A/N: Hi there! First of all a huge, big SORRY for adding the new chapter a good day late! There was so much going on in real life... Anyway, it's finally here XD Again a big thanks to you guys for reviewing, it means so much to us! We love to hear your thoughts even if they're in French ;D Also thanks for the new favs and follows. We're happy you like our story.
We're already at chapter 11 and things are starting to move now. Our two most dense idiots finally start realize their actual feelings. Yeah! Hooray! XD We're still at the beach with Leorio and Kurapika caught in a pretty compromising situation that serves as a real eye opener to our doctor ;D Enjoy!
Chapter 11
Kurapika didn't know if he wanted to die from shame right at that moment, or if he wanted to remain in his current position forever, being held by Leorio and feeling the other's almost naked body so intensely pressed into his own. Right at that moment, Gon shouted out in victory that he had gotten hold of the ball. This shook Kurapika awake from his dream that was not to be. Maybe... somehow Leorio hadn't felt his hard on? And even if so, the other one couldn't know why he felt what he felt, right? Anyway, this moment had to end as fast as possible. With a hard push, the Kurta separated them.
"W-watch out, Leorio! Duck!" He shouted out, trying to cover his action as part of the game and not as a desperate attempt to escape something other than the ball.
Kurapika dove into the ocean then, needing the cool embrace of the salt water to try to clear his overheating mind and body. Why was all of this happening to him? He knew nothing could become of his feelings for Leorio, and he tried to suppress and forget about them, but how could he after he had felt the other's body so close? And then he remembered Killua being behind Leorio, and his shout to Gon. It was one of Killua's crazy plans! Gon hadn't tumbled into him during the game; he had pushed him into Leorio on purpose! And the massive amount of skin he had felt from the doctor? Kurapika had his well-founded suspicions about that, too.
He came up for air then, and his gaze searched out Killua. One look at the brat and the swim trunks in his hands were enough to confirm his suspicions. There would be hell to pay!
"Killua," he hissed the name like it was a curse.
This was when a protective Gon threw the ball to hit him, only Kurapika's revenge mode was turned on, and his reflexes were in perfect condition. Catching the ball with ease, he fired it straight at Killua's face.
Leorio was knocked out of his thoughts the next moment as Kurapika pushed himself away from him, shouted something out (Leorio was really too frazzled and surprised about everything that was happening that he couldn't even hear what was going on around him by that point), and then the Kurta dove underwater. Leorio just stared after his blond friend's form, completely struck stupid at that point in time and in more shock than he had felt since Pietro's death. Even Gon chucking the beach ball at him and the said ball smacking against the side of his head didn't faze the completely dumbstruck doctor as he came to a sudden realization; he had actually liked holding Kurapika against him like that, hard on and all.
Shaking his head frantically to clear his tumultuous thoughts, Leorio was in time to see Kurapika resurface, grab hold of the beach ball Gon had thrown at him, and throw said ball directly towards Killua. As the ball smacked the silver-haired teen upside the head (Killua had tried to dodge), the taller man's eyes fell upon what was in the former assassin's hands; his swim shorts.
Like a sudden bolt of lightning, another realization came to the young doctor's mind. Killua had taken his swim shorts, but for what purpose? It was obvious that the brat had been up to something before so…did that mean that Killua…that Killua thought…
Feeling sudden anger come over him, Leorio marched over to the spluttering transmuter (the force of the ball had forced his face into the water), quickly grabbed the ball floating beside the silver-haired teen's head, and threw it down full force onto the top of Killua's head as he came back up for air from Kurapika's attack. Needless to say, Killua went under the water again, and Leorio tore his shorts out of the former assassin's grasp.
"What the hell?!" Killua coughed out once he resurfaced again, glaring daggers at the taller man.
"I should be asking that question instead!" Leorio growled out as he dangled his swim shorts in Killua's face. "Just what the heck were you trying to do?! I don't know why you thought this little joke of yours would be funny, but I guess the joke's on you."
Killua just stared at him questioningly then, so Leorio just scoffed, sent the other a pointed look, and started walking to shallower water with his swim shorts in hand.
"H-Hey, what are you doing?!" Killua shouted out then, sounding a little freaked out as Leorio entered the shallow water then and stood up completely. The emission user just laughed at all of his friend's surprised faces as he stood before them in a speedo. In all truth, he had only worn the swim trunks for the sake of staying decent in public. He had planned on taking them off once he had gotten to the beach, but his little surprising thoughts concerning Kurapika had made him forget to remove them. It was too hot to wear swim shorts anyway, he thought, so a speedo was ten times better in keeping cool. Not only that, but the speedo might be more distracting than his swollen eye, which would be a plus in this case.
"My eyes!" Killua practically screamed in agony then as he covered his sapphire orbs, bringing Leorio back to the present. "It's just as bad as you being naked!"
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Leorio shouted back indignantly. Just what the hell was this brat's problem?! Speedos were perfectly fine!
"Good, because this is beyond disgusting! I'm going to have nightmares for weeks, Old Man!" Killua continued to shout at him and cover his eyes at the same time. "Think of the freaking children and put your shorts back on!"
"…Did you just call yourself a child?"
"Put your shorts back on!"
"Okay, okay, fine, you big baby," Leorio grumbled out then as a blush of embarrassment covered his cheeks. By that point, his and Killua's bickering had caused such a commotion that everyone in the vicinity was staring at him…and were those mothers seriously covering their children's eyes?! Was he that freaking hideous?!
Feeling beyond self-conscious, and, not to mention disgusting because of the way people were looking at him, Leorio quickly slipped his swim shorts back on and walked back towards the beach. In all honesty, he felt like finding a whole and burying himself in it, because he could feel everyone's eyes on him as he left, and hear the whispers around him. Maybe wearing a speedo while having a black eye wasn't a good idea in hindsight…
Seeing as he didn't have a giant hole to hide in anywhere within the vicinity, Leorio chose the next best thing, he walked towards the sea shell structures in the distance. It took him a couple of tries to find an empty one (a good portion were taken by making-out couples, or little kids throwing sand and pillows at each other), but when he did, he took in the sight of the conch-shell shaped structure. Apparently, these were meant to be comfy sitting areas, and the large assortment of pillows within the large, conch shell structures encompassed the whole area inside. There were so many pillows right on top of each other that they practically made a couch all on their own.
Finding the area comfortable just by looking at it, Leorio entered the large conch shell, and sat down on the very plushy pillows. He then brought his knees up, wrapped his arms around his legs and buried his face into them as well. There were a lot of things that he needed to think about then, and he wanted nothing more than to be alone.
The loud 'splat' that signaled that he had hit his target felt very satisfying to Kurapika. That was the least Killua deserved! As he watched the other go under and come up spurting water, it actually felt even better. Leorio came into view a few seconds later, though, and hit Killua pretty hard with the ball, making him go down again. Kurapika couldn't say he didn't understand the taller man's reaction then.
When the doctor had torn his swim trunks from the silver-haired hunter, Killua came up for air and looked furiously up at the taller man before they shouted at each other. The commotion caused all eyes of the surrounding people to turn on their little group.
In the end, Leorio headed for more shallow water to show up Killua, who was freaking out because he was sure he had stripped the doctor naked. Of course Kurapika knew better, and was more relaxed about the action. That was until Leorio turned around and showed off the bright red speedo that just barely covered the man's privates. There was a small, dark happy trail leading from the navel down to the seam of the skimpy fabric where it met some more hair, almost making it look like it was actually pointing downwards.
Just like his other friends, the Kurta was staring at the skintight, straining material, although the blond was staring for very different reasons. What he had only felt before was even more impressive in sight. As it seemed, the good doctor's growth didn't just pertain to his height.
Kurapika was only able to tear his gaze away when Killua screamed about his eyes. Once more, Killua and Leorio shouted at each other, and his fellow blacklist hunter demanded Leorio to put his trunks back on, claiming he would have nightmares from the sight. On top of that unnecessarily mean comment, Killua had called even more attention to them, causing some overprotective mothers to react by covering their children's eyes. Really!
One glance at Leorio was enough to know the whole incident was not just embarrassing to him but actually hurt him. There was a dark blush on his cheeks as he slipped on his shorts again and left the ocean with sunken shoulders and a downward cast face. Seeing his friend so distraught made Kurapika more than just angry.
Fury burned in his eyes as he walked up to the silver-haired teen.
"What the hell, Killua?! That was really uncalled for! You know very well how self-conscious Leorio feels around us most of the time!" The silver-haired teen was smart enough to know that their tallest friend felt inferior to them more times than not. Making the doctor feel even worse by picking on him like this was just the worst behavior.
Kurapika lowered his voice then as he closed in even more, almost touching the other. He might have been the smallest out of the whole group, but at that moment, he looked imposing enough. "I want you to stop meddling. Whatever you think you're doing, stop it. It's not going to work. You're meddling in things you don't understand, so keep out!" The Kurta's voice was a low hiss, showing his fellow hunter how serious he was.
With that said, he turned around and left the water to go look for Leorio. He wasn't too sure the other man wanted to see him after their run-in and what the doctor most likely had felt from him, but after what Killua had done to him, Leorio definitely needed some cheering up. Since Kurapika had not seen where the other man had gone while berating the little brat, he checked around their lounge chairs first. Next he tried the bar in vain, and after looking along the beach once more, he headed for the shell structures last.
Finally, he found his friend in the last shell, sitting in a pile of pillows. With his knees drawn up and his head buried in his arms, he didn't look like the tall, boisterous man he was, but more like a forlorn child.
Kurapika approached Leorio, coughing softly to make his presence known.
"This is a very cozy spot you found. Do you mind if I join you?" He was still a little unsure whether the other man would want him around after what had happened between them, so he left the decision up to Leorio.
For the umpteenth time in his life, Leorio was trying to force himself into denial.
The young doctor breathed out an exhausted sigh as he kept his face buried into his legs. His life was just messed up. Not only did people think that he looked disgusting all of a sudden (he knew he was good looking! He wouldn't have had so many one night stands if he was atrocious to look at! Leorio totally blamed his circumstances on his black eye!), but now he was thinking strange thoughts concerning Kurapika!
….
Oh who was he fucking kidding?!
