you," Killua admonished, actually having been able to decipher every word the frantic teen had said. A small smile made its way onto his lips a second after. "Really, Gon, you made the smartest choice by acting out our plan ahead of time. Like you said, with the way Leorio was hounding you, there was no other way to act unless we wanted to look suspicious."
The silver-haired teen turned away then as he caught Gon's hazel eyes light up in relief, a blush starting to dust the ex-assassin's cheeks. Damn it! Now was not the time to be appreciating Gon in any physical sense!
"Okay, let's put our next step of the plan into motion since we've been in here long enough. You'll leave the bathroom while rubbing your stomach, and I'll head back to our table to explain the situation to the others. As soon as I meet up with you outside again, we'll run a good distance away before applying Zetsu and come back to watch. Alright?"
As soon as he heard his best friend's excited affirmation, Killua turned back towards Gon with a mischievous smirk. This was going to be fun!
"I guess you're right. A place this size can't have really big bathrooms," Leorio admitted in defeat then as he stared back at his menu. So much for being of any help! Out of all of his friends, whenever the four of them were in a tough situation, Leorio was always the one that seemed to either get in the way or not help much at all, and he was just sick of it! He really owed his friends more than what he had given them, especially since they were the only reason as to why he had gotten his hunter license in the first place. He just finally wanted to be of use to them!
This way of thinking didn't help him in the slightest a few moments prior either, when Kurapika had tried to dissuade him from running after the boys and into the bathroom. Kurapika had made it sound like he wasn't needed at all as well, and that his efforts were pointless…or, at least, that's what it had sounded like. His friend apologized for it a second later, saying that he hadn't meant for his words to come out that way, which Leorio was grateful for…but the words had still instilled some doubt in him. Even though he was a doctor now, was there any way he could actually help out his friends, or would he just continue to be useless?
Before Leorio could let his assertive depression wash over him completely, he noticed Gon and Killua walking through the restaurant again, except that Gon was rubbing his stomach and looking absolutely pitiful as he made his way slowly to the door, and Killua was looking a little worried as he made his way back to their booth.
"Hey, Gon isn't feeling to well, so we're going to go back to the hotel," the silver-haired blacklist hunter explained as he reached across the table and grabbed his stack of cards before shoving them in his short's pocket. "He's—"
"How bad is he?" Leorio quickly cut in before the shorter teen could utter another word, his worry more than evident. "Does he have a fever? Did he throw up? Does it look like he's going to pass out—?"
"He just has a little indigestion!" Killua shouted out in exasperation as he rubbed his temples, which made Leorio feel a tad bit guilty…but only a little. He had every right to be concerned about Gon, after all.
"Look," the transmutation user explained after he calmed down a bit, but he averted his eyes away a second later and started rubbing at the back of his head. "It's kind of my fault that Gon's not feeling the greatest. We stopped by a crepe stand about forty minutes before we found this restaurant, and I insisted on trying some. I guess Gon's stomach didn't handle it too well, so we're just going to catch a cab and head back to the hotel. With a little rest, he should be okay, right?"
"Well…yeah…unless he has food poisoning and not just indigestion…" Leorio answered back, his tone still worried as he wondered what he should do in this case. "Maybe I should come back with you to make sure everything is alright…"
"There's no need for that, old man," Killua sighed out in exasperation as he looked at the taller man pointedly. "I felt Gon's forehead in the bathroom, and he wasn't running a fever. Also, I asked him what was wrong with him, and he only told me that his stomach hurt and he had a bit of a headache. If anything else was wrong with him, he probably wouldn't be able to move that well at all, and he was able to walk out of the bathroom on his own."
"But…"
"Look, don't worry," Killua insisted as he turned around to start walking away, his head turning back over his shoulder so that he could still keep eye contact with the insistent doctor. "If he starts feeling worse, I'll call you, but as of right now, he just needs to lie down so that this will hopefully pass. Don't let our departure ruin your guys' dinner, okay?"
And, before Leorio could insist again (even though he knew that Killua had a point), the silver-haired teen was walking out of the restaurant's door as fast as possible to be with the sick Gon.
It was here that something completely unexpected happened. Leorio felt a hand place itself against his own hand, the one that he had placed upon the table.
Startled by the warm touch, the rookie doctor turned back around in his seat, only to see that Kurapika was the one touching his hand. Leorio could barely compute what the other was saying to him at that moment as he gawked at his blond friend in astonishment, only able to feel the warmth of the other's hand against his skin.
The poor, flustered doctor was startled to find out that he actually liked the feeling.
Before his poor, assaulted brain could even try to comprehend what the hell that even meant, another voice made its presence known, and startled the taller man out of his thoughts.
"Well, my good sirs, are you ready to order?"
Leorio glanced up then in shock, his eyes falling upon the manager, who was standing beside their booth now and holding up a writing pad.
"Oh my, what happened to the other two that were with you?" The manager asked with mild surprise as he glanced around the area. "Are they in the bathroom by chance? Should I come back and ask for your orders later?"
Even though he had smiled and tried to cheer the other man up, Kurapika's plan failed miserably. Leorio reacted dejectedly to his words. The Kurta was thinking about what else he might try to cheer his taller companion up.
That was the moment when Gon and Killua stepped into the room again. While the young enhancer was holding his stomach and slowly making his way to the exit, the transmuter was approaching their table. Killua explained about their friend's condition, but the worried Leorio was asking more detailed questions, trying to diagnose the state of Gon's health more precisely.
Killua's annoyed answer took both of the older men aback. His fellow blacklist hunter explained the circumstances, though, and Kurapika thought he understood pretty well then. Killua was feeling guilty for being the reason for Gon's condition, and he wanted to be the one to make him feel better because of it. To Kurapika, it was obvious why Killua wanted to be the one to take care of his best friend and didn't want Leorio to be the one to make Gon feel better. Since the ex-assassin had a very solid knowledge of the human physique owing to his former work, and because he was very smart to boot, Kurapika fully trusted his judgment that the enhancer only had some indigestion and nothing more serious. Also, the Kurta was very sure Killua would never endanger his best friend and partner.
Disregarding any arguments Leorio tried to come up with, the silver-haired transmuter just left to follow his sick friend after promising to call if Gon's condition should worsen. Leorio seemed uncertain whether to let it go at that. Before the other one could get up and follow the teens, Kurapika reached his hand across the table and placed it on the concerned doctor's hand.
"Let's follow Killua's advice and enjoy a nice meal. He promised to call if Gon's condition should worsen. You know Killua would never let anything happen to him."
