A/N: Hi there! As usual, we want to thank anyone who took the time to review. We're always happy to hear your thoughts. Thanks also to the one's faving and following us, of course.
This is chapter 12 already and things are moving even more. We know, you guys are thinking about murdering us by now XD You just need to hold out a little longer, we're closing in on the end of the story (This goes out to Angelheart3253 especially: Don't die yet, just wait a little longer ;D). When we left off, Leorio and Kurapika were finally on good terms, while Killua and Gon had a major fight leaving them at odds when they headed to bed. This time it's Killua who comes up with a plan to reconcile his friends, though things will turn out very differently from what he had in mind. Have fun! (trying to come up with plans to kill us can be fun, too, I guess XDDD)
Chapter 12
When Kurapika woke up the next morning he blinked at the warm light flooding their room and yawned. Usually, he stood up right after he woke up but this was his vacation and he allowed himself to be a little more lazy. Yawning, he stretched languorously and then drew the covers around him tightly again, relishing in the warmth of the bed for a little longer.
He wasn't too sure if it had been his movements or whether it happened on its own, but Leorio stirred next to him, too.
"Good morning," he said softly and smiled at the sleepy, dark eyes that peered at him from beneath the covers that the doctor had pulled over his head.
A soft chuckle escaped the blond Kurta at the grumble that answered him. Obviously, Leorio wasn't a morning person.
"We've got time today, there was nothing planned. We can stay in bed a little longer or you could even sleep some more," he offered but the doctor declined then as he pushed the covers over his head down to his neck.
"Nah, it's enough to know I don't have to get up right away," Leorio grumbled in a low voice that sent a shiver down the conjurer's spine.
"Yes, that is nice, isn't it? I think, that is the true vacation feeling," Kurapika agreed as he turned onto his side to fully face Leorio.
The taller man stretched as well before he turned around to him, propped up on one elbow. The Kurta had closed his eyes to avoid enjoying the view too much. For their friendship to grow, he had to vanquish his lustful feelings towards the doctor. Casting around for something to distract him from the path his thoughts were trying to wander along, he voiced the next thing that came to mind.
"I wonder if the boys made up yesterday. Gon was very upset. I really hope they can resolve their problems."
For a moment his eyes went out of focus as he thought about something Leorio had said yesterday, how hard it was to feel for someone, but not being able to get those feelings across to the other. At least that was better than knowing for sure that his feelings were not returned, like in his case...
"Do you really think they feel the same, only Killua can't make Gon understand?"
If that really was the boys' only problem, Kurapika felt like they should help them out. No matter what Killua thought, he was too young to play match maker, and had chosen the wrong pair. Kurapika was much more mature and wise, and definitely the better person for the job. While his own wishes were doomed, he at least would like to help make his friends happy.
Leorio was sleeping peacefully, barely on the cusp of consciousness in the little cocoon of blankets he had made for himself. When he felt movement beside him, though, the young doctor stirred into wakefulness. Peeking out slightly from the covers around his head, he was greeted with the cutest smile and a gentle voice courtesy of Kurapika.
It took all of Leorio's willpower to not jump the other.
The emission user just groaned and grumbled out something unintelligible due to his frustration with his feelings and the fact that he was still tired since it was probably a bit early. At least he was still too tired to move too much, or else he probably would have jumped Kurapika unconsciously. The Kurta was finally talking to him in a friendly manner, so, if he had done that, there was a one hundred percent guarantee that Leorio would have screwed up their friendship again.
Hearing his blond friend say that he could sleep a little longer if he wanted then, Leorio just grumbled out a 'No' and pulled his head out from under the covers, telling his friend that he was glad he could just laze around at the moment.
"Ugh…I think this is the first time I've actually felt like I was on a vacation," Leorio answered in response to his friend's comment. "There was always a plan to do something, so we'd always get up early, and stay out late, and then there'd be drama…ngggh…" The doctor groaned out as he began to stretch. "This is the first time we haven't had any idea on what to do for today, so we can actually stay in bed for a while."
Chuckling at his last comment, the taller man propped himself onto his elbow as he turned to fully face the other. He suddenly felt a little exposed, knowing that he hadn't slept with a shirt on last night, but he tried to ignore that feeling. It wasn't like Kurapika was going to be bothered by it, especially after what he said yesterday, but the thought that he was laying with the other in a bed while he was half-dressed was starting to get to him a little bit…and his libido…
Thankfully, before Leorio could get too carried away, Kurapika asked him a question. The rookie hunter was immediately brought back to the problem at present (there always had to be drama, right?).
"Yeah, I hope that he came back last night, and that everything is resolved…but…" Leorio began to answer as a nagging feeling kept popping up in his head. "…I don't know…the way that Killua was acting yesterday before he started to play pranks on us…he seemed…really sad."
Just as he finished speaking, Kurapika asked him another question. Leorio lay back onto his back again, his head facing up towards the ceiling as he started to mull the question over in his head.
"It's hard to say from my point of view…" Leorio started out slowly as he continued to think about the problem at hand. "On the one hand, I can understand Gon not understanding what Killua is trying to get at towards his feelings…or for Gon to understand his own, probably. I don't think he's ever been in love, so he wouldn't know what the feeling was unless someone told him outright, I think. To me, the way he was searching yesterday for Killua only proves how much he cares for him. Gon was acting like his world was ending…"
The young doctor let that thought sink in for a moment before he continued.
"What I don't understand, though…is Killua. He should know better than anyone else on how to talk to Gon…and yet, he can't get his feelings across to him. Why is that? Is it because 'love' is a concept he fully doesn't understand, either? I wouldn't be surprised from his background. Or maybe he's afraid, so he's torn on what to do? It's really hard to say on what's going on since…well…I haven't been focusing too much on the boys at all…It's mainly been on you…."
Leorio couldn't stop the blush that invaded his cheeks then once his tired brain finally realized what he had just said. Hopefully Kurapika wouldn't get the wrong idea and think he was creepy.
"I-I mean…with our rocky friendship and all…" Leorio quickly stuttered out as an excuse as he purposefully avoided eye contact with the other now. "The only times I've really noticed something between the kids was that time at the amusement park….maybe a little of that night we played truth or dare…and then yesterday morning. Killua looked so…troubled…I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually towards his breaking point by now. You said that he was probably trying to get us together because he was projecting his own frustrations onto us…and maybe that's because he doesn't know how to handle his feelings? Maybe he really doesn't understand how to tell Gon?"