Leorio let out another sigh as he felt a headache beginning to form. He knew for a fact that this hadn't been the first time he had ever thought of Kurapika in…a different light. It was just that, during those times he had thought of the other 'differently', he had always assumed it was just a freak occurrence, and that there was a totally logical explanation for why he was suddenly attracted to a guy. Kurapika looking like a female was especially one of those excuses. Yeah, from sexual frustrations to the Kurta's looks, everything at his disposal was used as an excuse, along with his blond friend's absence in his life for the past three years. Those excuses were what kept Leorio sane, because just thinking that he was actually attracted to a man, who also happened to be his 'best' friend, was just too despairing to think about, and, not to mention, extremely uncomfortable.
The young doctor groaned pitifully to himself as his logic started to stack up against him then. No matter how many excuses he could come up with, it didn't change the fact that he had frequent and reoccurring wet dreams concerning his Kurta friend (he had finally remembered the one he had last night, which only made Kurapika's response to him and his black eye all the more embarrassing), but he had also started sleeping with women during his last year in med school who looked strikingly familiar to his conjuring friend as well. Then, there was also the fact that he was so freaking crazy about the other. He could never stop worrying over Kurapika's safety, or wonder how the other was doing. Usually, if someone ignored him for three years, he'd be beyond pissed and wouldn't want to deal with the person ever again, but he was still chasing after Kurapika like an abandoned puppy! There was just no way that he could keep telling himself that he didn't feel something for the other!
Just as these lines of thought crossed his mind, he heard Kurapika's voice nearby. Leorio stiffened at the sound, wondering if he had just imagined the voice or not, but when he heard the light, polite cough that could only belong to the refined Kurta coming from above him, the young doctor knew that Kurapika really was standing before the entryway into the sea shell structure, and he was wondering if he could come in.
Now, more than anything else in that moment, Leorio really didn't want to be anywhere near his blond friend. He was trying to come to some sort of understanding within himself but…on the other hand…it wasn't like Kurapika to try and be so…thoughtful towards him. It was obvious that the other was there because he was worried about him…and that he probably wanted to comfort him in some way…
Leorio could feel his whole body heat up with warmth and gratitude then as he didn't stir from his seated position, his face still hidden behind his arms and legs. Even though he suddenly felt glad for the blacklist hunter's presence, he was still too embarrassed and self-conscious to look at the other.
"I-If you don't find me too hideous, I guess you can come in…" The taller man mumbled out a little pitifully, his voice muffled as he talked into his legs.
Killua was not at all surprised by the fiery brimstone flashing behind Kurapika's eyes as soon as Leorio was out of sight. Just as expected, the Kurta marched right up to him and started to yell into his face, saying how horrible he had been to Leorio. The former assassin just glared back at the older blacklist hunter unfazed. In truth, he did feel a little bad for being so uptight about Leorio's choice in swim wear, but the sight really hadn't been something Killua had wanted to see. Sure, the doctor didn't look bad, per se, but the fact that Killua saw him as an 'older' figure just made the image ten times worse than what it should have been. In truth, the former assassin almost compared it to seeing his father in a speedo…
Repressing the eerie shudder the image gave him, along with the random images of his other family members in speedos that wanted to jump into his head like bad pop ups on an internet website, Killua just took Kurapika's angry words in silence, and watched as his blond-haired friend marched off. As the silver-haired teen took note of how Kurapika was glancing around, a knowing smirk crawled its way onto his lips. Man, his plan was working even more perfectly than he had thought it would.
By this point, Killua noticed that Gon had approached him, too, and he could see the slight disapproving look his friend was giving him. The transmuter's heart seized painfully against his chest at the sight as Gon reiterated Kurapika's angry words from earlier, but in a softer, disappointing tone. Even though it hurt to hear Gon talk to him in that way, Killua still couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. He had thought that Gon was able to read him a little better than that.
"Come on, Gon, I was just making a scene on purpose," Killua admonished then as he pointed towards Kurapika's retreating form. "I did it to get a rise out of Kurapika in hopes that he'd go and talk to Leorio. It really looked like our last plan hadn't worked, so being able to keep them together and give them some alone time was key in getting them closer. Now they'll be alone somewhere and they'll talk, and they'll be continuously thinking about what happened during our game. Something has to come out of this for sure! Besides, you have to admit that seeing Leorio in a speedo was extremely uncomfortable. I didn't like seeing it, but I just made a huge deal out of it for the sake of getting those two together."
Killua could tell by the look that Gon was giving him then that the other wasn't sure if he should still be disappointed with him or not. The former assassin couldn't exactly blame his beast hunting friend. After all, Killua had just basically told Gon that he had purposefully hurt Leorio's feelings and pissed Kurapika off in hopes of making them a couple. There was certain to be some mixed emotions on him 'using' his friends like that. Killua personally didn't think it was that bad since the outcome he was looking for was supposed to be a positive one for his older friends.
"Okay, I'll apologize later, but right now we should use Zetsu and follow Kurapika at a distance. I have to see for myself if he finds Leorio, and then, from there, I want to try and make sure they get their privacy to talk. Are you going to come with me, Gon, or should I just go by myself?"
After the question left his lips, Killua actually realized that he was uncertain if he wanted Gon to come along at all. On the one hand, not having the other there would make him feel lonely, but, on the other, it would be less of a distraction on his part, and would help him in trying to get over his feelings for the other. Before Killua could wonder if he should just walk off by himself, though, he heard Gon agree to come with him. The former assassin just nodded his head in acceptance before the both of them applied their Zetsu and started to follow their blond friend at a distance. They walked along the beach as Kurapika checked the area for their missing friend until they came upon the shell-like structures they had seen from the balcony of their room on their day of arrival.
As Killua drew closer, Gon right beside him, he saw Kurapika stop before one of the many conch shell-shaped structures and start talking. They were too far away to effectively hear what the other was saying, but going by the soft, tentative voice the other was using, Killua was certain it was Leorio the other was talking to.
"Hey, Gon, can you smell if Leorio is actually in that shell?" The silver-haired teen asked, just in case.
Even though Gon had thought it was kind of a funny prank to pull down Leorio's pants and have Kurapika pushed into him like that, he wasn't too sure about it anymore a moment later when he saw the faces of his two older friends.
Things only got worse a little later when Leorio showed them his skimpy, tight swim pants, and Killua freaked out about them. What was the problem about it? The doctor wasn't naked or anything, but the shouting made him all embarrassed and feel bad. That really wasn't nice!
Disappointed, Gon looked at the ball in his hand once Leorio left. When he finally had the ball and would have been able to take revenge, Killua had sabotaged the game! Kurapika called his friend out on his bad behavior and left, too. So yeah, that was that for their game!
He tucked the ball under his arm and approached Killua.
"That really wasn't too nice. It wasn't as bad as you made it up to be. Why would you be so mean to Leorio?"
His friend rolled his eyes then, which made Gon feel like the other didn't take him seriously. But the next moment he explained that what he had done had been on purpose. Hearing it explained like that, Gon finally understood. Still, he didn't like how down Leorio had looked, and Kurapika had been pretty mad, too. That's why the spiky-haired beast hunter looked a little doubtful at his best friend until the other said he'd apologize to their friends, but only after those two got some more alone time, for which Killua asked his help.
"I'll come along!" He agreed easily, and the two of them entered a state of Zetsu, making them almost impossible to detect, even to skilled Nen users.
They followed Kurapika in his search for Leorio to one of the shell things they had wanted to check out for themselves. When Gon saw the interior of the shells as he passed by them, he got pretty excited. He wanted to play around with Killua in one of them, too! But right now, they had to concentrate on Kurapika.
The Kurta was in front of a conch-shell, talking to someone inside, when Killua asked him if he could find out whether that someone was Leorio.
"Sure, I'll give it a try."
Closing his eyes, Gon started to sniff, taking in deeper whiffs in the end. When he opened his eyes, he nodded.
"That aftershave smell can only belong to Leorio."
Just when he said that, Kurapika entered the shell and was lost to their view. At the same moment, they heard a loud splashing sound, and some kids squealed like crazy. Gon looked for the source of the commotion and saw a bunch of kids in one of the shells closer to them. The inside was a huge mess, with the pillows drenched and wet sand mixed in everywhere. As he watched on, a big water filled balloon went flying again and splattered against a wall, drenching some kids and making them squeal once more.
Right at that moment, a blond, big chested girl in a bright red swimsuit approached the shell, chasing the kids out and telling them to go and play in the ocean if they wanted to play around with water. Once the kids were gone, she took a key from around her neck and used it on a panel at the side of the shell structure. First the light inside went off and then, with a soft 'whoosh', part of the shell moved and closed the structure off to the outside. Presumably, this was to secure the shells for the night.
Gon looked at Killua then. His eyes were shining bright as he grinned.
"Didn't you say something about Leorio and Kurapika needing some alone time?"
If that shell was closed, no one could bother them inside, right?
The muffled answer Kurapika got was kind of childish. Considering what had happened, though, the Kurta understood this reaction in a way. Leorio definitely needed some ego stroking to feel better now.
"Since I don't think you're hideous at all, I guess I can then," he answered and sat down on a mountain of pillows next to the doctor a moment later.
The way Leorio peeked at him surreptitiously with one eye to see what he did then was actually kind of cute. Kurapika couldn't help himself, but he really loved the way his oldest friend acted like a little boy sometimes.
"You don't?" The other asked carefully next, still pretending to hide his face in his arms.
"No, I don't. Actually, I think you're handsome... f-for a guy as tall as you," Kurapika stuttered out the limitation just in time before he would have said too much. "Y-you know yourself that you're good looking. Your easy way with women attests to that, don't you think?"
He looked to the side at Leorio, who had lifted his head just a little bit. The blond smiled softly at the other man, who seemed to be lapping up the compliments very eagerly.
"You know Killua can be a little brat. In some ways he's still a child, I guess." There was a conspiratorial twinkle in Kurapika's eyes then as he smirked and lowered his voice a little. "Most likely the big impression you made merely got him jealous..."
Only after the words were out did the Kurta fully realize that his words implicated that he had looked, too, otherwise he wouldn't be able to make any such assessment. Damn. Another blush flushed his cheeks then. He felt like he was constantly blushing when he was alone with the doctor. Why the heck was this so? This was so unlike him! Usually, he had a much better control of his feelings!
"A-anyway, d-don't let Killua's childish reaction get to you. You're not hideous, and none of us think that way about you."
When he heard Kurapika's answer, and felt the other sit down on the pillows beside him, Leorio peeked cautiously at the other with one eye, unwilling to show his face still, even after his friend's kind words. More than likely they were just that, kind.
"You don't?" The young doctor asked tentatively then, hoping to hear the same words from the Kurta's mouth.