Kurapika's hand snapped back as the manager's voice suddenly asked about their order. Where the heck had the guy appeared from? He had been so focused on his friends that he hadn't realized the man had closed in. Getting distracted like that and not having a firm grip on his surroundings was just dangerous for the blacklist hunter. It was due to Leorio and his lingering feelings for the man that his concentration could falter so badly. This was another reason why Kurapika had to finally kill this hopeless longing.
"No, actually our friends won't be joining us tonight. I would like to order the Chianti for two," the blond hunter answered as cool as possible, nothing in his face letting on that he was embarrassed at the quite intimate gesture a second ago.
As the manager left to take care of the drinks first, Kurapika looked at Leorio.
"I hope my order is agreeable to you, I just think we could use a little pick- me-up right now."
Gon had been very relieved when Killua told him he wasn't angry and that he had actually acted in the smartest way. It meant a lot to him that his best friend didn't think badly of him. He listened closely to the next part of the plan then, and acted it out as best as he could.
Rubbing his belly like it was aching, and looking as miserable as he could, he slowly left the restaurant. He didn't look at his friends at their table, fearing he might tip them off if he met their eyes by chance.
He had to wait outside for a long moment before Killua finally joined him. He guessed Leorio hadn't been too easy to shake off, but somehow his best friend had made it, because the emission user didn't follow him out.
Gon still walked slowly and like he was sick until they were safely out of sight. They walked faster then and, a moment later, they ran down the street until they were sure neither of their friends would be able to feel them anymore. In perfect synchronization the two of them stopped in their tracks, erased their presence with Zetsu, and headed back to the restaurant.
They used the back entrance through the kitchen the manager had showed them to get back into the restaurant, and hid behind the bar to secretly watch how their two friends were doing now that they were alone in this romantic setting.
Leorio just stared on in shock as Kurapika answered the manager's question with no care in the world. How could the other just pass his last actions off as if nothing had happened?! That had just been…strange…
The taller man tried to get his brain and heart to function normally again as he heard his blond friend order some wine for the both of them. When the Kurta's next words reached his ears then, Leorio finally shook himself out of his stupor.
"Uh…yeah…I don't mind…I could really use some wine now, ehehe…." The emission user laughed out a bit uncomfortably before he awkwardly coughed and tried not to think about how flustered Kurapika's action had made him, or the fact that his heart rate had drastically increased from the warm touch…and—Hey! Why the hell was he all flustered for anyway?!
Forcing himself to think that his prior feelings were all just a fluke created from his depressed mood, his worry for Gon, and the fact that he was still a bit sleepy from his nap, Leorio tried to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"So…um…" It was at this exact moment that Leorio realized that he was going to have dinner with Kurapika…alone. Suddenly, a rush of self-consciousness overcame him, and he didn't understand why. Was he just a little nervous around the other because they hadn't talked for so long? What would they talk about…? Or, the better question was, what were they allowed to talk about? Leorio really didn't want to make things even more awkward between him and the friend he hadn't seen for such a long time, after all.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you!" Leorio finally exclaimed after some more stammering, remembering a little fact he had failed to tell his friends because they had been too busy getting situated into their hotel. "Although I was planning on telling the three of you today at some point, I guess you'll be the first to learn about it, Kurapika! Anyway, I was doing some interviews during the last few months of my schooling in hopes of finding a job opening for a doctor as soon as I graduated, you know, and I finally got a response back yesterday! I got a job as a doctor in my birth-city!"
Leorio smiled happily then before his features turned softer, his eyes shining wistfully as he thought back on the city he hadn't seen ever since he had ventured off to pass the hunter's exams.
"You know, fate is a very strange thing," the rookie doctor whispered out as he stared into Kurapika's warm brown eyes. "It can bring you to places you never expect, and make you meet up with people you'd never think you'd meet. If I hadn't met you, Gon, and Killua, I probably would have never passed the hunter's exams, I would have never gotten into med school, and I would have never been able to come full circle like this. Who would have thought that I'd actually get my first job in the city that had created my dream? And, now, I plan on using my knowledge to help any patients I get…even the ones that can't afford to get treatment."
The taller man's eyes grew distant then as past memories flitted through his mind. He had been an orphan for most of his life, and had struggled to live on the streets alongside his best friend. Because of the lifestyle they were born into, and because money and jobs were so difficult to come by for street urchins like themselves, when his friend, Pietro, became sick and required surgery, neither of them had been able to afford it. Now, Leorio would see fit that the poor people of that city would not have to suffer the same way as he and his friend had. He would use the funds from his hunter's license, as well as his own money that he'd get from his paying customers, to help those in such dire need.
Just as Leorio was thinking about this, the manager came back with their wine and poured them two glasses worth.
"Alright my good sirs, are you ready to order your meals now?" The manager asked as he placed the bottle of wine on the table and brought out his notepad. It was here that Leorio realized that he hadn't even thought about what he had wanted to eat, because he had been too distracted by Gon and Kurapika.
"Um…I'll have the special," Leorio announced quickly to save face, as if that had been his plan all along. He actually had no idea what the special was, but considering most of the dishes were familiar to him, he assumed that he'd probably like it.
It was very obvious how flustered Leorio was at his gesture. Kurapika had to ask himself why he had done it in the first place. It had felt natural, just a physical way to stop his friend; an emphasis to his words. But the gesture itself was way too intimate, especially considering how long they had been apart. He had made Leorio feel uncomfortable; this much was obvious. Really, he needed to take better care of his actions. Kurapika decided to act like it never happened for Leorio's sake. He didn't want to make his friend feel even more uncomfortable if he apologized and had to explain how it had happened in the first place. No, that would only make things way more awkward, not to mention he had no way to explain his action in the first place.
Kurapika smiled and nodded then as Leorio agreed on his choice of the dry red wine. The emitter was still flustered, and seemed to cast around for a topic to talk about. The blacklist hunter wasn't the best at making conversation, and feared bringing up the wrong subject that might be too private again, so he just remained silent, waiting for his companion to calm down and decide on a topic.
Leorio's opening was something very positive for the brand new doctor. Kurapika was a little unsure how he felt about it himself. Somehow he had expected things to turn out differently after the other one graduated, he realized. Kurapika was a little surprised at himself when he found out his own feelings on this. He really shouldn't feel this way. Who was he to have expectations for the other man, anyway?
"That's...very good for you, Leorio," he said softly, barely able to get the words in, before Leorio launched into talking about fate.