With that, the young doctor finally turned towards his friend again, a look of curiosity on his face.
"What do you think, Kurapika?"
While he watched, Leorio turned onto his back again and looked up at the ceiling as he seemed to contemplate his answer. Now that the other man wasn't looking at him, Kurapika just couldn't stop his gaze from roaming the other's broad chest. He knew only too well that he shouldn't do it, but the well-defined muscles and the little, dark curls on the other's chest were just too alluring.
Still he somehow managed to concentrate enough to listen to what the doctor had to say on the matter of their younger friends' relationship. Kurapika agreed as far as Gon was concerned, that the boy most likely had no real label for his feelings, but that the frantic way he had searched for Killua yesterday was enough for everyone else to know what that feeling was. As far as Killua was concerned, Kurapika had a very good idea why the boy wouldn't come right out and say what he felt. Most likely it was the same reason why he kept his mouth shut himself. If his friend didn't feel the same way, their relationship could become ruined. To Killua, that must seem like the end of the world to him, since he only ever was around Gon. No matter what they had experienced together, Kurapika wasn't delusional enough to believe he'd still be in contact with Killua if it wasn't for Gon. To the ex-assassin, his world outside of his family most likely revolved around Gon and only him.
When Leorio explained that he hadn't watched Gon and Killua too much since his attention was mostly on him, it made Kurapika stop in his mental tracks. His eyes widened slightly. Could it be...? He felt hope well up inside of him for the other one to finally see him in a different light, but, of course, the foolish feeling was crushed instantly the next second. Of course it was only on their shaky friendship that the doctor had been concentrating on and nothing more. Kurapika hated himself for falling into another emotional trap so easily. He was making life harder on himself, he knew that.
Leorio asked him of his own opinion then as his gaze turned back to him. This time it was the blond that took this opportunity to turn onto his back and look up at the ceiling. Looking into Leorio's chocolate eyes only made it harder to concentrate and would further confuse his already warring feelings.
"I feel that the two do have romantic feelings towards each other, and that they both have their reasons for either not understanding them, or keeping them to themselves. I guess we both agree that Gon just doesn't know what to call the things he is feeling for Killua. Like you said, I don't think he's ever been in love before, and with his family background it's not like he'd know what a loving couple would look like. But for Killua I'm sure he knows what he's feeling and what he wants, but he's terrified of what would happen if Gon didn't feel the same, so he can't come out and say it. Think about it. What would be left for him if he lost Gon? Where would he go? The only place for him would be with his family, and as far as I know him, that's the last place he'd want to go. So my guess is that they never talked, and without things being spelled out for him, Gon will never know what's going on."
Feeling like he had himself back under control, Kurapika turned his head and finally looked at Leorio again.
"I think those two need help. Like a push in the right direction. Killua's stupid games couldn't work for us, of course, but I think for them it could work. But first we need to make sure they're back on speaking terms," he uttered his own thoughts on the matter. "Hmm, maybe we should invite them to some activity... I think something physical would be the best. Those two need to let off some steam. Maybe that will help clear their heads, too..."
Kurapika was thinking about what they could do. Once the boys were back to normal and felt more at ease around each other, maybe they would talk, or he would sit down with them and make them talk. It was ridiculous, really. The two were obviously in love with each other but were losing precious time because of stupid reasons. His friends should become a happy couple at least, even if that same happy ending wasn't meant for him.
The young doctor's eyes grew sad as Kurapika started explaining his thoughts in concern to Gon and Killua. Leorio knew that his blond friend was right. Killua had so much to lose if he told his feelings to Gon lightly, and that was the major problem at the moment. For some reason, Killua couldn't interpret Gon's actions as romantic, and Gon didn't understand that his actions were romantic, which was causing all this drama. The both of them were completely missing the obvious.
When Kurapika brought up the idea of helping the two of them by getting them to do something physical together, Leorio couldn't stop the teasing smile that spread across his face.
"So you're going to be the matchmaker this time, huh, Kurapika?" The taller man laughed out in amusement. "Oh how the tables have turned now!"
Leorio laughed harder once he saw the Kurta playfully roll his eyes at him. It felt so nice to be able to tease the other and just have Kurapika not take offense to it. Hell, it felt just as great to be close to the other and talking so…intimately together. This was probably the closest he'd ever get to Kurapika in a non-romantic way, and, even though it didn't feel like enough to Leorio, at the same time, it was enough. If this was all that he could have, he'd take that over nothing any day.
"Anyway, as for something to get the kids to vent their frustrations on, I think I have an idea for you," Leorio offered then with an air of confidence. "In my country the best and easiest sport to play was football. It's called soccer in other countries in case you didn't know that. Anyway, I played that practically every day when I was living on the streets. It was…a nice way to forget about my problems…if just for a moment."
Leorio grew somber then as memories of his childhood flashed before his eyes. He quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts, though. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of unhappy memories.
"Anyway, I bet the hotel here has a ball you could borrow. You should take the kids to a nearby park somewhere. I'm sure if you make them team up against you or something that they'd forget about their problems with each other and maybe something else will happen between them, too."
"Me? But aren't you coming along?" Kurapika asked him as he stared at him in confusion.
Leorio just laughed at that.
"No, I don't think I want to tempt Killua," the emission user explained to his blond friend in amusement. "If the both of us are there, Killua might push his frustrations onto us again instead of trying to cope with his own problem. If it's just you and Gon, he'd have no choice but to focus on Gon, right? So I think you should be the only person to go," Leorio stated as he playfully tapped Kurapika on the nose with a pointer finger. "Besides, you have more patience when Killua is involved. I'd probably end up trying to strangle him before we'd even start playing, hehehe."
With a smile Leorio started to tease him for his idea. When he laughed, it was in a heartfelt and warm way that made the mattress shake slightly. It had been a long, long time since the two of them had been this easy-going around each other and it felt good. Kurapika just rolled his eyes.
"I'm much better at it than they are, for sure," he scoffed with a little smirk.
A moment later Leorio came up with the idea for the game that he thought best for Killua and Gon. When he called it by its second name 'soccer', the Kurta actually knew which one it was. One of the men he had worked for had been into it and watched it like a fanatic. For Leorio it seemed to bring some darker memories with it if the look in his eyes and the way he shook his head then was anything to go by. Kurapika acted like he didn't notice. On the one hand, of course he wanted to know more about his friend's past, but on the other he knew how painful it could be, and that prying wasn't the right way to go about it if he wanted to learn more. Maybe some night, when they were alone and some alcohol was around, Leorio would tell him of his own accord.