When he heard Kurapika tell him that he was handsome (with a catch, of course. It was hard to get a true compliment from the other after all, because there just had to be that one, underlying stipulation) Leorio could feel his heart start to swell in his chest (stipulation purposefully ignored). The anxious emission user lifted his head a bit in hope, his brown eyes finding Kurapika's then and shining with earnest. He wanted to hear more compliments from the other for some reason, and Leorio could only assume it had to do with the fact that, one, he hardly got compliments as it was, and, two, he had recently realized that compliments from Kurapika were beyond special, and not just because he had finally let himself believe that he was attracted to the smaller man.
Needless to say, Kurapika's next words of encouragement practically set Leorio's whole body aflame. The insinuation in the other's voice practically floored the poor doctor. He knew that wearing a speedo made certain aspects of his body rather obvious, but knowing that Kurapika had looked at his lower half and was complimenting him on it actually turned him on.
Of course, with Kurapika's startled and stuttering response after said compliment, Leorio knew that the other was just saying things to make him feel better, and not because he purposefully 'felt' the same way towards him as Leorio was beginning to realize for the Kurta. Regardless, though, the rookie hunter was grateful for the other's attempt at comfort, since Kurapika wasn't one to do such things often, especially in regards to him.
"Thanks, Kurapika," Leorio whispered out then as he sent the blond a grateful, warm smile. "I'm sorry you had to bother with me. I was acting a bit childish, hehehe."
Once his slightly, self-conscious laugh was done with, Leorio's expression became downcast again as he looked away from his friend and towards the entrance of the shell, staring at the sun-bleached sand outside.
"I'm sorry for acting so pathetic sometimes. I guess that…this vacation has been stressful on me to the point that I don't know how to think or react anymore. Sure, it has been very fun, too, but there's…something always happens to undermine that fun, you know what I mean? You've noticed that too, haven't you?"
Leorio felt very apprehensive then once he realized what he was saying. In a sense, it almost sounded like he was…blaming something for his bad vacation, and since he was constantly around Kurapika when those 'bad' things had happened, Leorio had inadvertently blamed his friend for the problems with their vacation. The young doctor hoped that his smaller friend wouldn't think he was blaming everything on him and get angry with him, because he knew for a fact that it usually took two people to make a situation bad. His open honesty really hadn't been helping his situation with Kurapika either, after all.
Leorio's self-deprecation was hard to bear for Kurapika. He couldn't understand the bad light the other saw himself in most of the time. No matter how light the other one tried to make of it by laughing about his own words, it was all too obvious this was the way he really felt about himself.
Before Kurapika could say something about it, though, Leorio told him that he couldn't unwind on this vacation, and when he said why, the Kurta felt guilty. It was his own unresolved feelings that played a big part in that, and he knew it only too well. Even though it was warm, the conjurer shivered slightly then and wished for his usual clothes. For some reason, he felt too exposed at the moment. Still, he had to answer; he couldn't leave the doctor to his dark thoughts.
"It's not a bother to talk to you, Leorio. Don't ever think that. Maybe your reaction wasn't the most mature, but neither was Killua's stupid prank. You think way too low of yourself, Leorio. You're not pathetic. You had a stressful time with your finals and graduation and all, so you've earned this vacation, really. I'm sorry it hasn't turned out quite the way it was supposed to, but there are still a few days left..."
Kurapika looked outside the shell then at the ocean. He couldn't confess to his true feelings and how they were ruining the other's vacation but there was something else he could tell Leorio. Maybe that would still kind of explain a little of what was going on.
"Do you remember Gon and Killua in the bushes at the amusement park? I guess we both assumed the wrong thing. We were right, in that something is going on between the two. For some odd reason they are set on trying... well on trying to bring the both of us together. As a romantic couple," he explained then, and tried to make it sound as ludicrous as he was sure Leorio would think the idea. Kurapika rolled his eyes, too, as he huffed. "I'm guessing it's because of their own feelings for each other that they are projecting onto us, you know? Anyway, they, and Killua in particular of course, are creating these scenarios and situations to make us into a couple, like... like pushing me into you when they think you're naked..." Again, Kurapika rolled his eyes and held up his hands defensively then. "But don't worry! I called Killua out on it and I told him to stop with the stupid games! Wha-what I'm saying is, things should get better now, you know?"
Kurapika looked at Leorio then, trying to project some hope for the other man.
When Gon confirmed that Leorio was in the shell, Killua focused his attention on the structure even more, wondering if they should attempt at getting closer or not. Before the silver-haired teen could think too much on it, though, rambunctious children sounded off nearby. When Killua turned his attention towards the children, he was just in time to see a water balloon go off inside one of the sea shell structures, and for a voluptuous life-guard to come over and chase the kids off before closing the shell with a key around her neck.
An idea began to form in the former assassin's head before Gon had even turned to him with the same thought in mind.
"Yeah, I did. Maybe we should help them with that?" Killua answered back in a mischievous fashion. "We need to get a key from a life-guard. I know that I can easily steal one off of one of their necks with zetsu…but they will easily feel the weight of the key lift, so we'll need a distraction as well…"
Gon's face lit up as his best friend said he needed help for his next plan. For once, this was something he understood and could easily do.
"You need a distraction? No problem!"
He turned off his Zetsu and made his way to the beach bar, with a still hidden Killua in tow. At the little, open hut, he asked the bar keeper for a brightly colored, sweet but alcohol free cocktail. Like any of the tropical drinks served there, the bar tender decorated it with a skewer of mixed fruits.
"Can you please put one of those hibiscus flowers on top?" Gon asked and got his wish granted.
Thanking the man and smiling brightly, he looked around the beach and easily found the blonde in the signal red swimsuit.
"Okay, here goes... get ready," Gon said seemingly to himself, but actually warned Killua to be ready to act.
The tall, tanned, muscular beast hunter made a beeline for the big-chested, blonde life guard. When he was in her way, he suddenly bowed before her, extending the drink.
"I'm so, so, so sorry!" He shouted out in a slightly flustered way that made the girl instantly stop in her tracks.
When Gon looked up, his best puppy-dog-eyes were turned on as peered into startled blue ones.
"Ehm...what? I d-don't...?" The young life-guard stuttered out.
"One of the kids who made that mess in there," he pointed to the closed shell structure, "was my younger brother. Really, I'm so, so, sorry. One second! You look away for one second and that's the kind of stuff he comes up with. I wanted to apologize for the extra work! Here!" Gon extended the drink.
The life-guard's look had turned from startled to doubtful. Obviously she wasn't quite sure about Gon's motives, but his face was utterly serious and his eyes looked like he was really apologizing from the bottom of his heart, which, in a way, he was for what he was doing to her right now. Looking from his face to the huge, colorful cocktail, she began to smile.
"That's very nice of you, but really it's not necessary. Don't worry about it, that's just how kids are. And I couldn't drink alcohol anyway, I'm on duty," she said, looking like she really regretted this last fact.
Gon's face lit up in a huge grin then, "I knew that! That's why this one is alcohol free! And look," he held the glass up again to show its content's blue color, "really, this was made just for you. It has the same dazzling blue color as your eyes."
When Gon looked across the top of the drink then to see if he had the girl's full attention, she was blushing brightly. Behind her, Killua was just about to move. He only caught Killua in his peripheral vision, since he needed to concentrate on the lifeguard. If he looked at his friend directly, the girl would catch on that something wasn't right, after all.
To keep her attention on him, Gon took the flower from the drink then. "I bet it would look much lovelier on you. Can I?"
Holding out the hibiscus flower a little, he waited for the girl to understand his intention and her confirmation. With a faster move than the untrained eye could follow, the key was gone from her neck. She had no idea.
"Y-yes..." She mumbled out starry-eyed.
Gon went ahead and put the flower behind her ear then. "Very beautiful!" He grinned at her as he saw Killua recede fast behind her. "Enjoy your drink, and once again, I'm really sorry!"
Before the poor life-guard knew what had happened to her, she had the cocktail glass in her hand and Gon left her in a pretty flustered and confused state to follow his best friend.
"Now that was easy," he grinned when he finally caught up to Killua.
The grin vanished in an instant though, when he felt waves of anger radiate from his friend.
"Whaaaa! Killua, what's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
Gon offered himself up for the distraction job before Killua could suggest the idea himself. The former assassin smiled in appreciation at the other's enthusiasm, but his appreciation soon turned to confusion as he followed Gon to the beach bar. Just what was he planning exactly?
Killua stared on in mild fascination as Gon ordered a very specific drink that was decked out in various fruit and a hibiscus flower. The silver-haired teen's stomach started to turn in trepidation then as the scene played out before him. For some reason, it felt very familiar…like that time he had to accompany a defenseless Gon through the woods in order to prepare for his forced date with Palm….
With the elaborate drink now in hand, Killua followed after Gon warily as they approached the same, big-chested life guard from before. During this whole time, the transmuter had been in Zetsu, so he didn't have to apply it at all as he watched Gon make his move towards the young woman, who was about their age, judging by the looks of her.
Killua started to move slowly, trying his best not to make a sound on the sand as he started to walk around Gon and the young lifeguard, so that he could get behind her to slip the key off of her neck. The young blacklist hunter truly tried as hard as he could to not pay too much attention to Gon's antics, but it was so hard not to, especially when he was coming off as this sweet and innocent teen, and the female lifeguard was falling under his natural charms.
When Gon mentioned that the drink he was giving the lifeguard was perfect for her because it matched her beautiful eyes, Killua stiffened in shock as he finally closed in on the voluptuous girl from behind. That lifeguard hadn't been too close to them until now, and she had been moving around frantically when they had seen her, so how did Gon notice her eyes through all of that? He knew that his friend had somehow, because he had been so careful and thoughtful when he was asking the bar tender on how to make the drink.
Raging jealousy coursed through the former assassin's veins even though he tried to suppress it.
This was why he knew that he should distance himself from Gon somehow, because his feelings were affecting his work. His fingers were closing in on the young woman's neck (who he decided looked like a porn star then) in order to grab the key, but now his fingers itched for blood. It would be so easy to transform his fingernails into claws and slit this bitch's throat for ever thinking that Gon would be interested in her, but Killua knew that he could never do it, despite how badly his inner demons would want him to. He knew the girl was completely innocent in this case, because Gon was just a natural charmer. Gon would also be more than angry with him for killing the girl because of that same reason; and hadn't he promised not to kill again unless forced into an extreme situation?