Knowing about Leorio's background and what had started his dream, Kurapika understood his friend only too well, and why it meant so much to him to go back to his hometown. Still, somehow, Kurapika had imagined the four of them coming back together and...staying together. That was a stupid thought, right? It hadn't even been a conscious wish, but quite obviously it had been in his heart, considering how let down he felt right then. Of course this wish was just delusional. Gon and Killua might have found a way to make it work out for themselves, but Kurapika himself had his hands full with his own job. He couldn't stop trying to find the eyes of his brethren! His dead brothers and sisters already had to wait so long to finally rest in peace! And, of course, Leorio had his own dream to follow. But was the way the other man was going about it really the right one?
"Well, you might..." Kurapika started to say something, but the manager returned with the wine and asked for their food orders. He had studied the menu a little more closely than Leorio while the other had been so concerned about Gon, and knew what he wanted to eat. Since he was not too familiar with the language in which the dishes were titled (at least the descriptions of the meals were in the common tongue), though, Kurapika opted for ordering his food by number. He didn't like to embarrass himself, and especially not in front of Leorio.
"I'll have the number fourteen."
Once the manager had thanked them for their orders and left, Kurapika looked at his companion again.
"What I was about to say... You might have needed a second try, but I'm very sure you would have passed the hunters exam eventually. Both of us depended on the others during the exam at one point. You're smart, and your dream and your will power drive you, those are forces to be reckoned with. You got through med-school in record time by sheer will alone, and that speaks for itself."
Kurapika had spoken from the heart, but once his words were out, he was wondering if he had said too much. A soft blush crept onto his cheeks. He looked at the table then, hoping to hide his rosy cheeks behind his blond bangs. The Kurta fiddled with the rings on his fingers, and tried to look occupied by that.
"But...are you really sure it's the best way for you to work at a simple clinic? I hear the staff there are overworked and underpaid. I know you want to help the people that need it most but can't pay for the care. I just don't know if you'll have the time or the money to do exactly that if you go about it in this way. Wouldn't it make much more sense to become a full time hunter and pay for the medical supplies you are going to need with your hunter fees? You wouldn't need to cater to the rich people and their cosmetic surgery just to get by, but could concentrate on those who need actual medical care to survive. Also, that way you wouldn't be restricted just to your hometown. There are people who need help all over the world."
That was actually what Kurapika always had dreamed of for Leorio. A healer; someone who flew all over the world to help those in need. Leorio had a big heart like that. He would only take on missions to pay for his next supplies and then take care of those in need for the rest of the time. Had he expected too much? Had he gone too far? Kurapika had just thrown his ideal image of the doctor at his friend, making the other's dream of helping the people in his old home look easy and selfish. That was unfair, and he hadn't meant it like that.
"I...I'm sorry," Kurapika said softly, looking up into Leorio's chocolate brown eyes. "I only seem to find the wrong words tonight. It is wonderful that you want to help the people that can't help themselves. You're a good man."
As soon as his friend was done ordering, and the manager had gone away, Kurapika tried to explain on what he had been trying to say earlier. Leorio was more than surprised by the compliments being sent his way, especially since they were coming from his Kurta friend. He couldn't remember the last time the other had complimented him…or hell, if Kurapika had ever complimented him for that matter. Usually, he always got reprimands or sarcastic remarks out of the other.
"Well…um…I'm not sure about the second chance, either," Leorio mumbled out as he scratched at his cheek while averting his eyes in slight embarrassment. "If you guys hadn't been there for me on several occasions, I'm pretty sure I would have died…or I would have gotten disqualified for trying to kill Tompa…"
The taller man chuckled a bit at the thought of the pathetic rookie destroyer, trying to distract himself from how his cheeks were heating up at Kurapika's compliments. Maybe…maybe he had been of more use to his friends than he had originally thought?
Before the young doctor could think on that for too long, though, he heard his Kurta friend comment on his career path. Leorio tried not to feel offended by his smaller friend's remarks, because he could tell that he was, as usual, being his logical self and trying to help him…but it was just the way that the other was saying it that was twisting Leorio's gut in the wrong way. Kurapika had almost made it sound like his current path wasn't the smartest choice to make, even though it was what he wanted.
Well, that's how life was, right? The things that you want aren't usually the smartest things to have in hindsight. But, really, what should it matter as long as it made him happy?
At least Kurapika apologized for his way of speaking a few moments later, but he laced his words with another compliment, which was actually starting to confuse the poor doctor. Should he be grateful or annoyed by this point?
"No, no, don't apologize," Leorio finally commented as he rubbed at his temples, thinking about how he wanted to respond without being offended or offending his friend in turn (Leorio almost forgot how difficult of a task that was with Kurapika). "I understand that you're only trying to be helpful, and really, you made some very good points, but there are a few reasons as to why I'm not doing as you suggest…at least, not yet."
Leorio let out another sigh as he gently grabbed his wine glass and took a contemplative sip of the alcoholic beverage before speaking again.
"Well, the first thing I have to say about it is that I've never even put thought into being a full-time hunter. I don't know what I'd exactly be categorized as, or what I'd generally pursue. Is it possible to be a hunter who seeks out ill people or something? Like I said, I haven't put thought into something like that yet. Another thing is that my Nen is not exactly that refined either. You need time and dedication to make it stronger, and I've hardly had that time due to my studies. With my newfound profession, I won't have that much time to dedicate to it either, so do you think I would actually be able to travel around the world and face whatever difficulties get in my way with a lackluster Nen?"
After taking another sip of the delicious wine, Leorio placed the glass down onto the table and continued his speech.
"Another major problem that comes up with that, is that I'm not qualified as a doctor to go around and heal the sick all over the world. I just graduated from med-school for crying out loud! I might have the knowledge," Leorio explained as he pointed to his head for emphasis, "but I drastically lack in experience. I'm a newbie, Kurapika, and I have no right to travel around the world proclaiming I can help people, when I actually don't have any experience in it yet. That's why I need to start at this clinic job. Yeah, I'll be a little overworked, but that's what I expected. The pay isn't bad either, considering what it could be, and if I stay with the clinic longer and get promoted to different positions with my experience, I will be paid even more, and get a more flexible schedule."
Leorio stared seriously into Kurapika's brown eyes, making sure his friend understood his drive and that he would accept it.
"I know that trying to help the poor under the conditions I just stated will be a little difficult, but that's what I want to do right now. I want to show the people of my city what I have become despite my previous social status, I want to give them hope because of that, and I want to help the ones who really need it. That's my plan for the moment, and I'm going to stick with it."
Of course his words had hurt Leorio. Kurapika sighed softly. He really should have just shut up and kept his opinions to himself. Leorio would make his way in the world, and even in the hunter world, without the Kurta's wise-ass comments. Hurting the other one and making him angry right at the beginning of their vacation really was the worst way to go about trying to relax and have fun.