Leorio thought the hotel might have a ball to borrow for their game. He even told him were to go to play. This was when Kurapika realized the doctor planned not to come along. Why was he to bear the little brats alone? When Leorio explained to him, though, why it was best the Kurta went alone, he actually couldn't defy the other one's logic for once. Damn.
"This isn't fair," Kurapika grumbled and pulled the covers up over his head again. "Why did I have to come up with that stupid idea...?" His muffled voice sounded from underneath the fabrics.
Next to him, Leorio chuckled, supposedly over his childish reaction. Kurapika didn't mind. He liked to hear the other happy and relaxed like that. Coming up again from his hiding place, he looked at the other man once more.
"And what do you plan on doing? Can we at least try to have a peaceful breakfast for two before I throw myself to the lions?"
The doctor laughed even more at this comment but easily agreed to the request. Slowly but surely the two of them got up and got ready for the day, allowing themselves to eat their breakfast without the two boys and taking their time with it. Kurapika was surprised how nice it felt just to share something as mundane with the other man as a simple breakfast.
Kurapika's reaction was just priceless to the doctor. The Kurta pulled the covers over his head as he whined about the unfairness of the situation he just got himself into. Leorio just laughed at the other's childish antics as an endearing smile spread across his face. Kurapika was just the cutest.
When his blond friend finally showed his face again, it seriously took all of the taller man's self-control to not reach forward and touch the other, to ruffle his hair, or bring him into a hug. The other's soft voice, and his relaxed and childish actions practically overwhelmed Leorio in that moment, but he somehow found the ability to laugh at the Kurta's next comment anyway.
"I don't know, but maybe I'll go into town or something and find something to do," Leorio answered then as he tried to distract himself from the overwhelming feelings he was experiencing in that moment. "How about you call me when you're done playing with the lions?"
Leorio laughed again at his last comment before he sent the other a playful wink.
"So, since I'm making you do all the dirty work, the least I can do is treat you to breakfast. What do you want?"
From there, Kurapika and him took their time in getting out of bed and ordering their room service. It felt so nice to experience a peaceful, mundane event with the other, that Leorio could feel himself falling in love with Kurapika all over again as the Kurta sat across from him and made small talk while they ate. It was getting to the point, though, that Leorio wished he had never realized his feelings for the other to begin with, because the heartache he felt only increased with each minute spent in the other's presence as well.
When they were done with breakfast, Kurapika got ready and went to go get a ball from the reception desk. The doctor bid him goodbye and decided to get ready himself. With his sunglasses, another tropical shirt, and some long shorts donned, the confused emission user made his way down to the lobby and out onto the streets. He wondered where the nearest bar was. It wasn't like he was going to get completely drunk early in the morning, but a little alcohol in his system actually might take the edge off of his woes for the moment.
With an idea in mind, Leorio started wandering the streets.
Gon woke up again and looked up at his best friend curled up on the chair he had chosen for himself last night. Although they had learned how to sleep sitting up from Biscuit, the position Killua was in now still looked super uncomfortable to the young beast hunter. At least the warm blanket he had wrapped around his friend sometime in the night was still there.
He had had a hard time falling asleep with Killua still mad at him. Gon didn't know how things would turn out between them, and that had kept him awake for most of the night. Of course it wasn't the first time Killua had been mad at him. Usually, though, they talked and made up, but this time around the other had refused to talk to him and didn't sleep next to him, which had never happened before. For the first time, Gon even felt the unshakable fear that Killua might be mad enough to up and leave sometime during the night. The young beast hunter just didn't know what to think anymore. His concerns and fears had kept him awake for most of the night, and in a state of uneasy half-sleep for the rest of it.
As silently as possible, he sat up on the floor where he had slept, and pulled up his knees. His arms wrapped around said knees and he rested his chin upon them as he looked up and watched his best friend in his sleep. Were they even best friends anymore? He knew that what he had said yesterday was pretty selfish in a way, but...but he couldn't help himself. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't imagine a life without the other one by his side. And that's what they had promised each other, too! He just could not let the other go. Killua was not only his friend, he was a part of his life, a part of him.
When Killua woke up to bright sunlight hitting his eyes, he groaned in irritation. He snuggled his face into the backrest of the chair he was sleeping in and tightened the blanket he had around himself more…
…Wait…he hadn't had a blanket last night.
The former assassin stiffened in the chair, his tired mind waking up fully then to comprehend what had happened. Gon had placed the blanket around him last night; that was the only logical conclusion.
Almost immediately, Killua was hit with mixed emotions. He wanted to throw the damn blanket onto the ground in frustration, but he also wanted to never let go of it. It was a sign that Gon truly cared about him, and the silver-haired teen was surprised with himself on how…desperate he actually was to know that. Sure, he had figured it out last night with Gon's appearance, but for the other to actually show concern so soon after their fight…
'Damn it, Gon…why is it so hard not to love you…' Killua cursed in his mind as he wrapped the blanket around him as tight as it would go. 'You're ruining all my plans, you idiot! I'm supposed to fall out of love with you, not even more so!"
Feeling beyond frustrated by that point and close to breaking down yet again from the utter hopelessness he felt, Killua felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. During this whole time, Gon had been watching him.
"Would you stop staring at me like that," Killua grumbled out in irritation as he continued to keep his back to the other, his voice coming out as sounding more depressed than anything else. "You're annoying me."
Killua's sleepy face rubbed against the soft backrest of the chair as the his hands tightened the blanket around his strong body that, to Gon, still looked so fragile in sleep. Gon pressed his lips together. For some odd reason, he felt the urge to protect the sleeping form, although he knew that Killua was well able to protect himself, even when he was fast asleep, because he was a well-trained assassin and could snap out of the deepest sleep in a split second if he felt any form of threat. But still...
A gasp escaped him when Killua suddenly spoke up and rebuked him for watching him in his sleep. Gon felt a blush coming on and dropped his gaze to the ground. Somehow he felt like he had been caught red handed with his hand way down in the cookie jar.
"Ah...I'm sorry, Killua! I...I didn't want to disturb your sleep or anything. I just...I was..."
Gon trailed off then, uncertain on how to answer exactly. He didn't even know himself why he had watched the other as intensely as he had. It wasn't like he had to fear his friend might fall out of the chair or anything. Killua's balance was perfect, even in his sleep. More than likely his companion would be able to even sleep balancing on a thin wire if there was a wall against which to rest his back.