Just as Gon was blatantly flirting with the stupid lifeguard by copying Leorio's actions with Kurapika that night in the amusement park garden, Killua found his chance to slip the key off the young woman's neck. Gon noticed their accomplished mission a second later and quickly bid goodbye to the now starry-eyed woman in the most natural way that only the beast hunter himself could pull off. By this point, though, Killua was already slipping away from the scene and back towards the shell that Leorio and Kurapika were in.
The silver-haired teen was halfway towards his destination when Gon met up with him again. Since they were far enough away from their two friends at the moment, Killua shut off his Zetsu. When he heard Gon exclaim how easy it was to flirt with that damn girl, Killua's rage practically exploded. It was just so, so easy for Gon to be a lady's man wasn't it? That just proved how he was only Gon's friend and nothing else. If that wasn't a metaphorical kick to the balls, Killua didn't know what was.
"Nothing!" The former assassin hissed out in anger before he applied Zetsu again and made his way over to the shell. He stayed silent, even when he heard Gon walk after him and felt him apply Zetsu himself. Within moments they were behind Leorio's and Kurapika's shell and they could hear the Kurta himself talking. He was mentioning something about Leorio's vacation turning out for the better.
Oh yeah, it definitely was going to be better if he had a say in the matter.
Within a second, Killua found the panel he had seen the lifeguard open a few moments prior on the side of the shell structure. Opening the panel in a flourish, Killua inserted the key and turned it, making the door to the shell shut. He heard Leorio's and Kurapika's muffled cries of surprise and indignation, but he ignored them in favor of heading towards the beach bar. He knew he wasn't legally allowed to drink alcohol, but a sugary drink would do just fine under his circumstances.
"We're going to the bar," Killua ordered then as he grabbed Gon's arm before he left and started dragging the surprised beast hunter in the direction towards the bar. He didn't know why he was dragging Gon with him when he knew he needed distance from the other, but the thought of Gon wondering off to flirt with that lifeguard some more was too devastating to think about. No, he'd just keep the other close by for the moment…maybe he could learn to distance himself from the other emotionally while being in the other's presence?
When Kurapika spoke again, it was still in a reassuring manner, which Leorio was beyond grateful for. It was good to know that the other wasn't angry at him for his accidental insinuation, but, at the same time, the young doctor took note of the sadness in his friend's eyes. Even though the other wasn't angry with him did he…feel a little guilty instead, like he was somehow all to blame?
Before Leorio could ask the other if he was alright, Kurapika spoke up again, but this time, as he stared out towards the ocean, he brought up Gon and Killua. Leorio's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief as the young conjurer began laughing incredulously at the two younger teens' antics, and wondering if the feelings that they had for each other were somehow the reason behind it. In truth, Leorio had started to become a little suspicious of the possibility as soon as Killua had taken his swim trunks as well, but he didn't want to believe it. To hear it affirmed in Kurapika's words practically made the young doctor's head spin. Not only that, but the taller man felt complete unexplainable hurt as Kurapika laughed the whole situation off like it was completely ridiculous; like the idea of them being a couple was the most ludicrous thing he had ever heard of. Why did that thought hurt so much? Wasn't he only attracted to Kurapika?
As the confused emission user turned to finally face his blond-haired friend in question, Kurapika's beautiful brown eyes met his, and the other reassured him that his vacation would become better because he had told the kids to stop trying to force things upon them. Leorio just took in the other's beautiful, strong, feminine features, and reanalyzed what he felt for the other in that moment. It didn't take the doctor that long to realize that he had been lying to himself yet again. He wasn't just attracted to Kurapika; he was in love with him, and had been for a very long time.
Everything truly made sense then, the hurt he felt whenever something didn't go right between them, the large emotional investment he had in the other even though he logically shouldn't care about him after the way Kurapika had treated him for three years, the wet dreams…
This whole realization only took the doctor a few seconds to comprehend before another realization slammed into him like an unsuspected Nen punch. He was in love with Kurapika, but the other would never feel the same way about him. The way that the Kurta had acted before when he was describing the crazy antics of the kids, and the fact that Kurapika had also punched him in the face last night after subconsciously getting frisky with him, definitely proved the other's disinterest. Sharing his feelings (although Leorio was sure he wouldn't confess when he had just barely learned to accept what he felt) with the other would not only end in heartache for himself, but the very fragile friendship they had would be utterly destroyed by it as well.
As these quick thoughts buzzed around Leorio's head in a matter of seconds, leaving the said doctor in a complete emotional state of shock and thus, struck completely speechless as he continued to stare at a now concerned looking Kurapika, another unsuspected occurrence happened. Before Leorio could even react, he heard a loud mechanical whirring, and the entrance to the shell structure he and Kurapika were sitting in was shut by a whirling, metal door.
"H-hey!" The doctor called out in surprise as he rushed over to the metal door and started to bang against it out of instinct. "What the hell?! Let us out!"
Leorio could hear Kurapika shouting as well, and when he turned around, he was surprised to see that…well…he could see. With the door shut, wouldn't it be pitch black inside?
Confused by this and more than willing to think about something else besides the emotional and physical state he was in, Leorio glanced up to see that there were small, fist sized holes that dotted near the top end of the ceiling. Most of those (which Leorio assumed were the actual source of light) were closed up just like the entrance, thus blocking out the sunlight from outside…that is, except for one. It seemed that, to his and Kurapika's luck, one of the holes was malfunctioning, and was only partly closed. Not only did this provide them with a little light, but it also provided them with much needed air. Leorio was certain that if the small 'window' had closed, that there would be no other possible way for air to move through the structure. The very thought scared him.
"You know what? I actually hope that was Gon and Killua messing with us right now, because that means that they'll at least come back for us…" Leorio mentioned then as he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Even though Kurapika and him would definitely live through this slight annoyance, it didn't change the fact that Leorio was now stuck with the man he had just found out he was undeniably in love with.
Kurapika looked at Leorio expectantly, but the other one just looked back at him without saying a word. As the silence between them grew, the Kurta became concerned. Had he said too much? Should he have kept Killua and Gon's plans to himself? Whatever was wrong exactly, his attempt at cheering Leorio up had obviously failed miserably!
As he tried to come up with something else to say, the door to their shell suddenly shut. Darkness consumed them except for a single ray of light falling through a hole in the ceiling.
"What the heck...?!"
His own cry mixed in with the doctor's. As Leorio inspected the source of light, Kurapika closed in on the door and tried to move it. There was no grip or handle, no button to push to get it to open. Well, usually there wouldn't be people inside when this thing was shut, he guessed. He slammed his fist against the wall with a resounding 'wham'.
"We're in here! Let us out!" He called, without receiving an answer.
Leorio spoke up then and Kurapika turned around to him. In the pale light the doctor looked kind of uncomfortable. His words only strengthened this impression.
"Of course this is another of their stupid pranks. I'm pretty sure the shells are only meant to be closed at night to protect them from the weather and thieves. We'll be out of here soon. And if the boys don't come back for us, soon, I'll get us out of here. I don't care about a little damage to hotel property under these circumstances," Kurapika told Leorio to calm the other one down and make him feel safer.
The shell's structure wasn't meant to keep people locked up, and would certainly not withstand a Nen onslaught. With the door closed and only the small hole for light and air flow, this structure would heat up pretty fast in the sun, and it would become unbearable inside. Before anything like that could happen, he would get them out of there for sure.
"Stupid boys!" Kurapika hissed then.
Kurapika's next words were calming as well as informative. Leorio could feel himself relaxing in the other's presence then as he realized that Kurapika could easily break out of the shell with his Nen abilities if he wanted to. Leorio was sure he could help a little as well, but he wasn't exactly sure how he could….completely, that is. He could only use his bare fists and legs at this point, and he didn't know how to effectively protect them while using a very destructive Nen power at the same time. If he helped Kurapika out, he'd more than likely break one of his appendages.
Not wanting to experience that on his vacation, the taller man just hoped that their younger friends would come back soon.
By this point, Leorio heard Kurapika hiss out in anger, and realized that although the other had calmed him down, his friend was just as angry and probably uncomfortable as he had been. It was only right that he comfort the other in turn, right?
"Yeah, they're little brats but what can you expect?" Leorio tried to laugh out with ease as he made his way over to the other and grabbed his arm. "There's no use getting angry over our circumstances, so let's just wait things out for the moment. How about we go and sit down and try to relax?"
The doctor didn't give his friend time to answer before he was pulling the Kurta over to the pillows and sitting them both down.
"Now, let's do something to pass the time a little bit," Leorio said with ease as he let go of Kurapika's arm and brought the same hand up to his chin to rub at it thoughtfully. "What can we do? There isn't much in here to amuse us, and it's probably going to get a little warmer in here from the lack of air circulation…"
After a moment Leorio glanced at Kurapika warily, not sure how the other would react to his suggestion since it would be…well…personal…
"Um…the only thing I can come up with is to talk…and I realize more than ever now that…I really don't know you as well as I thought I did…what do you say about getting to know each other a little better? You don't have to answer any questions that make you feel uncomfortable of course!" Leorio quickly added near the end to make sure he didn't make his friend feel uncomfortable.
"I expect them to respect my wishes!" Kurapika answered angrily as Leorio took hold of his arm.
Before he knew what was happening to him, the other pulled him back to the pillows and told him to make the best of the situation. The Kurta didn't really feel like relaxing, but the doctor was right that it would soon get pretty warm in there, so sitting down and not moving too much actually was the better idea.
He looked to the side as the doctor cast around for something they could do to pass the time. With all the pillows in here a pillow fight was the first thing that came to the Kurta's mind, but that would be too exhausting under the current circumstances. What Leorio actually came up with was exciting and intimidating at the same time. It was nice to learn that his secret love actually wanted to get to know him better, and he wanted to know everything there was to know about Leorio in return, but when he thought of the question the drunk doctor had asked him, he got apprehensive about this talk. At least this time he got the option to duck out of answering, it seemed.
"It does seem like a good way to pass some time without using up too much energy," Kurapika answered very cool and logically. His gaze got warmer, though, when he continued, "I would love to learn a little more about you, but since it's your idea, you go first, I guess. So...so what would you like to know?"
A small smile of relief lit up Leorio's face as he heard Kurapika agree to his suggestion. The doctor could feel his heart rate quicken at the Kurta's warm words. Just knowing that Kurapika wanted to learn as much about him as he did about the other practically sent Leorio to cloud nine. At the same time, though, the feeling smothered him, too. This was just a way for him and Kurapika to become closer friends…Nothing else would come from this, even though he was beginning to realize that he actually really wanted more.