At least Leorio understood his arguments and that they were meant to be helpful. His companion took a sip of his red wine, and Kurapika did the same after a whiff of its full aroma. He couldn't help but smile a moment later when Leorio wondered whether there were hunters seeking to find sick people.
"Well, there are healers, but they usually hunt for new cures and special herbs, and not exactly for the sick themselves," he explained to his fellow hunter, who had spent all his time studying for med-school, but had only little experience with the actual work of a hunter.
The other's next arguments were even more sound. With a workload of the kind Leorio had in mind, he would need the few hours left of his day just to sleep. Training and building his Nen was a full-time job and would take a few months if you wanted to reach a level where you had a firm grip on your abilities and would stand a chance in a fight against other Nen-users.
When his friend explained that he might have all the knowledge needed to be in his profession but wasn't a full-fledged doctor yet because he lacked experience, Kurapika was taken aback. He had never even thought about that. Maybe his friend had thought about these things in a way more detailed manner than what he had expected of him. The Kurta still remembered the man that had always went head first into the thick of it and only thought about a plan after the fact. Had Leorio grown so much in their time apart? Almost four years. They had rarely talked for almost four years. Of course Leorio would change during that time! How could he have expected him to somehow stay the same?
Their gazes had locked during the last part of his friend's speech. Kurapika could feel his heart beating faster than it should at the steadfast belief in the other man's eyes. There was still the same old headstrong stubbornness there, Kurapika was sure, but Leorio had grown, and his decisions were now grounded in knowledge and facts.
The Kurta took another sip of the red wine to calm himself down.
"You have thought things through, and I see that I have a very limited knowledge of how to become a good doctor. Your plan actually seems to be the best way for you to reach your goal. You will be a very good role model to your people, I'm sure. I'm sorry I sounded like I wanted to dissuade you from your dreams. You have it all planned out, and I very much hope that it will work out for you."
Kurapika still held his wine glass up and watched the reflections of the candle's flame play with the glass and liquid for a moment. When he looked into Leorio's eyes again, he had made the decision to say something once more.
"All I want to say is one thing. Even with all the things you have planned, and the very busy schedule you have made for yourself, you should still somehow make room to develop your Nen. You never know when you might need it. It's not just about being ready for a fight, but it will strengthen your stamina. With your future plans, that might be very useful. You might even find hidden talents that will help you with your work as a doctor."
His main concern, though, Kurapika kept to himself. He wanted Leorio to be as strong as possible to defend himself. Even if he stayed in his hometown, became a satisfied doctor there, and never wanted to leave, he was still a hunter; he had the license. There were people who would seek him out, fight, and even kill him just to get that license off of him, since it was worth a lot of money. Kurapika couldn't stand the thought of something bad happening to his friend just because he hadn't bothered to train his powers.
Kurapika's brown orbs stared at his in slight surprise for a second before the Kurta took another sip of his wine. Leorio waited patiently after he picked up on the fact that his friend was buying some time to formulate his thoughts. When the blacklist hunter finally responded, his words were full of understanding, and he actually apologized again for his way of speaking before he gave the brown-haired doctor his full support. Leorio was completely shocked that he had actually 'won' an argument-of-sorts between them. That never happened!
"Please, don't apologize," Leorio responded as he watched the beautiful Kurta before him stare into his wine glass. Wait…had he really just thought of the other as beautiful?! "Uh…I understand that you were just trying to help, like I said before. And really, Kurapika, thank you..." The new doctor quickly added, trying to distract himself from his previous thoughts. "Your support means a lot to me."
It was here that his smaller friend mentioned that he should still practice his Nen, and Leorio could only agree wholeheartedly. Even though it would be difficult and very slow going on his part, he was determined to get stronger in that respect, too.
"Of course. I'll definitely practice my Nen and get stronger, Kurapika," Leorio stated with a warm smile before he gave the other a wink. "After all, I need to be able to defend my license or I won't be able to help out the poor all too much, and I won't have the funds and permits to come and see you and the others."
The atmosphere between them was warm and friendly again, and Leorio couldn't be happier. He really didn't want to get into the typical disputes they always seem to get into. They were on vacation, they hadn't seen or talk too much to each other for practically four years, and Leorio just wanted to enjoy his time with the friend he had missed so dearly.
"I almost can't believe you're here…" Leorio whispered out unconsciously then, his eyes boring into Kurapika's warm, hazel-brown. "It's been so long…I missed you…"
Before his blond friend could even try to respond to what he had just subconsciously said, the manager came back with their plates of food. Leorio stared down at his pasta dish he had supposedly ordered, figuring out via the waiter that it was pasta mixed with various seafood meats and tomato sauce. Damn, this stuff sounded delicious!
As soon as the manager left, Leorio dug into his food to try it out.
"Wow, this is really good!" The emitter exclaimed in contentment before he looked at Kurapika expectantly. "Hey, Kurapika, you want to try some of mine? I want to try some of yours, too. It looks tasty!"
When Leorio thanked him for his support, another soft blush dusted his cheeks. Why? Just why was he reacting so intensely to anything the other man said and did?
"D-don't mention it," Kurapika mumbled, slightly flustered.
A wave of relief flooded the Kurta then as Leorio agreed that he would still train his Nen abilities. Leorio really had grown it seemed. He had thought ahead and understood that he was a target just because he was a hunter, and in possession of a license. Kurapika couldn't imagine the old Leorio thinking ahead this far. A new respect shone in his eyes as he smiled softly, and slowly nodded in agreement to the doctor's words.
At the thought of Leorio visiting him, he felt an excitement that only served to remind him why he hadn't seen the other in such a long time. Kurapika had hoped four years had been enough time, but he had been wrong and even now, when he wanted to quench any remaining amorous feelings, Leorio proved to be even better than his memories of him. This really wasn't going the way the blacklist hunter wanted it to.
It only got worse a second later when Leorio gazed into his eyes so deeply that Kurapika felt like his soul lay open for him to read like a book. In a low, caressing voice, he whispered out how much he had missed him, making heat flood the poor Kurta and pool in his nether regions. What little blood was left made his cheeks burn crimson then, but, as luck would have it, the manager returned with their food right then, hiding the blond's physical reaction from Leorio's attention.
The few seconds that his friend's attention was occupied was definitely not enough in order to calm the poor Kurta down, though. When Leorio turned to him again to ask whether they could taste each other's dishes, Kurapika turned his head away to hide his face.
"Y-yes, sure, try some. I just...need to excuse myself for a moment."