Instead of trying to find an answer as to why he had watched his friend in the first place, Gon was more concerned with something else; with the reason they were in these positions at all. That was why he plowed ahead.
"Since you're awake now anyway, can we talk? Are you still angry with me? I did apologize, didn't I? I'll do it again if that's what you want, but you have to talk to me."
The young beast hunter demanded the attention of his friend and he demanded his forgiveness. He couldn't go on like last night. He hated fighting with Killua. It just had to stop right now.
Killua just scoffed again at Gon's reply to him, even though he felt a twinge of guilt at the hurt and worry in the other's voice.
"There's nothing more to talk about," the former assassin mumbled out in exhaustion and sadness. "I'm not angry with you anymore either, just frustrated."
He heard Gon start to ask him what he was frustrated about, but Killua knew that he could never answer that without revealing his secret. With no options left to him at the moment, and feeling too depressed to do anything else, Killua just took part of his blanket and covered the top of his head with it before wrapping the fabric around his body again.
"Shut up, Gon. I don't want to talk, right now, so just leave me alone…" Killua growled out in irritation. Why couldn't the other just give him space? That's what he wanted at the moment.
Even though Killua told him that he wasn't angry anymore, Gon couldn't quite believe that. If that was so, why wouldn't the other one talk to him? And why was the other frustrated? Gon couldn't understand. He had apologized and he had offered to do so again. Wasn't that enough?
"Why are you frustrated? What's bothering you? Tell me. Tell me and I'll do my best to make it better," he offered eagerly.
Instead of answering him and helping him in resolving their problems, which he still didn't even understand, Killua just told him to shut up and leave him be. Gon's heart clenched at these words.
His friend was hiding underneath the blanket he had wrapped around him during the night, and didn't even look at him as he sat there, hurt and concerned. He was worried about Killua and their friendship. If he didn't know what was wrong, if Killua didn't tell him, how was he supposed to make it better?! And if he actually left to give Killua some room like the other one wanted, would he even still be there when he came back? It was a true and deep fear that gripped the beast hunter. It was why he had stayed up almost the whole night. He was unable to take that risk.
With one last, frustrated and hurt look at his friend, he turned around, chose some fresh clothes from his bag and went into the bathroom. Maybe a hot bath would help him relax a little of the fearful tension that was riddling him, and maybe that would be enough distance between them for Killua to be satisfied.
Even while he tried to relax and think about what it was that he had done so terribly wrong though, a part of him was always scanning for Killlua's aura, making sure the other one wouldn't try to use his momentary absence to escape him.
Just when Gon was done bathing and wondering if he was allowed to be around the other again, there was a knock at their door. Pulling over his shirt in a rush, Gon ran to answer it. To his surprise, Kurapika was outside with a ball under his arm.
"Good morning!"
The blond hunter stepped inside with a bright expression and looked from him to Killua.
"I wanted to invite the two of you to a ball game. How about it?"
Killua was more than thankful when Gon actually heeded his words and went into the bathroom the next moment. The former assassin just curled into himself a little more and tried to talk himself into being even more distant from Gon while in the other's presence. It was hard to do since the guilt he felt at the moment was threatening to overwhelm him, but Killua was desperate enough to keep going. If he couldn't find a way to get rid of his feelings while around his best friend then…he'd have to leave Gon…and that was something that Killua didn't want to do.
It seemed like only a few seconds went by before there was a knock on their room door. Killua was wondering if he should be bothered to go check when Gon burst out of the bathroom (thankfully fully dressed) and answered the door for him. Beyond the threshold stood Kurapika, who had a ball under his arm. The Kurta was all smiles that morning, which gave Killua some very mixed feelings. On the one hand, maybe the other was happy because things were going better with Leorio (which was very good!), but, on the other hand, Killua just wanted to slap Kurapika in the face for being happy because he couldn't be happy alongside him.
When Kurapika asked them if they wanted to go and play a game of soccer, Killua just turned away from the Kurta and curled into the cocoon he made for himself again.
"I'll pass," the silver-haired teen stated simply. There was no way he was going to play a game if Gon was going to be involved. That was just a recipe for disaster!
Only a moment after entering, Kurapika knew that the two boys were still at odds. The air in the room was thick with tension. So his intervention was even more needed than what he had already expected. Gon was still exuding concern out of every pore, while Killua seemed to block out every attempt at socializing.
Knowing he had his work cut out for him, Kurapika forced the smile to stay on his face. His fellow blacklist hunter immediately declined the offer to play along. Obviously, Gon's full attention was focused on Killua, which meant that if he didn't get the silver haired boy to come, the beast hunter wouldn't come either. In the end, this fact didn't even matter, since for his plans to work out, it was essential for both boys to join the game anyway.
"Don't be a spoil sport, Killua. I'll even give you guys a handicap. The two of you can play against me. That is, if you dare. I still got a score to settle with the two of you. I know what you did yesterday, so I'm not planning on holding back at all," he lured the unwilling younger hunter.
Kurapika let the ball drop from his hold then, kicking it up with his knee and then alternating between knees and feet while keeping the ball expertly in the air.
"Are you too chicken to play?" He teased next as the sound of the ball being hit and kicked filled the room.
Even though Gon wasn't saying anything and waiting on his friend's answer, he still looked hopefully at Kurapika.
Kurapika's words annoyed the former assassin, especially on how he toyed with the ball around his feet as if to mock him with his skills, but he wasn't going to fall for the blond's trap. The Kurta had specifically said that he was going to pay him back for yesterday, so that only made him even more wary.
"I'm not too chicken to play," Killua growled out, but he didn't bother in facing his two friends. He was perfectly fine where he sat. "I'm pretty sure I could take both you and Gon on all by myself, but I just don't feel like playing."
Even though Gon had hoped that Kurapika's idea for a game would get his friend into motion, he had kept his mouth shut for the moment, unsure whether his own enthusiasm might actually be a reason for Killua to decline taking part. Gon's caution actually was unnecessary, though, because the other outright refused to play along.
Kurapika's teasing challenge didn't help matters either, which dismayed the beast hunter even more. This really wasn't like Killua. Usually the other one would jump at a simple tease like calling him 'chicken', but today nothing seemed to get the silver-haired hunter out of his bad mood.
Concerned, Gon looked at Kurapika, who shrugged his shoulders then. Maybe he needed to rile his friend up himself. Maybe their own rivalry, that had been going on in a friendly way from the day they had met, could get his friend into motion.
"Pah! You couldn't beat me on your best day and certainly not today!" Gon tried, sounding pretty self-confident as he scoffed.