Feeling like he was drowning on the new and mixed emotions inside of him, Leorio tried to ignore his own personal feelings in favor of asking the other some questions. Hopefully, Kurapika wouldn't be too shy in asking him some as well.
"Well…there's always been something that I've wanted to ask you…" The emission user started out as his gaze turned serious, his brown eyes staring deeply into Kurapika's. "I was wondering if…you've ever thought of life after you've retained all of your peoples' eyes. Is there something that you want to do afterwards? I mean, after your mission is done that's…that's the time you can truly start to live, isn't it?"
Leorio stared at the other worryingly then. He had always been afraid of the idea; that Kurapika's only goal in life was to get his peoples' eyes back and then, afterwards…there'd be no more reason for him to live. Leorio had always feared, had always had nightmares, of Kurapika killing himself after he found his people's eyes just so he could be with all of them again. The knowledge that Kurapika had bestowed on him a few days ago didn't help these fears either. Kurapika blamed himself for his people's demise, so it would only be fitting if he thought he didn't deserve to live after his mission was fulfilled. If Kurapika really did plan on killing himself, though, Leorio would make damn sure that the other didn't go through with it. He couldn't lose another friend, especially after he had learned how important Kurapika actually was to him.
A warm wave washed over the young Kurta as Leorio's dark chocolate eyes looked deeply into his. It was so easy to lose himself in their depth and just enjoy the feeling of being captivated by them. Kurapika felt like he could have been satisfied just by being held by this man and staring into his eyes for hours on end, but of course that wasn't to be. It was the other one's question that pulled him back and brought him into the here and now pretty fast.
"Oh wow...you don't hold back, do you?" Kurapika asked rhetorically, but with a small smile still on his lips. They were friends, best friends; that gave Leorio the right to ask anything. The blond dropped his gaze then.
"Actually, I hadn't," he answered honestly. "There was nothing beyond my mission and my goal. It was the only reason I was living for, to find my brethren's eyes. How can I even be sure I will survive my quest? I never had any reason to think so far ahead. That is...that is until three nights ago..."
Kurapika looked up again and searched out Leorio's worried gaze. He smiled softly, hoping to alleviate the other's fears.
"Your little speech made me rethink a few things, Leorio. I really wasn't sure whether I even deserved to live beyond the vengeance for my clan. But you helped me see things in a different light. My people were peaceful and kind, and they would want me to carry on after their souls are in peace. If...no...when that day comes and I will be free of my responsibilities, I want to travel. I have seen more sick and dark things than most people can imagine. You wouldn't believe the things these psychotic collectors are after. There are other bands of people, secret clans like my own was, that have to live in hiding because they have special features or abilities that turn them into valuable prey. I'd like to try to find some of them and...try to help them. Maybe there are children there, just like Pairo, who would need a doctor's help but can't leave their hiding place. Or maybe they have other needs I could help out with. Maybe I could even find Nen sensitive people among them and help them train to help them defend themselves better. It's...I know it sounds crazy and I wouldn't even know where to start my search for most of them...but...I would want to try. If I could help only a few of them escape the fate of my own clan...that would be an achievement, right? I think...I think it might help me make some kind of peace with the guilt I carry with me, too."
Looking at the other man then, Kurapika wasn't too sure what Leorio thought of his crazy idea. It wouldn't be easy to find people who tried to hide from the rest of the world, but he was a hunter, after all. And there was something else he had thought about, too. Before he could lose his nerve and the courage to come out and say it, he pushed on.
"If you...if you don't think I'm delusional and just a guilt ridden crazy person, then maybe...maybe I could drop by when that day comes and maybe...maybe you would...come with me? By then you should have more experience as a practicing doctor," Kurapika felt his heart beating faster at the proposition he was offering to Leorio, of the possibility to have a future with the other man, no matter how platonic it would be. "I really believe you should travel, too and...that you're meant to help more people...and I...I wouldn't...mind traveling with you."
As calm as the Kurta looked on the outside then, there was just as much turmoil he was feeling on the inside. Their current friendship was shaky at best, and here he was, proposing they'd travel together, alone. But this proposition was for a journey that most likely lay a few years into the future. Surely he would be able to vanquish his feelings for the other man until then? They were rekindling their friendship right now and it meant the world to him. Being able to be close to Leorio in any way possible in the future was something he could look forward to and something that would help him keep faith and stay alive in his current quest. That was why he looked at the doctor with so much fragile hope swirling in his hazel eyes.
Leorio felt one of his worst fears confirmed then with Kurapika saying that he hadn't originally planned on a future beyond finding the eyes of his clansmen. The young doctor could feel his heart seize painfully inside his chest and words of encouragement burning in his throat, ready to be said so that the other could change his mind, but, to Leorio's surprise, Kurapika finished what he wanted to say. He actually…had a plan now.
The taller man could feel his eyes widen in surprise for the Kurta's idea for a future as it was explained to him. It…really fit Kurapika. Sure, the goal was a hard one, but he knew that Kurapika's passion for other clans would easily see him through the difficulties, and that he'd be more than perfect in helping those troubled people. In that moment, Leorio felt proud of the other for taking a hold of his life; for taking it seriously then. That was monumental compared to what the other personally thought of himself all those days ago.
As he was thinking this, Leorio was taken aback by the look of uncertainty hidden behind Kurapika's hazel-brown orbs. When he heard the other's next words then, the young doctor felt himself go into a state of shock. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever thought his blond friend would…ask him to be his traveling partner. Especially since he was only asking him, the person that the Kurta didn't get along with the best.
When Kurapika was finished asking his question and assuring Leorio that traveling with him would be a good idea, the taller man couldn't help but chuckle happily at the proposition, a big smile spreading across his face.
"In all truth, that was the next question I was going to ask you…" Leorio explained sheepishly then as he averted his gaze a bit and rubbed the back of his head. "Ever since you brought the idea of traveling around as a doctor to me, I've really been thinking about it. I know it's going to be a lot of work on my part. I'll have to work full shifts at a clinic while trying to improve my Nen, and possibly taking some extra courses on the side. If I'm going to be traveling around in the wilderness, it's key for me to know some botany and more pharmaceutical medicines just in case I don't have the right medicine on me, you know? I seriously don't know how I'm going to do it but…since you've offered me a few years…and since you want me to come with you…I can't refuse that offer."
Leorio smiled reassuringly towards his friend then as he took the other's hand in his and intertwined their fingers as a physical form of their promise.
"I promise I'll do my best to be ready for when that day comes, Kurapika," Leorio stated seriously then as he stared deeply into the other's surprised eyes, a light blush dusting the emission user's cheeks as he realized how embarrassing this situation he just put himself in was. "I…I wanted to ask you the same thing, but you obviously beat me to the chase here. I want to get to know you more…I want to travel with you…and I want to help you as much as I can. Just like old times. Your idea for a future isn't crazy at all. In fact, it sounds very exciting and…I want to be a part of it, so promise me that you won't leave me out this time…alright? Promise me that you'll still stay in touch with me while we're finishing up our current goals."
The young doctor could feel his eyes burn into the other's imploringly then. He knew that there was no chance of Kurapika and him having a romantic connection, so hopefully, with the few years between now and their future quest, he could get over the other. But, at the same time, Leorio didn't want to be completely out of the loop concerning Kurapika either. He didn't want to go through the hell of not knowing how the other was doing again, to barely hear his voice for practically three years…
When the taller man chuckled in answer to his heartfelt offer, Kurapika felt his insecurity heighten exponentially. Was his plan so crazy it was a mere laughingstock to the other man, or was it that his request to have the other accompany him made it sound delusional to Leorio? He felt very relieved when he found out neither was the case. Actually, the doctor even had the same idea for them. Kurapika almost couldn't believe it. Maybe their friendship really could be saved. It was the next best thing to what his heart really longed for, and he was unimaginably thankful for that.
"Oh...oh yeah, I guess you're right. I never thought of it that way, but yeah, I'm pretty sure it'll take me a while yet to reach my goal. So yes, you'd still have time to try and improve your Nen abilities as well as your knowledge."
A warm hand touched his then. Long, slender fingers that were strong, yet sensitive and soft, intertwined with his. A shiver ran down the Kurta's back then. For some inexplicable reason the gesture of friendship somehow felt very erotic to Kurapika.
Leorio promised him then to somehow be ready once his own quest was finished and he came to get him. It was incredible to Kurapika that the doctor actually kind of had the same idea as him and really wanted to travel with him. He even liked the plan the Kurta had set for himself and didn't think it crazy at all.
Deep, dark chocolate eyes held his gaze captive then, as Leorio asked for a promise in return. With the way their relationship had turned now, it was very easy for Kurapika to answer the other one with an open gaze.
"I promise I'll stay in touch this time. I'll still have times when I can't be called, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can then," he promised honestly.
In his line of work, sometimes it was necessary to drop off the grid. Especially with his actual mission, he sometimes needed to become an untraceable ghost. He had used this excuse on Leorio before, and claimed the other always tried to reach him at those times. But while he had called Gon and Killua back, once he could resurface, he had rarely done so for Leorio. This time things would be different, that was what he promised. As a way to emphasize his promise, he gently squeezed the other's fingers between his.
The way Killua practically barked that there was nothing wrong with him, while yet walking away from him, made it pretty clear to Gon that there in fact was something wrong, but that his friend wasn't willing to tell him what exactly that was. Since the beast hunter had grown up between two women, he knew this game only too well. It was something he had done that was wrong, and he was supposed to know, or find out himself, what that something was.
There was silence between them then while Gon tried to figure out what had infuriated Killua so much as he followed the other to Kurapika and Leorio's shell. He knew from experience that the bad thing he had done must have been something that had happened shortly before or something that he had done repeatedly and that had piled up until Killua had burst. While he raked his brain, his friend took out the key then and closed their friends into the shell structure.
As was to be expected, Kurapika and Leorio were shouting to be let out. Gon wondered then if it really was a good idea to do this to the two after their blond friend had warned Killua so intensely. Before he could second guess their actions too much, though, his best friend suddenly took hold of his arm and started to drag him off.
"Ehm...ehm, okay," Gon stuttered and turned around to easier follow his headstrong friend.
Even though the bar was almost empty, Killua chose a lone table a little to the side of the bar to sit down.
"I want something to drink," he declared imperiously and looked at the enhancer expectantly.
Under different circumstances Gon might have told him to get his own stuff, but he really wanted to get back on the good side of his companion, so he just nodded. A moment later he was back at the bar. Maybe Killua had been mad because he had gotten that life-guard an expensive drink? But really, that had only been for the purpose of the distraction!