He bolted from his seat and left the way Gon had run a while ago. When he found the washroom, Kurapika stared at his glowing red face in the mirror. How could he have allowed himself to react in such a way to Leorio's words when it was more than likely that his friend had just been talking to himself? He was talking about missing a friend, and that was all. There could never be anything more between them. His friend was a womanizer for goodness' sake!
Running the cold water, Kurapika splashed some of it onto his face to cool it off. He was thankful for the loose style of his native clothes, so that he could spare himself the humility of taking care of that problem, too. When his face was cooled down and his mind had berated himself enough for being so stupid as to fall for his impossible dream once more, he left the washroom and ran into the manager.
The man was holding a bill and pad in his hand, which reminded Kurapika of something he had come up with while Leorio had slept.
"Excuse me, I have a favor to ask of you," he stopped the man in his tracks. "My friend is a proud man, but I still want to pay for his bill. If I gave you my credit card now, could you later explain we're your thousandth customers and the bill was on the house? Of course there'd be a generous tip in it for you for the hassle."
For a second the man blinked at him, making Kurapika wonder if he didn't understand, but then the manager winked with a bright smile.
"Of course! Anything for my guests."
Kurapika pulled out his card, handed it over, and returned to their table. Leorio's concerned look brought him back to the here and now. His actions must have seemed very peculiar to his companion, and maybe even worried him in light of Gon's recent sickness.
"I'm sorry. Just... the urgent call of nature," he put on a kind of sheepish smile and looked at his food. "And? Did you try it? They both look good."
Expectantly, he looked up at Leorio then, his fork digging in at the same time.
Kurapika's reaction wasn't what Leorio had expected. The Kurta turned his head away from him, while agreeing to allow him to try some of his food before he excused himself. With that, Leorio watched on as Kurapika hastily made his way in the same direction that Gon had; the bathroom. Was Kurapika not feeling good as well?
Fidgeting nervously with worry, the emitter tried to distract himself by sampling some of his blond friend's food. It was a pasta dish as well, with a creamy cheese sauce, mixed with broccoli, red peppers and grilled pieces of chicken.
Leorio hummed in appreciation as soon as a bit of the food entered his mouth. Delicious! They would really have to come back here and eat at this restaurant again, because the food was just too good!
It was then that Leorio spotted his blond-haired friend out of the corner of his eye. Immediately forgetting about the food in favor of wondering if his friend was okay, the doctor scanned the smaller man with a critical eye. Kurapika told him then that he had just really needed to go to the bathroom as he sat back down at their table, and then asked him if he had tried the food.
With his eyes remaining on the young Kurta's face, the taller man still scanning his friend in a critical manner to make sure his friend wasn't lying to him so that he wouldn't worry, Leorio easily responded, "Oh yeah, I did. Your dish was delicious by the way. It had a pretty rich texture and will taste exceptional with the wine you chose. You can try mine whenever you like."
Seeing as Kurapika appeared fine after his scrutiny, Leorio sent his friend an affectionate, if not slightly apologetic smile. It was obvious that he had made Kurapika a little uncomfortable with his stare.
"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you weren't trying to hide the fact that you weren't feeling good as well. I'm a doctor, so it's in my nature to do stuff like that," Leorio apologized with a light chuckle as he dug into his food again.
The two of them sat in silence then as they focused on their food. Kurapika did try a bit of Leorio's dish as well, and proclaimed that he liked it, which, for some reason, made the taller man feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.
"This food is really good! We have to come back and eat here again, especially with Gon and Killua. They have no idea what they're missing out on right now!" Leorio exclaimed before his eyes began to shine softly in their candlelit booth. "You know, this type of food is very common in my home as well, but I have to admit it tastes more distinctive then the food we're eating now. It really is something to experience. I think it would be cool if you and the kids came to visit me after I settled back down there. I could show you around, and we could try out the native dishes. Killua would probably go crazy for the ice cream we have over there."
Leorio smiled warmly at Kurapika then, the mood between them more comfortable than he could ever remember. As he stared at his blond companion, though, and thought about what the future held in store for them, the rookie doctor couldn't help but feel more than concerned. It was nice and all to talk about the future and meeting up with each other again, but Kurapika had been so busy with his own personal tasks that he had hardly even talked to him for three or so years. Would Kurapika even be able to meet up with him or vice versa…? Hell…would Kurapika even be…alive?
Leorio's gut twisted so uncomfortably then at the thought that he wondered if he was going to be sick. Kurapika walked a very dangerous line every day…or at least…that's what Leorio remembered. Whenever he did get a hold of the other (which was practically once a year now that he thought about it), Leorio always tried to stay off the topic of his friend's work, because he was afraid he'd make the other uncomfortable, and he'd hang up on him. He didn't want to ruin the very few chances he had in order to hear the other's voice, after all. But now, as he was finally sitting before one of the friends he cared so deeply about, the newfound doctor couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore. He finally had to know what was going on with the other. He had to, or else he'd never have peace of mind.
"Kurapika?" Leorio asked hesitantly then, unsure of how he should word his thoughts, his worries, as they continued to eat their food. "Um…Well, we've talked about me already, so…how are you doing?" The taller man asked hesitantly, his brown eyes shining hopefully at his friend. "I don't know exactly what you've been up to for the last four years; I've only been able to assume. H-How is your quest coming along?"
Leorio almost regretted bringing up the topic of conversation. He could feel the comfortable atmosphere between them shift in an instant. Kurapika's guard was definitely up, and Leorio couldn't blame him. This wasn't exactly a topic of conversation to have while you were eating and trying to be civil. Still, Leorio was certain that he had a right to know how his friend was coming along…he had been patient for four years now, after all.
His questioning gaze was met by an intense, examining eye. Kurapika understood that this was to be expected of the doctor, considering his odd behavior, but it still made him uncomfortable to get stared at like that.
"That sounds good," he answered to both the description of his own food and to the offer to try Leorio's in turn.
As he tried his first bite then, his friend apologized for scrutinizing him.
"Yeah, I guessed as much. But I swear, I didn't overindulge in sweets like our friend Gon," Kurapika answered with a wink and a little smile.
He fully enjoyed the good food then. Leorio hadn't promised too much. It was delicious, and not just his own dish. Leorio's seafood and noodles were even better, and he told him so.
"Yes, I think you're right, we should come back here again with the boys," he agreed to the emitter's proposal. Gon would especially like the fish dishes, he was sure, because they'd probably remind him of his home.
Leorio talked about his homeland's food then, and kind of invited him to visit him someday. It really sounded good. But would he find the time? He could make it, surely, but with the way he still felt about Leorio, Kurapika wasn't too sure it was a good idea.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea, and yes, Killua will love it, I'm sure," he answered nonetheless. Kurapika didn't want to destroy the nice mood they were in right now. It just felt good to think they were good friends, nothing more, but certainly nothing less either.