"Ffhhh, way too obvious. You guys go ahead and play your silly game and leave me alone," Killua huffed, even closing his eyes like he was ready to fall asleep again.
Gon became even more concerned with the disinterest his friend displayed. This really wasn't like him. Kurapika caught the ball he had been playing with then and looked at the spiky-haired hunter in a reassuring way. Did the Kurta have another plan, yet?
"Leave that little baby be, Gon. I guess he needs his nappy. At least that's his poor excuse for not facing me in a fair fight, because he knows I'd whoop his little ass. At least you're man enough to face my wrath."
"Who're you calling a 'baby'?" Killua grumbled finally, turning his head to face them.
"You, little baby boy. You take your little nap, while us big boys head out to play," Kurapika answered with a measured amount of disdain. "Come on, Gon, let's go."
Uncertain, Gon looked at the Kurta, but decided to go with the act. He had just turned his back on Killua when they heard soft movement and the blacklist hunter was suddenly before them.
"I'll show you who's gonna get his ass whooped," the teen growled out in Kurapika's direction before he spared a withering stare for his beast-hunting friend.
Feeling like he deserved the cold shoulder, Gon looked down. Yet he was glad his friend would join the game. Hopefully the movement and the fresh air would make Killua become normal again.
"We'll give you five minutes to get ready," Kurapika allowed coolly and left the room with Gon in tow.
The baby names were beyond uncalled for in Killua's opinion, but they got to him in the end, despite his best effort to not listen to them. When he saw Kurapika walk away, and that Gon was following him, the silver-haired teen felt a stab at not only his pride but at his heart as well. Did Gon see him as a whiny little baby because of the way he was acting?
Beyond pissed by that point, Killua rushed ahead of Gon and Kurapika with ease and threatened them both as he accepted the match. To the former assassin's increasing frustration, Kurapika just responded coolly and left with Gon to give him some time to get ready. Shit! He had played into Kurapika's hands…but that didn't mean that the Kurta would get everything he wanted from this…whatever that actually was.
Determined to screw whatever plans his blond friend had in store for them, Killua quickly changed into a tank top and shorts (that's really all that he brought with him for the most part) and brushed his teeth in a rush before heading out the door. There Kurapika and Gon were waiting for him. Killua noticed how his best friend wasn't looking at him then, and he wasn't sure if he should feel relieved at the sight or angry because Gon might think he actually was acting pathetic.
"I'm ready, so let's go," Killua declared coldly then as Kurapika led the way to their destination. Along the way, the younger blacklist hunter noticed how Leorio wasn't anywhere to be seen. When he asked about this, Kurapika just responded that the doctor was running errands somewhere. Killua growled in annoyance at that. He guessed that he wouldn't be able to turn the tables on Kurapika so easily then if the old man wasn't there to distract him…That meant he had to come up with an alternative method.
After exiting the hotel and walking down a few blocks, the three of them arrived at a nearby park. From there, Kurapika seemed to be scanning the area for a place for them to play their football game to the fullest extent. After walking around for another few minutes beyond the path in the park, they came upon a clearing with enough space for them to play.
"So what exactly are the rules of the game?" Killua asked then in cold aloofness. "I'm still up for the kicking you and Gon's asses part if you're not too chicken."
Gon seemed edgy, and fidgeted around while they waited for Killua to get ready. Kurapika thought about trying to calm the boy down but didn't know what to say to the other to make things better. At least they didn't have to wait long, because the former assassin was keeping to the five minute limit.
While they made their way to the park, Gon and Killua barely spoke to each other. The beast hunter even avoided any eye contact between them. Although they didn't talk to each other, Killua asked him then about Leorio.
"Oh, he's out running some errands. I think he wanted to get some local delicacies before he returned to his hometown and couldn't get at them too easily."
At the park closest to their hotel, they looked for a place to play where they wouldn't disturb other guests. After a little while, they found the perfect spot that was big enough and not yet taken. Killua was asking for the rules of them game as Kurapika looked around for something to mark the goals with.
"Haha, no. We'll go with the original plan. You and Gon against me. I'm older and I also have good reason to whoop both of your asses," Kurapika said with a smirk. "I'll even sweeten the deal. If you two can beat me by two points for a ten point score, I'll buy you brunch. If you lose, you'll both pay for mine and Leorio's dinner."
Gon tried to protest then that Leorio wasn't even playing, but Kurapika just shrugged. "It's the least you could do as an apology, and if you don't want to pay then just don't lose."
As he said this, he had found some branches in the nearby bushes, and used those to mark two goals at opposite ends of their little playing field.
"Okay, now for the rules. That's your goal," the Kurta pointed toward the side the two of them stood, "and this is mine. You've got to kick the ball into my goal to score one point. You're only allowed to move the ball with your feet or your head. No hand contact is allowed. If you try to get the ball from another player, namely me, you can't touch me, only the ball. So hitting me to make me lose contact with the ball would be a foul and I would get a clean, undisturbed shot at your goal as penalty. We'll play up to ten points at least, and the winner is the one who first leads by two points. So far everything's clear?" Kurapika looked from one of his friends to the other and got confirming nods. "To make it a little more fun, I'd say we add the rule that any Nen ability can be used, as long as we stick to the main rule that only the ball but not the players can be touched. How does that sound?"
Leorio sighed out sadly to himself as he passed by another twenty-four hour bar. He really wanted a drink, but every time he saw the opportunity to do so, he just never went through with it. Truthfully, he was kind of afraid that, if he had one drink, it would turn into two…or more…and then he'd be shit-faced before lunch. Classy.
The young doctor let out another sigh as he hung his head. Why couldn't he just forget about his feelings for Kurapika? Why was it so damn hard?!
Leorio was so distracted by his own thoughts that he wasn't watching where he was going. Because of this, he ended up bumping into another person and causing both of them to practically trip and fall from the collision.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" The emission user apologized as he glanced back at the person he had bumped into.
"No, I wasn't watching where I was—Leorio-san?!" The man he had bumped into called out in surprise.
"Ah! Ryu!" Leorio exclaimed in surprise as he recognized his small, black-haired classmate. "What are you doing here?!"