Although he wasn't too happy about it, Gon knew how sugar had a mellowing effect on his best friend, that's why he ordered the sweetest concoction the bar tender could come up with. It turned out to be something white with cream and lots of coconut. Even the fruits on the skewer looked sweet enough to make his teeth ache. Still, Gon wasn't quite happy, since something was missing. Looking around the bar, he found it.
"Can I get the purple umbrella?" He asked and pointed to the little, decorative paper umbrellas.
The drink was white, the fruit pieces were yellow and orange. There really was some color missing and purple was Killua's favorite. Once he was satisfied with the drink, he got some plain water for himself and returned to his partner.
With a smile, he served the cocktail. "Here you go!" He exclaimed and sat down opposite Killua.
Once they reached the bar and headed over to a secluded table, Killua asked Gon to go and get him a drink…Okay, it was more like he ordered the taller teen. Still, the silver-haired teen could feel jealousy stir within him, and he was curious as to what Gon would actually get for him. Would he be just as thoughtful about his drink as he was with that random lifeguard?
When the beast hunter returned with a white drink in hand decked out in yellow and orange fruits and a little, purple umbrella, the former assassin couldn't stop the small smile that spread across his lips at the sight. If the drink was really sweet to boot, he'd know that Gon had truly thought things over when buying him something.
As the pretty drink was set down before him, and Gon sat down opposite of him at their table, Killua thanked the other before taking a tentative sip. It was delicious!
"Wow, this is really good!" Killua exclaimed happily then, already feeling better after the whole lifeguard ordeal as his internal wishes had been confirmed. "I like coconut…"
It was here that the young transmuter noticed how his friend was only drinking water.
"Why didn't you get anything for yourself? You can share with me if you want…"
Killua practically slapped himself for what he was saying. Wasn't the point of having Gon near him so that he could get over him?! Before the silver-haired teen could beat himself up about what he had said, he heard Gon say how he just felt like water at the moment, and that the drink was completely his.
"Oh…" Killua muttered out as a small blush dusted his cheeks. To distract himself, he took another sip of his creamy, fruity concoction. Before he could effectively calm himself down, though, he heard Gon ask him if he was still angry with him. Stiffening at the question, the former assassin let out a sad sigh before he sent his best friend an apologetic look.
"No, I'm not. Sorry about how I was acting, Gon…" Killua started out, but as he continued to stare into the enhancer's eyes, he noticed how it looked like Gon wanted to ask him another question, his hazel orbs dancing with confusion. It didn't take long for the young blacklist hunter to figure out that Gon was probably wondering why he had gotten mad with him in the first place.
Unsure if he even wanted to give an excuse (he couldn't without sharing his secret feelings with Gon), Killua fought with himself for a moment before deciding on using a half-truth. Hopefully it would satiate Gon's curiosity and actually help him to move on from the other at the same time.
"I…shouldn't have gotten angry with you in the first place," the silver-haired teen continued as he glanced away from the other out of embarrassment and swirled the contents of his drink with his straw. "I was acting pretty immature. It's just that…seeing you flirt with that lifeguard…made me jealous…"
Killua could feel his breath catch as the memory came back to him full force, but he hurriedly pushed beyond it so that he could 'fully' explain himself to Gon. If he just left his words there, the other would…figure out his secret, and Killua would feel even more awkward around the other.
"I was jealous because it's just so easy for you to talk to girls and flirt with them," Killua hurriedly continued as he finally looked Gon straight in the eyes and lied as convincingly as he could. "Even though I've done research on 'romantic' things for this vacation in order to help out Leorio and Kurapika, I've never experienced anything romantic myself. I was kind of hoping that by helping Leorio and Kurapika out, and with your guidance on this stuff, that I'd be able to…gather the courage to start asking girls out. The only girls I've ever interacted with are my mother, my sister, my female butlers, Biscuit, and Palm, so you can see my female role models aren't exactly the best to work off of. I don't know how to talk and flirt with a normal girl. So…do you think you can help me out?"
The silver-haired teen looked at Gon imploringly then, hoping that the other would actually believe him and help him out. This was the only way Killua could think of in helping him get over the other but still be able to remain by Gon's side.
When Killua told him he thought the drink was delicious, he was glad. Judging by the smile his friend wore now, the sugary cocktail achieved what the beast hunter had hoped for and brightened his companion's mood.
Gon held up his glass of water to show Killua that he actually had gotten something for himself, but the other still offered him some of his own drink. Since he had copied his friend in the morning and partook in a very sweet breakfast, he definitely had his fill for the day though. Contrary to his partner, Gon had lost a little of his sweet tooth as they grew older. He still liked it sometimes, but not in the same amounts as before. Also there was the health aspect, which always made him feel concerned about Killua.
"I'll stick to the water, thanks. That cocktail is all yours. Enjoy."
At least there was the fruit skewer in the glass that would provide his friend with some vitamins. He waited for Killua to take another sip, until he found the courage to ask what was on his mind.
"Are you still angry with me?" Gon asked softly then, looking his friend in the eyes to try and find the truth in them.
The other one apologized to him then and told him he wasn't angry anymore. Well, that was a relief. Still, no matter how he had raked his brain, Gon still didn't know for sure why Killua had been mad in the first place. Uncertain, he still looked into the other's sapphire orbs, wondering if he should ask or not. Sometimes Mito-san had explained what he had done wrong when he had asked, but at other times she had only got madder than before. How would Killua react if he asked?
Before he could decide on what to do, the transmuter explained on his own. The actual explanation stumped Gon, though. He just looked at Killua with his mouth half open, unsure on what to answer at first. As the other continued his explanation, he understood him somewhat better, but when Killua uttered his request, there was a sudden pain in his heart, and all he knew was that he definitely didn't want his best friend to go around and flirt with girls.
Gon looked at the other one sadly, then. "Why would you want that?" He asked.
Okay, he knew what men and women did when they were old enough and in love, but...but they weren't old enough! And Gon was trying to give Killua everything else he could want. Was his friend missing out on something?
"I know I did it, I flirted with that lifeguard but only because you told me to distract her! I can do it if we need it for work. Isn't that enough?"
Gon couldn't ask the question that really pained him, so this was as close as he could get to it. What was Killua missing? Why wasn't he enough?
When Gon answered, Killua could only stare at him in complete bafflement. What the hell was the other even talking about?
"Okay, first off, you could have done something different other than flirting with the lifeguard, but that's just being over-technical on my part," Killua started out, his voice filled with slight irritation because he didn't understand what Gon was getting at. "Secondly…what are you talking about? What does me learning about how to flirt with girls connect to you being able to flirt with them? I'm a little confused here, Gon. It sounds like you only flirt with girls as a means to a personal end for your job, not because you actually like to do it for the sake of learning about the girl…That kind of makes you a jerk, you know…"
Killua was so totally lost then. On the one hand, a part of him…started to feel hope again…but that's not what he wanted! The fact that Gon actually didn't like to flirt with girls didn't change the fact of their own status. He was Gon's friend, and only Gon's friend. He couldn't afford to feel hope just because Gon didn't…quite understand the true meaning behind flirting. He was just too much of a naïve guy it seemed.
"Look, there's another thing I want to bring up," Killua mentioned again after he was done listening to Gon's half-assed and just as confusing explanations. "Why did you sound so sad when I asked you for advice on how to talk to girls? Don't you want me to be happy? I mean…everyone says that the way to a complete personal happiness is to find a romantic partner that you want to be with for the rest of your life, right? How am I supposed to find that romantic partner if I can't even talk to a g-girl…" Killua choked the last part out. In truth, he thought girls were pretty, but he definitely wasn't interested in them for the sake of finding a romantic partner. Still, it was the only way he could effectively express his personal thoughts to Gon without telling him that he actually wanted Gon to be that romantic partner. That probably wouldn't go over so well.
"Not only that…" The silver-haired teen continued as he sent Gon a quizzical look. "…but haven't you tried to at least 'get' with a girl? I mean, not as a romantic partner, but as a sex partner? We are men after all, and men have certain sexual needs. I mean, just look at Leorio! How are we supposed to fulfill those sexual needs if we don't even try to get it from the opposite sex? You've seen some of the pornos I've watched, right?"
By this point in time, Killua knew that he was rambling, but he just couldn't help it. The words that were actually coming out of his mouth were upsetting him. He absolutely hated to think about Gon wanting to have sex with a woman. Hell, to have sex with anyone other than him! Even though the former assassin kept telling himself that he couldn't feel this way towards Gon anymore, it felt like the longer he tried to suppress it, the more he wanted the other. Why couldn't he just forget about the other and just try and go after a girl like he was talking about?! It would definitely make life easier in his case!
For some reason, Killua reproached him for the method of his distraction, but if it had been so wrong, then why was he trying to learn said method himself the next moment? Gon was confused and he just hated that state of being.
"You wanted a distraction and you got one! She never knew what happened and it's the easiest way I could think of! No one gets hurt! She even got a pricey drink out of it. So where's the harm?"
Next thing he knew, his friend was calling him a jerk for using his skill to achieve exactly what the other had asked of him in the first place. Now Gon's confusion turned into anger.
"Then that's exactly what I am, a jerk! I'm a stupid jerk for doing exactly what you wanted from me!" He shouted out heatedly not really wanting to face the question as to why he didn't want to teach Killua how to flirt with girls. But the other one wouldn't let it go at that.
His silver-haired friend wanted to know why he didn't want to teach him the skills to find a female mate. All Gon knew was that it made him furious to even think about Killua with a girl. There was no way he would help with that! The silver-haired teen was even describing the enhancer's own greatest fear as the dream he shared with every other man, namely, finding a mate for life. Gon felt a jealous fire consume him then.
He heard the rushing of his pumping blood in his ears, which was a very bad thing. If he hadn't been so consumed by his jealous rage right then, he might have gotten a very important hint to help him understand his friend's needs a little better. Instead, he only imagined Killua with a girl looking very much like the blond lifeguard, walking with her arm in arm and walking away from him and leaving him behind in the dust. That could never happen! It could just never happen!
"It's enough that I can do what we need to! I won't teach you! I don't care about what everyone says! You don't need a romantic partner! You've got me! You promised to stay with me forever and I won't let you leave! You will stay with me! We'll be hunters together forever!" An enraged Gon shouted at Killua, almost fuming from the ears.
There was no way he'd go and help his best friend in leaving him! Killua didn't need some stupid girl to make him happy. He would do that! He knew the other better than anyone else. He could make him laugh! He would make Killua happy even if it would kill him!