The warm gaze Leorio bestowed on him slowly turned then. He felt the gaze become more intense with every passing moment. Kurapika could feel something build, and he was sure he didn't like it one bit. When Leorio opened his mouth again, his bad feelings turned out to be right. Why couldn't the other have picked another time, or better yet, kept his questions to himself? Yes, they were friends, and some curiosity was natural, but Kurapika knew exactly how Leorio thought about his mission and chosen methods. This could only turn out badly.
"I'm doing okay," he answered pretty coldly. Kurapika hated the underlying accusation he heard in Leorio's voice. Of course he hadn't told him about his quest, because he knew the good doctor's opinions on it only too well!
His appetite was rapidly leaving him, so he put his fork and spoon down. Instead, he took a long swig of his red wine.
"You really want to know? I'll tell you. I've been hunting for my brethren's eyes all this time and I still only have been able to lay half of them to rest. They were sold to deviant, sick collectors all over the world, and though some of them know each other, it's not like they are all in one big club. I have to work for those people to get into their world, and it makes me sick to my stomach. Until I have uncovered the whole ring of collectors, I have to bear with it, or the members could get alarmed by other members going missing. I have to act as their bodyguard, protecting them from harm when all I want is to see them die a gruesome, painful death. And keeping an eye on where the Phantom Troupe is hiding out and what they might plan on doing next isn't the easiest job either. They haven't tried to get revenge on me since Chrollo returned to them. Not yet. But there is an old saying that revenge is best served cold. I can't trust them to leave me alone forever." Kurapika's voice was low and cold as he told his counterpart exactly what was going on with him. When he smiled then, it never reached his dark eyes. "So, you see? I'm doing just fine. No need to worry."
Without realizing it, Kurapika had grabbed and crumpled his napkin that was once on the table in a clenching fist. He hadn't wanted to deal with Leorio's reaction to his crusade over the phone, but now he would get it face to face. He was tense like a compressed spring as he looked defiantly at Leorio. Maybe the good doctor had a dream, but he had one, too. It might be a nightmare, but it was at least as important to him as Leorio's dream was to the other.
Kurapika's first answer was so cold that it made a shiver run down Leorio's spine. Damn it, he had really done it! They were having such a good evening, too, and he had to go and screw it all up with his curiosity. Kurapika definitely wasn't happy with him, not in the least, and it showed when the other stopped eating and took a long swig of his wine instead.
A look of guilt crept onto the taller man's face as his blond friend decided to tell him how he was doing, but it was more of a rant than anything else. Leorio saw his smaller friend become highly emotional then, his eyes becoming tinted with red as he recounted his troubles over the past four years and tried to keep his emotions under control at the same time. The rookie doctor was always terrified when he saw this side of Kurapika, because it was like the friend he knew was gone and replaced by some wild, uncontrollable animal. He could never blame the other for his feelings, though; they were perfectly sound, considering what he had to go through in his past.
When Kurapika ended his little tirade with a forced smile, Leorio was left staring at the other speechlessly. Kurapika was staring at him so defiantly then, his body completely tense like he was ready to pounce at any second, that Leorio actually feared what the other would do if he said something wrong. Wild animal indeed.
"I…I'm so sorry, Kurapika," Leorio apologized as he hung his head, thinking over the intense mental stress his friend had gone through over the past four years. No one should ever have to go through such pain, and Leorio hated to see his friend feel in such a way. He was a doctor. He wanted to make everything better, to see everyone around him smile. But the person he wanted to see smile most, the one he really wanted to be happy, was someone he couldn't help. That fact hurt.
"I'm relieved that you were able to find half of your clansmen, at least," Leorio added then, trying to bring the conversation back to more civility. "I bet they're grateful for the respite you struggled to give them…"
Even though Leorio was trying to be civil, though, his mind couldn't stop focusing on the fact that Kurapika was still keeping eyes on the Phantom Troupe. It was necessary to do so in case they attacked him, Leorio knew, it was just…it still sounded like Kurapika was intent on killing the entire troupe…and the rookie doctor found himself completely terrified of the thought. He had witnessed how Kurapika was with Chrollo and after he had learned that his friend had killed one of their members already (and later Pakunoda through a twist of fate). Leorio had also learned about how the Nen of people who died could haunt and even kill other people in turn if they had a strong enough grudge after their death. The newfound doctor had easily been able to formulate what the strange fever that had overcome Kurapika after the whole ordeal with the Phantom Troupe really was because of that. If that was the two ex-troupe members' Nen haunting his friend at that point, then what would it be like if Kurapika killed more of their members?! He could possibly die from the aftereffects…hell, now that the Phantom Troupe knew about his abilities, they could easily counter him and gravely injure or kill Kurapika if they were attacked again!
"A...are you still trying to hunt down and kill the Phantom Troupe members?" Leorio couldn't stop himself from asking as he stared at his friend in determination then. "What makes you think that they'll try and attack you again when they know that you're Nen is conditioned to counter them? Don't you think they'd be a little more wary? Don't you think they'd try to avoid you instead unless you attacked them first?"
When Leorio apologized instead of going on to tell him how wrong his path of vengeance was, Kurapika relaxed a little bit. Some of his true pain shone through as Leorio went on to tell him it was a relief to know half of his brethren had finally found peace.
"It's still not enough. It's not nearly enough," he answered in a thick voice laced with sadness.
When he had agreed to come on this vacation, a part of him had felt guilty for abandoning his mission, but he just couldn't take it anymore. He had been in that gruesome world for about five years without any longer break. Kurapika needed this vacation, he needed to be around decent people, and he needed his friends.
There was a short pause while the both of them were lost to their own thoughts. Kurapika was trying to calm down. Maybe Leorio had changed his opinion of him? Maybe he really only had asked out of curiosity and concern for his well-being without an agenda? He was a friend, after all, and it was natural to want to know what was going on in the other one's life. But just as he came to this conclusion, Leorio asked new questions. Again, the Kurta tensed up.
"And what makes you think they would just let me kill their members and kidnap their boss without repercussions? You are right. They know my Nen is conditioned to counter them, and they know my special abilities. What makes you so sure they are trying to avoid me? Maybe Chrollo just needs the time to find the Nen user with the best ability to beat me. In the end it's either me or them."