"I live here, remember? My parents run a ryokan here on Kinawa-O!" The smaller man laughed out. "I'm more surprised that you're here, though! I thought you were going back to your hometown…"
"Ah, man, how could I have forgotten that you lived here?" Leorio whined out in aggravation as he sent his classmate an apologetic look. "Yeah, that was the plan, but I'm currently on a vacation with some of my friends. I'll be starting my new job in a few days…"
"Oh, so that means you're already staying somewhere…that is rather unfortunate…" Ryu mumbled out sadly then. "I still owe you one, you know? I wouldn't have graduated this year if you hadn't had helped me with my studies. I was more than ready to give you a discount at the ryokan sometime, too, since I'm working there until I find a doctor's job somewhere…"
"…How much of a discount?" Leorio asked then with intrigue. He just couldn't resist asking when there was a discount involved. "Do you even have rooms open during the tourist season?"
"Ah, I wouldn't think that half on a room would be reasonable with my parents at least…maybe less depending…" Ryu started out as he thought over his classmate's question. "Actually, a few rooms will be opening up soon in an hour or so. If I call my parents quick, I'm sure we can get you a room…or…how many friends are you with actually?"
"Um…well…that's not necessary, Ryu. My friends and I are already settled in a hotel…" The young doctor tried to come up with an excuse since he didn't want to trouble his classmate, or his friends, for that matter. They already had paid for their rooms after all…
"Oh, I'm sure that they'd love the ryokan!" Ryu insisted then. "I'm sure they'd love to experience something different and get to learn about the culture you've grown accustomed to during your schooling. Besides, I really, really want to pay you back!"
By this point, Ryu had placed his hands together as if in prayer and he was slightly bowing to him. Leorio really didn't know what to do then. On the one hand, going to a ryokan sounded very nice, especially if he could get two rooms at a cheap discount! On the other hand, though, he really wasn't sure how his friends would take it…especially if they couldn't get their money back for the rooms they currently had…
"It's okay, Leorio-san," Ryu spoke up kindly then as he patted him on the shoulder. "If you're not busy, maybe you can come with me for a little bit and think my proposition over? I was heading to the market in town to buy some fresh fruit for the guests."
"Hehe…yeah, I don't really have anything going on so…okay…" The taller man rubbed the back of his head sheepishly then as he felt his reluctance in taking the rooms begin to waver.
The young beast hunter felt very uncertain around Killua, especially after the dark stare the other one had sent his way. Since his friend still wasn't talking to him, he thought it best to keep his own mouth shut for the time being. Gon very much hoped that the game would help make things turn back to normal between him and Killua.
When Kurapika declared that the two boys would be in one team, the teen hoped for the best. They would have to work together to beat Kurapika, and with a paid brunch as the price, that would be possible, right? He chanced a glance at Killua then, but the other teen was watching the Kurta instead. If that was on purpose, Gon had no idea.
It took the enhancer a second to understand that they would most likely have to pay much more for the dinner of their two older friends than what their own brunch would cost, so he decided to protest.
"Why should we pay for Leorio when he's not even playing?!"
But Kurapika had a pretty valid point when he told Gon that the two of them owed Leorio for their prank yesterday. Even though the swim shorts thing had been Killua's idea alone, the beast hunter still knew he'd have to pay for that, too.
Next the conjurer explained the rules, which seemed easy enough. The game was called 'football', so it made sense to play it with their feet and not their hands. The whole thing got quite a bit more interesting, though, when Kurapika decided that they could use their Nen abilities for the game, too.
"So, I can also boost a jump with Nen or run faster, too?" He asked to be certain he understood the extra rule.
"Yes, that's allowed. But you can't use your Jajanken to push me away. You could use it to force the ball away from me, though I expect the ball would just blow up from the sheer force of your technique," Kurapika answered with a little grin.
Gon looked at Killua once more.
"This sounds like fun, doesn't it?" He asked with growing excitement.
The more and more that Kurapika explained the rules of the game, the more irritated Killua got. He didn't want to be on a team with Gon! That would just distract him! Not only that but Kurapika was adding Nen to the mix of things, so now his body had to be on constant alert whenever he tried to get the ball or intercept it.
"It sounds more annoying than anything else," Killua grumbled out in answer to Gon's question. "Let's just beat him quickly so that we can get breakfast. I'm actually kind of hungry since I didn't eat dinner last night."
With that said, Killua didn't even wait for Gon's response before he was stepping forward and looming over Kurapika by the few centimeters he had on the older man.
"I'll join you for the starting head shot. Gon can toss up the ball to see who gets it first."
Kurapika agreed with a calculating look in his eyes. The former assassin just smirked at that as the ball was handed over to Gon and he and Kurapika made their way to the center of the field. Killua wouldn't be surprised if Kurapika was trying to figure out how much Nen to put into his jump for the ball since he was shorter than him. Little did the Kurta know that Killua had another surprise in store for him.
As Gon called out to start and threw the ball up into the air, Killua initiated his lightning Nen and jumped up into the air faster than anyone could blink. Before Kurapika was even a quarter of the way up in the air, Killua was head-butting the ball with a high electrical force, sending it far over the Kurta's head and past his goal in a matter of seconds. When the silver-haired teen landed and shut off his electrical charge, he sent Kurapika a smug smirk.
"Oh look, one point already," Killua uttered in a condescending tone. "Looks like you'll need to step up your game, shorty."
That was payback for the baby comment.
The smirk on Killua's face grew even more at the withering glare Kurapika sent his way before he ran off after the ball.
"Keep an eye out, Gon," the young transmuter mentioned once Kurapika was out of earshot, his sapphire eyes never leaving the Kurta's retreating form for a second. "Kurapika will probably come back with full force since the ball is his now. We need to be able to double team him, so someone has to distract him. I can be that since he'll more than likely want to show me up by this point. While I'll distract him, it's up to you to come in from behind him or to the side and steal the ball."
By the time the game started Killua's mood hadn't changed much for the better. He answered pretty annoyed and aggressively to Gon's question. The young beast hunter just sighed inwardly but still nodded.
"Okay, we'll beat him quickly," he agreed, hoping to get on Killua's good side again sooner by agreeing with the other one.
It was decided that Gon was the one to throw the ball for their start, and a moment later, with the use of his lightning Nen, the silver-haired hunter got them their first point pretty easily. He even teased Kurapika about it. Even though Gon wasn't too sure if this was the best idea, at least it got Killua talking to him again once the blond hunter was out of ear-shot in search of the ball.
The enhancer nodded eagerly to affirm the warning.
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll be after you now. Okay, I'll get the ball from him."
Just like Killua predicted, Kurapika was back with a vengeance a second later, and tried to make a beeline for their goal. While the transmuter tried to distract the Kurta just like he promised, Gon made a slide for the ball and managed to get it away from the blond, who only had eyes for Killua at that moment. A second later, they had made their second goal.