Killua knew Gon was furious with him even before he finished his little speech, but that was for his views on distracting the lifeguard. He didn't know what Gon was getting on for expecting him to flirt with the lifeguard, though, because he sure as hell knew that wasn't the case. He'd rather set fire to his hair before he'd ever want to see the other flirt with someone like that again.
When Killua was done speaking, though, he figured out that Gon was more than just furious over his nagging about the distraction. The young beast hunter also seemed infuriated at the notion of teaching Killua how to flirt with girls, and getting a romantic interest in general. The silver-haired teen's eyes widened exponentially as he heard Gon declare that he didn't need a romantic partner when he had him instead. Could…Could it be that…
In that split second, Killua could feel his hopes escalate with each word that left Gon's mouth. The other sounded so angry at the thought of losing him to someone else, and he sounded so possessive as well. Maybe…Maybe he had just missed the signs all along? Maybe Gon actually felt the same way for him as he did for the other?!
All of Killua's hopes were subsequently dashed the next moment, though, when Gon yelled directly into his face and told him that he'd keep his promise to him and that they'd be hunters together for the rest of their lives—hunters.
The pain Killua felt then was immeasurable. It felt like someone had slapped him across the face, punched him in the gut, and kicked him in the balls with a high powered Nen attack at the same time. All he could do was stare at Gon in complete and utter shock as the taller teen fumed across from him at their table.
It was then that the former assassin realized the meaning behind Gon's words. The other didn't care at all about what he personally wanted. All he cared about was selfishly keeping him to himself for his own purposes. That fact just hurt Killua even more. He knew Gon was selfish, but to think that he'd…be this way towards him concerning his own 'happiness'…was he just some object for the other to possess?!
"You bastard," Killua hissed out in fury then, his voice shaking as he bent his head low and hid his eyes behind his silvery bangs. "Are you saying that you don't care what I want because my priority should be to you?"
Killua didn't know if it was the fact that Gon was unreasonably angry at the moment or if he really believed what he was saying, but, in that next moment, he heard the beast hunter declare 'Yes' and the silver-haired teen could feel something in him snap.
In a split second, his head snapped up and he glared murderously at the black-haired teen across from him, Killua's sapphire eyes swirling with hurt and rage as he stood up abruptly, too, and slammed his hands down onto the table.
"You selfish fucking prick!" The former assassin practically screeched with rage. "You don't care about what I want at all! You're only concerned with your own needs! You'd just keep me by your side like a prisoner to our old promise and wouldn't care if I was unhappy or not! You're no better than my family!"
And, with that, Killua grabbed his drink and tossed the contents directly into Gon's face. As the enhancer was coughing and spluttering from the coconut drink, the young transmuter slammed his glass back down on the table, practically shattering it in the process, and hurriedly walked out of the bar. He didn't know where he was going, but he personally didn't care at the moment. All Killua cared about was finding a way to stop the intense pain he felt in his heart.
Across from him, wide sapphire orbs became fiery blue slits that gleamed at Gon furiously. The next moment Killua was hissing at him like a cat that had just been thrown into cold water as his gleaming blue eyes hid behind their hairy curtain. His friend asked him then if he didn't care about what he wanted, and Gon answered honestly that he didn't. Not in this case. It didn't matter what Killua said or felt right then, the enhancer knew he could make the other one happy in the long run and he would hold onto him until the other one would once more want to stay by his side of his own accord!
Once his answer was out, Gon understood that Killua wasn't too happy about it. Well, too bad for him! The young beast hunter was a bit taken aback, though, by the murderous intent he felt rolling off his friend and the death stare he received the next second. Gon actually flinched when the other sprang up and slammed his hands on the table.
Like a banshee-parrot, Killua screamed at him then. The cursing didn't faze the taller teen in the slightest, only when his silver-haired friend accused him of not caring about his happiness and compared him to his family, Gon felt shocked. Of course he cared about Killua's happiness! Before he could protest, though, his opened mouth was drowned in a wave of coconut sweetness as the blacklist hunter tossed his drink right into his face. Some of the drink splashed down his throat, making him cough and unable to call out to his leaving friend. Wiping the sticky concoction out of his face he tried to get his coughing under control at the same time, too, but once he could finally see again, Killua was gone.
His friend wasn't supposed to go! How could the other actually think he didn't care about him and his happiness?! Killua was his best friend and the most important person in his life. How could he not care?! But he wanted to be the person that made the transmuter happy. He knew he could do it, but not if Killua stopped talking to him and...and left him! Frantically, the spiky-haired teen turned his head from side to side then and looked out at the beach to find a hint as to where his friend had run off to.
Why? Why did everything have to hurt so much?
Killua couldn't stop thinking that single thought as he traveled along the beach. His gait had slowed to a walk, and he was barely noticing anything in front of him at that point in time. The former assassin's sapphire eyes were distant as conflicting thoughts warred inside him. He thought that he might have been a little too hard on Gon, that maybe he had misunderstood what the other was getting at, but every time he replayed their conversation he was continuously proven wrong. How else could he take Gon's words?! The other basically had the mindset to keep him beside him, even if he had to restrain him (okay, Gon hadn't said that, but Killua could tell by just the look in his eyes. He'd seen that look plenty of times on his mother's and Illumi's faces), and Killua was just sickened by the thought. Just thinking that Gon saw him as a mere object in that moment, a possession that only he could have, actually made the silver-haired teen contemplate if he was going to throw up if he continued to think about it. The very idea that Gon didn't see him as a person, but something for him to control…
The young transmuter could feel tears begin to pool behind his eyes. Shit! He couldn't cry again! What was up with him and the waterworks these last two days?! This so wasn't like him. With a hurried motion, Killua stopped and wiped his eyes with one of his arms. Once he was done, he just stared at the sun-bleached sand beneath his feet. He couldn't mentally afford to keep thinking that Gon was just like his family all along. That would mean that their friendship up to that point was a complete lie. Just the very idea of that made Killua want to go and drown himself in the ocean, so he tried to push it back to the very dark recesses of his mind for the sake of his own sanity. Maybe there really was an alternative way of thinking concerning Gon's words?
Well…if he actually thought about it, what if Gon actually did care for him, but his selfishness to keep him by his side outweighed his concern for his personal wishes and wants? It was only natural to want to keep your friend where you could interact with them. Killua was certain he'd probably react the same way as Gon if the other suggested going off to find a romantic interest. If that happened, that meant that he'd probably never share the same relationship with Gon again, because he'd hardly see the other. The thought of their friendship weakening over a more 'important' third party was beyond heartbreaking, and one idea that Killua had constantly thought of on a regular basis in concerns to his friend. So what wasn't to say that Gon had the same idea? That meant that the other…considered their friendship more important than a potential romantic mate…
But, at the same time, that would mean that he only saw Killua as a friend, which only hurt the young blacklist hunter even more. If he abided by Gon's wishes (in truth they were his wishes, too, but only on a deeper emotional level, obviously) then that meant he'd have to stay by Gon's side for the rest of his life while remaining completely celibate…
Killua felt his mind go completely blank at the thought and a shudder of trepidation run down his spine. With his current mindset and feelings for the other, he had no idea how remaining sexually abstinent in Gon's company would be feasible.
Of course…that was also to say if the silver-haired teen's thoughts concerning Gon's thoughts were actually correct. There was still the possibility that the other just thought of him as an object and would find a way to keep him by his side even if it killed him without regard to his personal feelings…
A scream of frustration left the former assassin's lips then, causing several people nearby to jump in fright and glance at him warily. Killua, meanwhile, just shook with aggravation as his confusion on the situation only worsened. At that point, he honestly didn't care anymore, and he just wanted to be by himself and as far away from Gon as possible. He just needed a change of scenery and some alone time to come to better terms with his feelings, and so that, when he eventually did see Gon again, he wouldn't kill the selfish bastard on sight.
Deeming that it was best for him to conceal his presence and leave, Killua entered Zetsu then (undoubtedly freaking out more people as he vanished before their eyes) and started making his way in the direction he thought he could exit the beach. It wasn't until he felt the key from the lifeguard (he had put it around his neck) bounce against his chest with each determined step that he realized he should really let Leorio and Kurapika out of the shell.
Seeing the shells in the distance then, Killua rushed over to the one he knew Leorio and Kurapika were in. By that point, he was so focused on getting off the beach that he didn't bother to check on his two older friends and their relationship progress after he unlocked the shell and dropped the now useless key on the ground (he personally didn't care if the lifeguard ever found it). With that done, Killua walked towards the end of the beach and into the hotel. Maybe he could find a spot somewhere within the city to calm himself down?
When Kurapika reassured him that he would promise to keep in touch when he safely could, Leorio could feel his worries wash away in that moment. And when he felt the other's hand squeeze his gently, as if to show him just how resolved he was to the promise he had just made, the young doctor felt his heart quickening at the feeling. In that moment, the determination in Kurapika's eyes captivated him. How someone could look so strong and so breathtakingly beautiful was beyond Leorio's realm of comprehension. How was it that he had never noticed this about Kurapika before?
Unable to answer his own mind's question, Leorio let a soft, endearing smile spread across his lips as he looked at the other gratefully, adoration twinkling in his eyes.
"Thank you, Kurapika. You have no idea how much that means to me," Leorio spoke affectionately then as he squeezed Kurapika's hand in turn. In that moment, he wanted to continue holding the Kurta's hand forever, to bring the other into a hug, to kiss those delicate-looking lips one more time, but he knew he couldn't. No matter how much his body and mind longed for that deeper connection with his friend, Leorio knew that he had to let go. It was hard, and not to mention heartbreaking on his part, since he had just realized that he had strong feelings for the other, but it was the only way to keep his friendship with Kurapika. The other could never love him as a romantic interest, but maybe, just maybe with this new planned future they had together, Leorio could forget about his romantic feelings for the Kurta and their friendship could truly be salvaged.
As he thought this, the young doctor didn't realize that his eyes had gradually filled with sadness as he continued to stare at his blond-haired friend. When he did realize it, he awkwardly let go of Kurapika's hand, looked away, and rubbed the back of his head. He didn't know what to say then when Kurapika asked him if he was alright, but whatever answer he would have had would have been cut off anyway in that next moment when the door to the shell structure opened, and blinding sunlight poured in.
"Ah!" Leorio called out in surprise and slight pain as he covered his eyes. He had been so used to the dim lighting that having the light increase on him so suddenly actually hurt.