Kurapika had no illusions about that. He was sure Chrollo still held a grudge; not to mention Nobunaga. It was necessary that he kept an eye on them, while he trained hard to grow stronger. He had even developed a new weapon against the troupe, one they didn't know yet, and hopefully wouldn't be able to counter if it came to that. But he knew only too well that he would stand little to no chance if the whole troupe came at him. His best chances were to pick them out one by one. Only contrary to their former ways, they had tended to stay together these last few years.
It was no surprise that Kurapika became even tenser than he was previously. Leorio couldn't stop berating himself for making his friend so upset, but, on the other hand, he couldn't stop himself from sharing his personal thoughts. When his smaller friend answered his latest questions with doubtful words of his own, Leorio knew that he had to share more of his thoughts on the matter.
"I'm not saying that that's not possible, because it is, but how can you be certain that the whole of the Troupe would seek revenge on you?" The rookie doctor agreed with his Kurta friend. He couldn't deny the possibilities of revenge from the Phantom Troupe…but, at the same time…he couldn't see the whole of the Phantom Troupe seeking revenge. The group had too many individual minds; that was certain from what Gon and Killua had relayed to them after they had become captured by the Troupe. The Phantom Troupe would do anything to make sure their group would continue to prosper, even at the cost of their own boss.
"I've had time to think about this over the last few years," Leorio continued to explain to his friend, his voice filled with determination for the Kurta to listen to him. "I know that you have too, undoubtedly, but your anger and hatred towards the Troupe could blind you from some other possibilities that you haven't taken into account. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Troupe members sought out revenge against you for their own agendas, but I can't see the entirety of the Troupe doing so, or even the entire Troupe approving of the others who think to seek revenge against you. Even though I'm only still a rookie with concerns to Nen, I have learned about its ability after death, and I'm sure that you have, too. I don't doubt that the Phantom Troupe knows of this, as well. If they… kill you," Leorio choked on the last word, practically retching at the thought of his friend being brutally murdered, "your grudge against them, your hatred, anger, and sadness will undoubtedly consume all of them after your death in a powerful Nen curse. I wouldn't doubt that your Nen, in that case, would be ferociously murderous, and that it would have the power to wipe out most, if not the entire, Phantom Troupe. You have to take into consideration that those guys have thought of this, and, because of it, wish not to mess with you unless they are forced to by your hand! Wishing to kill you with that possibility being one of the outcomes is completely counterproductive to their goals!"
Leorio took in a much needed deep breath as he calmed down from his rant. He stared imploringly into Kurapika's angered orbs then, the doctor's eyes pleading with his friend to at least hear him out.
"Can't you see that as a possibility, Kurapika?" Leorio practically begged. "I'm not saying not to expect revenge, because I want you to. I don't want you to be caught off guard, but you have to take this other possibility into consideration, especially since the Phantom Troupe is all about keeping the 'spider' alive. What's not to say that if you stop pursuing them that they wouldn't continue to leave you alone? Besides that, what would you gain from continuously trying to kill them, Kurapika? I know that what they did was beyond horrible, and that they deserve to suffer, but is it really worth the cost of your own soul?! I've seen and heard how killing and interacting with those bastards has affected you! Melody told me all about how you reacted to that one Troupe member's death while you were suffering from that Nen fever. By killing them, you basically kill a little of yourself every time, and what's the honest good in that?! Do you think that your people would be happy with the fact that you're putting yourself through more than just hell to avenge them?! Do you think that they'd want that for you?! I know I sure as hell don't!"
Leorio shook in absolute anger then as he looked away from the other. He knew that he had worked himself up into a frenzy, but he had wanted to say these things for so long now, and he just couldn't keep them inside anymore. He cared so much for Kurapika, and he'd be damned if he just sat idly by and let his friend throw his precious life away.
"Face it, Kurapika," the emitter hissed out in his anger and sadness as he recollected a similar conversation that he had had with Killua over the phone a few years ago. "The Phantom Troupe is never going to go away, no matter how much you try to whittle it down. In the time that you've killed two of their members over the past four years, they've not only replaced Hisoka with Killua's brother, but they've replaced the other empty slots with other members. If you kill one of them, another leg will come to replace it and keep the 'spider' going. It will be a never ending cycle! Can't you see that?!"
Kurapika's chains rustled softly as his fingers clenched and unclenched around the scrunched up napkin. Of course Leorio believed there might be a good end to his nightmare. He was naïve like that. What he told him was a nice fairy tale. It was full of wishful thinking, but Kurapika had learned long ago that wishes only got fulfilled if you worked hard for it. There were no fairies and no wizards. Of course the Kurta would have liked it if there was something like this curse, something that might grant him some security, but he did not dare believe it.
"I wish it were so," Kurapika answered with a pained expression, a deep sadness in the depth of his eyes. "If it were so easy, I'd let them kill me to wipe them out once and for all. But who would guarantee my success? How could I be sure it would work out? I can't allow myself to believe in fairy tales like that!"
Kurapika had run a bad fever after the events in York New City. He knew that only too well. And he also knew he might not have survived if it hadn't been for his friends taking care of him, but it could have been a fever caused by the rain and cold, or some infection. Anything was possible, and those reasons were much more feasible than some obscure Nen curse. But, of course, Leorio had to present this exact event as evidence for his argument.
"'Horrible' doesn't even come close to what they did and what they're doing to this day. I can't trust they will leave me alone, I can't even consider that possibility, because it would make me weak," the Kurta growled dangerously low. "My soul was torn to shreds the day I found my dead brothers. What little of it is left I'd gladly give if it will give them their final peace."
This was when Leorio took a very low shot at him. His irises turned a dark crimson then. They were glowing with the inner fire that had cost his people their lives.
"Don't you dare! Don't dare to draw them into this! Don't you dare assume that you know how they would feel!" His heart was racing in his chest as he hissed the words.
Once more, Leorio tried to throw logic at him, but there was no way it could make it past the rushing of blood in Kurapika's ears, and the fury that was blinding his mind in that moment.
"I might not be able to kill the spider, but I can wipe out the members that were a part of it at that time," he growled wrathfully. "I can tear out the spider's limbs and make it writhe in pain at the very least."
Leorio could only stare at his friend in complete and utter shock. Kurapika's blood red eyes were staring menacingly into his by this point in time after he had argued over everything he had tried to say, and the taller man would be lying if he said he wasn't completely unnerved by the sight. Still, he tried to push his slight fears aside to continue this argument. He would not lose this. He would not lose Kurapika to this maddening revenge scheme!