By the time they got their third goal in a row, his best friend was gloating and obviously having a lot of fun teasing their Kurta friend. What was more important to Gon though, was that Killua was so wrapped up in the game and the fun of it, that he was talking to him normally again.
"I'll be the one to distract him this time. I'll keep close to him and you can come in behind me."
While Killua already was half a head taller than Kurapika, Gon even had a few centimeters advantage over his silver-haired friend, not to mention that his hair made him look to be taller yet. This lead Gon to believe that if he kept close enough, Kurapika wouldn't see the second blacklist hunter in his shadow.
Only this time, their plan didn't work, and the Kurta even made two goals in a row, frustrating the younger hunters. This in turn made the boys work more closely together. By the time the score was 9 to 8 for the two younger hunters, Gon felt like Killua's reaction to him was back to normal. The two of them were fighting tooth and nail against the surprisingly strong Kurapika.
"Just one more goal, Killua! We can do it!" The spiky-haired teen shouted out.
He was drenched in sweat and behind Kurapika waiting for his friend to pass the ball to him to make that last goal that would make them win the game.
"Ha! That's just what you think!" Kurapika scoffed, riling the two boys up some more.
His plan was working nicely. With the two of them ganging up on him, they had forgotten about their problems with each other. Killua was out of his depressive mood and not only talked to Gon again, but by now he was looking at him again, too.
When Killua made a move to pass the ball to Gon then, Kurapika used his dowsing chain to move the ball off track and right into his path, making a run for the boys' goal. He was laughing at the stupid expression Killua was wearing for a second, but kept going.
The next thing he knew, he saw something black and green from the corner of his eye and put in a Nen burst of speed to escape the enhancer's attempt at sliding in to get the ball again. This little distraction was enough that he never saw Killua, who had used his assassin's skills to move ahead to block him and kick the ball as far away from their goal as possible. The silver-haired teen hadn't anticipated the speed burst Kurapika put in, though, and instead of the ball, the massive, Nen enhanced kick that was meant to kick away the ball, hit the Kurta's shin instead.
The split second warning the blond had wasn't enough to fully guard his leg with Ken. The impact was enough to make Kurapika scream in pain, and hurl him backwards a good distance, where he was smashed onto his back. The air was knocked from his lung, which made the world go dark for a second, before he started to cough the next moment. Groaning, he held onto his leg as he rolled onto his good side.
"Shit..." He growled through the pain, mad at himself that Killua's kick had even been able to do such damage. It was all because he had guarded himself against Gon's attack; never suspecting the transmuter to come at him from a different angle.
Killua got so caught up in the game then that he barely noticed that he was acting normal around Gon again. By the time that he did realize, though, the former assassin had gotten too rough during the game and accidentally hit Kurapika with a Nen powered kick. Before the silver-haired teen knew it, Kurapika was down on the ground and holding his leg in pain. Killua just stared at the sight before him in complete shock as Gon rushed over to the hurting Kurta and asked him if he'd be okay. When Gon noticed how Kurapika's shin was starting to swell a bit, he hurriedly called out to him to contact Leorio while he tried to help Kurapika.
The former assassin just nodded distractedly towards his friend barking orders at him, his mind too preoccupied with what he had accidentally done to care for Gon's tone. Killua left the clearing then to get into a more open area where the reception was a little better, all the while ignoring the calls of Kurapika behind him, telling him that his leg didn't hurt that badly. Once Killua was out of sight and earshot from the others he hurriedly dialed Leorio's number as anxiety twisted in his gut. He had only wanted to show Kurapika up; he hadn't actually wanted to hurt him!
Taking deep breaths to calm himself down then, Killua brought his beetle phone up to his ear and waited for his oldest friend to pick up. It was during this time that sudden inspiration hit the young transmuter. Maybe…he could use this situation for Kurapika's and Leorio's benefit.
A mischievous smirk spread across Killua's lips just as he heard Leorio pick up on the other line.
During the time all of this happened, Leorio had traveled around with his old classmate Ryu and ended up agreeing to take two ryokan rooms (it was just too good of a deal to pass up). After Ryu called up his parents, they agreed to give him and his friends two rooms for half of the price for the rest of their stay. Thanking his friend then, Leorio made his way back to the hotel to somehow negotiate getting a refund for their rooms and all of the luggage out of their rooms.
After sweet talking a female maid on his floor into opening the door to Killua and Gon's room, and effectively gathering up all of his friend's stuff, Leorio made his way back into his room and collected his and Kurapika's belongings as well. The doctor was beyond thankful that his friends had only brought a small amount of luggage, so it was relatively easy for him to carry all of their stuff down to the reception area. Once there, Leorio negotiated with the receptionist on getting their money back for the nights they wouldn't be staying there anymore. Sadly, they wouldn't give him the full refund until they received all of the keys back to the rooms.
Knowing that he'd have to bring his friends back before heading over to the ryokan, Leorio just left then and called a taxi. From there he arrived at the beautiful, rustic ryokan his friend and his family ran. It looked so traditional and authentic, like he had actually gone back in time. Leorio actually wouldn't be surprised if the ryokan was one from olden times that had been renovated and kept within the family throughout the years.
After placing the luggage in the two rooms given to him (he automatically put his stuff and Kurapika's in the same room without thinking, along with Gon and Killua's stuff in the next room over), the taller man was going to call his friends up and surprise them with the news, but he actually got a call from Killua just as he was about to do so.
"Hey, Killua, what's going on?" The young doctor questioned in wary curiosity as he picked up the call. It wasn't like Killua to call him that often (usually Gon was the one to initiate phone conversations if Killua was with him), especially with the way the former assassin had been acting the past few days.
"L-Leorio…" He heard the young teen stutter out on the other end of the line, the other's voice sounding panicky. "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry!"
"Killua, calm down. It's okay. What is it?" Leorio tried to reassure the other as calmly as possible, but, from just the way the conversation was already starting, he knew he wasn't going like where this was going.
"It's Kurapika," Killua started to explain then, the mention of the Kurta's name actually causing the young doctor's blood to run cold with dread. "W-We were playing football and…he s-said we could use Nen. I…misjudged a kick and Kurapika…didn't have time to…d-defend himself…"
"Oh…god…" Leorio choked out in utter fear then as graphic scenarios started flying around inside his head.