When the emission user could get his bearings again, he saw Kurapika make a mad dash for the exit, so Leorio followed suit. He realized then that scrambling out of the shell was probably the best option in the long run, because he definitely didn't want to get stuck in there again!
Once the two of them were safely outside, Leorio breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Man, I'm so glad that we're out of there! It was actually starting to get hot!" The young doctor exclaimed then, wondering if the shell had actually started to become warmer or if he had been the one to get warmer because of his close proximity to Kurapika.
Deciding that it was best not to dwell on the thought, Leorio glanced around then. It was obvious that Killua (who had more than likely locked them in the shell in the first place) would be around, but the former Zoldyck assassin was nowhere to be seen.
"Man, where's Killua? He doesn't actually think that hiding himself will work right?" Leorio whined out as he placed a hand up to his eyes and scanned the area. "I mean, it's obvious that he and Gon were the ones to lock us in. There's no way he can get out of a scolding."
Leorio purposefully ignored the fact that he would have had no idea that the kids were behind the shell incident if Kurapika hadn't mentioned their escapades to him a moment prior. That was just a minor technicality.
"Oh! I see Gon over there!" Leorio suddenly exclaimed then when he spotted the spiky-haired teen in the distance by some of the other shell structures. "Let's go, Kurapika!"
A warm and special smile lit up Leorio's face at his promise. No matter how much he tried to fight it, the Kurta melted at the sight. His outer appearance remained cool, but his insides were all heating up as his hand was squeezed back and Leorio told him how much it meant to him that they'd keep in touch this time. Kurapika felt sure that he had never before seen the other man look at someone in this way.
His heart was beating wildly in his chest then as he looked up into those captivating eyes. But as he looked on, their gaze somehow turned sad. They were in turn making him sad, too, as he wondered what Leorio was thinking about to have brought about the sudden change. When the doctor pulled his hand away from his own, next, Kurapika knew it must have something to do with him. Had...had the other felt his fast beating heart in their touch? Was he suspecting something now?
Before his racing mind could get overwhelmed by doubt, their dark cage was suddenly flooded by light. The door was opened and the incoming light was hurting their eyes, since they had become used to the darkness. Ignoring the pain and concentrating on the shapes that were hard to make out in all the white light then, Kurapika was up and running out of the shell the next second. On the one hand, they couldn't be sure the door would stay open once Gon and Killua had 'checked up on them' and found them not in the position they had hoped for, but on the other hand, any excuse to escape the current situation and his newly sprouting doubts was welcome.
"Yes...we're lucky to have gotten out now," Kurapika agreed. He had felt hot, but not so much from the sun burning down on and heating up the shell structure. It was more from Leorio's words and even his mere presence.
Leorio began looking for Killua then, which was a good thing. The search for that little brat was a good diversion and a way to vent some steam that had built up in the Kurta.
"No, hiding won't help him now. We should make him understand once and for all that his little games won't lead anywhere and only piss us of royally," he growled then.
Before he could follow suit in looking for the little brats, Leorio announced that he had found Gon. Well, where one of them was, the other was never too far away.
"Yeah, let's go and get them."
Gon's jealous fury had long since been replaced by concern and even fear as he looked and felt but could not detect Killua anywhere on the beach. He had even stooped to trying to sniff out his friend, but the only thing he could smell at the moment was sweet coconut.
Was Killua actually furious enough at him to leave him? The other one had compared him to his family. Was he as mean as Illumi? As devious as Silva? As possessive as Kikyo? He felt bad even thinking about it. He wanted to keep Killua to himself, but...but not at the cost of the other's happiness. He wanted Killua to be happy! But he wanted him to be happy with him! Did the Zoldyk's feel the same way? No...no they didn't. They didn't care about happiness at all. To them it was a useless feeling, and all feelings were unnecessary for their work.
Gon needed to find Killua to talk to him, to explain to him that he did in fact care! After all, they were best friends. How could he not care?! As his thoughts turned around in the same cycle again and again, he felt his head overheat and his ears begin to fume.
As he contemplated diving into the ocean to wash off the coconut cocktail to maybe be able to get a whiff of Killua, Leorio and Kurapika suddenly appeared before him.
"You! Where's your partner in crime?" The Kurta shouted out, looking around the vicinity.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were locked up? Then...then Killua must have freed you!" Gon exclaimed and tried to run off to the shells to see if he could get a hint there, but he was held up by Kurapika then.
"Where do you think you're going?" The Kurta demanded.
"I need to find Killua!" An almost frantic Gon answered. "He got it all wrong and then he ran off and I need to find him. Let go of me!" The beast hunter looked beseechingly at the blond as he pulled in the direction of the shells.
He breathed a sigh of relief when Kurapika let go of him and made a mad dash for the shell structures in hopes to find a hint of where Killua had run off to, leaving Kurapika and Leorio to look at each other in confusion.
All he could do was stare at Kurapika with confusion and worry on his face after Gon left them.
This…did not sound good at all.
"I guess you weren't kidding when you said that Killua and Gon were having troubles," Leorio stated as he shifted his gaze back to Gon's retreating form. The spiky-haired teen was actually looking frantically around the shell structures, like if he didn't find Killua soon, he'd lose everything. "In truth, I thought Killua looked a little off this morning, but I forgot about all of that once he decided to pull his prank in the water, you know?"
The young doctor felt pity consume him then. He kind of knew how Killua probably felt in that moment. If he was upset because of his feelings for Gon, and that the person he had a crush on acted or said things that didn't agree with his feelings, Leorio wasn't surprised that Killua wouldn't want to be around his crush anymore at the moment. Leorio knew that he wouldn't want to if he was in the same situation.
"I actually feel kind of bad for Killua," Leorio mumbled out sheepishly then, the worry never leaving his eyes. "It must be hard to have feelings for another person and not being able to get those feelings across correctly. I mean, he still deserves a talking to, but…maybe we shouldn't be too hard on him, Kurapika?" The young doctor glanced at his smaller companion then. "For all we know, he could be close to the breaking point, and I really don't want to be there when Killua snaps…"
He heard Kurapika agree with him then, which the doctor was thankful for. He really didn't want to piss Killua off to the point he'd have a mental breakdown after all.
"Okay, so how about we go and get Gon and try to calm him down," Leorio suggested then. "It's probably best to give Killua some space anyway, so that he can calm down from whatever is upsetting him."
With his Kurta friend in agreement again, Leorio and Kurapika made their way over to Gon. The taller man didn't know how, but they were somehow able to calm down their frantic friend enough to get him inside. From there they spent the rest of the day hanging out inside the hotel. Leorio and Kurapika took Gon to the weight-lifting room inside the hotel in order to keep Gon's body busy so that he wouldn't go nuts waiting for Killua to come back, and they even swam in the ocean again closer towards evening. When it got dark out, and late, the three of them retired to their rooms, hoping that Killua would come back soon while they were sleeping.
For the rest of the day, Killua walked around the city, and went into stores to see if he could buy anything as a distraction. After a few hours of this pointless searching and realizing that he actually was too depressed to even want to buy sweets, the former assassin decided to go into a nearby park. He climbed a very tall tree and sat on the tallest branch that would support him then. There he remained for the rest of the day until evening fell. During that time, he thought about his current relationship with Gon again, and what the other could have possibly meant by his words. In the end, Killua decided to believe that Gon's anger was effecting his judgment for most of their conversation, so he really couldn't take the other's words too much to heart. Still, that didn't mean that his personal relationship with Gon would change from what it was. Killua knew that, if he wanted to remain by Gon's side for the rest of his life, he'd have to come to terms with the fact that they'd remain friends through all of that time. Because of that, he really had to stop thinking about Gon as a potential, romantic mate, he had to stop fantasizing about the other, and he had to forget about any romantic connotation in concerns to the other in general. Knowing that he had to forget about his feelings meant that the silver-haired teen was faced with a dilemma, though. What could he do to forget about his feelings for Gon?
Killua thought about this until the sun set, and the evening grew late and chilly. In the end, he could only come up with two possible solutions to his problem. Either he'd have to find a way to ignore Gon the best he could while in his presence, or…he'd have to leave for an indefinite period of time. There were no other solutions.
Seeing as the silver-haired teen didn't actually want to leave Gon's side (he wasn't interested in finding a romantic partner if it wasn't Gon, so he was just upset that Gon didn't want him to find a romantic partner, even if that would make him happy in the end), he opted to continue trying out ignoring his feelings while in the other's presence. Sure, it hadn't worked so far, but it had only been one day. And, since he was still angry with the other, Killua was willing to use that excuse so that he actually could ignore the other better…if only for a little while, at least.
With that thought in mind, Killua made his way back to the hotel. He wouldn't have been surprised if his friends were sleeping by that point, especially if Gon was actually still mad at him. If the beast hunter wasn't angry with him, though, the young transmuter expected the other to be up and waiting for him, so, as soon as he entered that door, he would have a very good idea about the situation at hand.
Sure enough, as soon as Killua entered the room, he noticed that the lights were on, and Gon was doing stretches on the floor. The silver-haired teen felt a pang in his heart at the sight. It was obvious that Gon had been so anxious about him that he had resorted to constant physical activity just to keep himself patient. In truth, Gon looked pretty tired by that point, worn and weary, but Killua did his best to ignore the slight guilt he felt in that moment as a worried Gon started asking if he was okay and started apologizing up a storm.
"Look, Gon, I really don't want to talk right now," Killua answered gruffly, trying to act like he was still angry with the other in hopes of buying himself some time to cope with giving up his feelings. "Just go to bed."
With that said, Killua went over to one of the plushy chairs and curled up in it. He had been trained to sleep anywhere possible as a child, so he knew that falling asleep wouldn't be a problem (at least the chair was comfier than the floor). He also felt guilty for making Gon worry and for obviously taking his words the wrong way, so he decided to sleep in the chair to give the other the bed. When Killua glanced over towards Gon again, though, he noticed that the other was laying on the ground, as if on purpose.
"Idiot, I'm giving you the bed, so sleep in it!" Killua huffed out angrily at the sight.
To the blacklist hunter's surprise, Gon outright refused him, saying that he wasn't going to sleep in the bed if he wasn't, because that wouldn't be fair, or something stupid like that.
"I'm not going to sleep in the same bed as you! I'm angry with you, you idiot!" Killua shouted out in aggravation then, although he could feel a light blush come over his cheeks. Damn, he felt touched by Gon's concern. This wasn't working at all!
Not knowing what to do anymore, Killua just turned his back on his friend and tried to make himself comfortable in the chair with that position. Why did Gon have to always ruin his plans?!