"You say that this Nen curse is just a fairytale but I've heard several stories about it, and even looked up some research on it. Gon and Killua have even told me about some encounters they had where victims from some blacklisted serial killers who knew Nen actually killed the serial killer from beyond the grave because the serial killer suffered from the same affects that you did in York New. And don't you dare… Don't you fucking dare use that knowledge as a way to plan your own demise. Don't you ever say that again, Kurapika? Do you hear me?!" Leorio shouted out in pure anger then. "If you throw your life away like that for the sake of revenge I will never forgive you."
Leorio glared just as menacingly back at Kurapika then, more than pissed off at the other's attitude. He was terrified with how bloodthirsty his friend really was, but he sure as hell wasn't going to back down either.
"And I'm not going to stop bringing your clansmen up," the young doctor insisted as Kurapika continued to glare and hiss at him. "If they feel anything for you like what Gon, Killua, and I do, then your clansmen, your parents, would never want to see you like this. The only thing you're satisfying is this bloodlust your despair has given you, and, in the end, your bloodlust will get you nowhere. You've seen how the Phantom Troupe is, Kurapika. They're not afraid to die! They don't care because they're not like normal people. They look death in the face and they fucking laugh! The only thing they are concerned about is keeping their Troupe going, and as long as there are complete psychos in this world that are like them, the Troupe will never die."
Leorio finished his argument with grim finality. But, before Kurapika could even counter his arguments like he undoubtedly would, the manager from before came up to their table.
"U-Um, as much as I don't want to interrupt," the manager shakily brought up as he glanced between Leorio and Kurapika, his eyes staring in utter fear once he noticed Kurapika's blood red eyes. "A-a-a…Um…you're actually causing a bit of a disturbance," the manager quickly stuttered out as he forcibly stared at Leorio instead. "So, can you quiet down a little bit? You're kind of scaring the customers…"
Just like Leorio feared, his mentioning that there actually was research on Nen curses after a Nen user's violent death, only served to give Kurapika grim ideas. Of course there was a part of him that wanted to live, and that had denied the possibility that those curses actually existed. But being faced like this with evidence made it hard to deny it. Still, this only posed a real option once he had gathered all the eyes of his brethren.
Leorio was screaming at him not to think along those lines. So, there was the old Leorio again, the one that talked faster than he thought. But he couldn't take back the words that had poured forth.
"Dying to avenge my people would be worth it." Only, if he suddenly gave up on trying to give peace to his brethren then he would throw away all he had lived for these last years.
Once more, Leorio brought up his clansmen, and even dragged his parents into his arguments. Kurapika's eyes glowed even brighter, the fire stoked by the emotions that consumed him. He was about to shout back that Leorio had no idea how he or his dead people felt when, suddenly, the manager appeared and asked for them to quiet down. This was all Leorio's fault! He had been the one that had started shouting and caught the attention of the other patrons.
Suddenly, Kurapika realized the gravity of his situation. For a long time now, he had worn his black contacts, hiding his telltale eyes. Since he had come to this island to relax and forget about his usual life, he wasn't wearing them. If someone recognized his eyes, if they put information on his location out on the net...He needed to get out of here.
"Yes, yes of course," he answered fast, dropping his gaze to get his hair to hide his face a little at least.
Kurapika stood up then and left the restaurant without any further word. He never thought about the bill or his credit card that was still with the manager. He was in a rage about Leorio's condescension and the man's ignorance towards his feelings, and he needed to hide his crimson eyes from being seen by the wrong people.
It took only seconds for Kurapika to see his opening and leave Leorio where he sat. The doctor was more than infuriated by that point, and not just with his stubborn-ass friend, but with himself, too. There was no doubt that Kurapika was beyond pissed with him from their topic of conversation. Not only had he just seriously angered his friend to the point that he wouldn't be surprised if Kurapika never spoke to him again, but he had also given Kurapika a grave idea on how to defeat the entirety of the Phantom Troupe, and had also ruined his friend's personal security by getting him emotional enough for his red eyes to shine. No wonder Kurapika had hardly ever talked to him for the past four years!
"Damn it!" Leorio shouted out angrily as he slammed his fist down onto the table, making the dishes and the candle shake precariously upon the surface from the impact, and causing the manager to jump back in slight fear from the outburst. The young doctor hung his head and clutched at his hair with his hands in despair, wondering how the rest of this vacation was going to turn out now that Kurapika hated him. Just the very thought broke his heart.
"U-Um, Sir?" The manager stuttered out then, unsure if he should still be trying to address the other. "About your bill…"
At those words, Leorio cursed very colorfully in realization. Kurapika had just stuck him with the bill! Holy shit! He might not have enough on him to pay for it, and if he did, it would probably put a decent dent in his savings!
"It's alright, Sir!" The manager quickly tried to calm him down. "You actually were our 1000th customer today, so in honor of that, you and your table party can eat for free."
Leorio just stared up at the manager in shock by this point, unable to believe his quick change of luck.
"Our food is free?" The emitter reiterated for clarity's sake to make sure he had heard correctly.
"Yes, Sir!" The manager responded with ease before he swept his hands towards the table. "Will…um…you and your friend want the rest of your food in carry out boxes?"
Leorio just sighed at that.
"I think that the both of us lost our appetite. Thank you, though. The food was delicious," the taller man spoke then with a tired, saddened groan. "By the way, where's your closest bar?"
"Two blocks away after you take a right at the end of this street," the manager told him with pity in his voice. Leorio really didn't care; he just wanted a fucking drink. As he got up to leave after thanking the manager for his hospitality, though, the middle-aged man stopped him and placed a credit card into his hands.
"Your friend dropped this on the way to the bathroom earlier, and I was going to give it to him when I came over just now."
Leorio raised an eyebrow at that. Kurapika had to be very flustered to have not noticed that he had dropped his card. Maybe it had been more than just a natural bathroom break like he had suspected…
"Thank you…I'll try to give it back to him," the brunette sighed out heavily before he set his eyes on the manager with a steely glare. "Oh, and just so you know. Never speak of what you saw here concerning my friend and his eyes. If you so much as mention about it a curse will be put upon you and you'll be dragged down into the depths of hell for all of eternity."
Leorio was lying through his teeth, of course, but putting the fear of a gruesome death into the older man's mind was the only sure way he could think of to keep the man quiet. For good measure, the young doctor glared around at the other patrons, who were undoubtedly listening in. The patrons, in turn, turned their gazes away from the taller man in absolute fear, taking his words to heart. Considering the fact that Kurapika's red eyes made him look like a demon from hell, especially when he was angry, the lie wasn't too farfetched to the common person's mind.
With the manager and the patrons of the restaurant totally terrified, and knowing that there was no way he or Kurapika could come back to it now, Leorio left the restaurant in heavy spirits and headed straight towards the nearest bar to drown out his woes.