"It…it's not good…" Killua continued to stutter out then, sounding like he was on the verge of crying. "Gon's called an ambulance, but…but we don't know how long it will take to get here w-with lunch hour traffic. Leorio, please…"
"I'm on my way!" Leorio shouted out in a frantic rush then as he grabbed his medical case from his suitcase and rushed out of the ryokan. "Tell me where you are, Killua! Now!"
After Killua stuttered out the park and actual GPS coordinates for their exact location over the phone, Leorio hung up on the other and inputted the coordinates into his own phone to bring up a map. During all of this, he dodged pedestrian and vehicle traffic like a madman with a death wish as he opted to run towards the park instead of taking a taxi. Just like he had experienced moments prior when he was transporting his and his friend's luggage to the ryokan, and just like Killua had stated over the phone, traffic was practically at a standstill, and people were everywhere, trying to get to their lunch destinations.
As he ran as fast as he could through the crowds, not even bothering to apologize to the people he knocked over in the process, all Leorio could think of was Kurapika, bloodied and bruised on the ground. If Killua's Nen-kick was truly powerful and had hit an unsuspecting Kurapika, who had been unable to defend, there was a high probability that…Kurapika had a gaping hole somewhere on his body, or maybe one of his appendages had been blown off…Ugh! Leorio actually felt physically sick at the thought. Just thinking that Kurapika was maimed in some way, or that the other was bleeding out to death in the park…Shit! This couldn't be happening!
Leorio could feel tears coming to his eyes then as he hurriedly made his way into the park and through the crowds of people towards the clearing. He couldn't lose a friend again. He had lost Pietro, and hell, he had almost lost Gon at one point, but Kurapika…Kurapika was more than just a friend to him. He meant so much more! If he lost Kurapika…he'd…
Just as he thought this, he saw Killua standing worriedly outside the clearing, waiting for him just as promised.
"Leorio, quickly, in there!" Killua called out frantically then as he pointed into the grove of trees and bushes behind him. The young doctor didn't even take a second to think as he rushed through the vegetation, branches catching at his clothes and skin until he made it into the small clearing.
Panting heavily in exhaustion by that point in time, Leorio just stared at the sight before him in complete disbelief. Gon was standing beside Kurapika, who was sitting up and holding onto his leg. The other only looked a little scratched and dirty, and the shin of the leg he was holding looked a little swollen, but that was it. No blood, no gore, no lost appendages…Kurapika was fine. He wasn't dying at all!
At that last thought an overwhelming amount of relief washed through the taller man's system, and he felt his legs give out from under him. Dropping his medical case onto the ground in the process, Leorio landed on his hands and knees as he bowed his head in relief. Kurapika was alive!
"Leorio, are you okay?" The emotionally overwhelmed emission user heard his younger friend call out beside him then.
As he saw Gon kneel down next to him, sudden anger filled Leorio's being, and he roughly grabbed Gon by the shirt before hissing into his face, "I suggest you take Killua as far away from here as possible because, as soon as I'm done checking up on Kurapika, I'm going to fucking kill him!"
For a second there, Gon had feared the worst. Of course it had been an accident, but with the force of Nen involved, such an accident could become life threatening. He still remembered the maimed trio from the Skytower only too well. He knew how strong Killua was and what kind of damage he could do.
The Kurta was conscious at least when he knelt down beside him.
"Are you okay?!" He shouted out worriedly as he looked Kurapika over. The leg was already swelling some, so he looked up at Killua. "Go! Get some help! Call for Leorio!"
He concentrated back on the Kurta, who was still holding his hurting leg but had begun to curse under his breath. The beast hunter actually took this as a good sign.
"Do...do you think it's broken?" He asked Kurapika.
"No...it just hurts like a bitch," the conjurer grumbled out.
Gon helped Kurapika into a sitting position after a few more moments. He made sure that the blond hunter had no other major injuries except for the obviously hurt leg.
"Are you feeling dizzy or anything? You didn't hurt your head when you fell?"
"No, I'm okay, except for my leg," the blond answered a little annoyed.
Gon nodded and understood it was best he just shut up. At least the accident wasn't as bad as it first had looked, and even after a few more minutes the injured leg didn't look much worse than before, except for some color showing up through the swelling. Well, that was to be expected.
A little later, they finally heard some frantic struggling and crashing sounds as a distressed Leorio stormed into the clearing. He looked at them, at the sitting Kurapika in particular, and suddenly he was falling forward and on the ground, panting.
Concerned, Gon rushed over to the doctor, knowing Kurapika didn't really need him at the moment. Asking if his older friend was okay, he dropped down next to him, just like he had done with Kurapika not too long ago.
Before he knew what was happening, though, Leorio grabbed the front of his shirt and hissed at him with a fury Gon had never seen before. Wide-eyed, he looked at his friend, who was actually fuming murderous intent. Lips in a tight line, the enhancer just nodded carefully, removed the clawing hand from his shirt, and tore after Killua.
"What the heck did you tell Leorio?!" He shouted angrily at his silver-haired companion when he had found him. "He's ready to commit murder!"
Kurapika felt bad when he saw the frantic look in Leorio's eyes as the other man stared at him and then broke down. A part of him felt exhilarated, though, since this showed how Leorio was actually deeply concerned about him.
How deep that feeling went, Kurapika only found out a second later, when Leorio hissed at Gon that he was going to kill Killua. The blond could only imagine what the stupid boy had told the doctor to expect when he came here. He would make sure to kick that little bastard's butt as soon as Leorio had killed him!
"I'm okay, Leorio. Or at least as good as possible given the circumstances," he tried to calm the taller man, who was getting up by now. "Some ice packs and a little rest should go a long way."
Kurapika looked up at the looming shadow of the tall doctor he was still in love with. The sun was at the back of the other man, casting him in darkness to the Kurta's eyes. He still felt the murderous intent, though, which had obviously scared Gon, judging by the way he had fled the scene.
"I...I'm sorry you worried over nothing," the blond stuttered in apology, although it wasn't his fault, of course. Still he felt bad for the worry he had made Leorio feel.
When Gon came out of the clearing the next moment, rushing towards him with angry words, Killua could only sigh out in slight exasperation.
"I'm not really surprised since I made him think Kurapika was dying," the silver-haired teen answered with ease, which only made Gon angrier with him.
"Look, Gon, it had to be done," Killua brought up after Gon was done yelling at him (Killua not feeling the least bit phased by his friend's words). "We've been trying to get them together for days now, and all of our efforts have proven fruitless so far. This option was a last resort for me from the get go, but, since I had the opportunity to use it, I did. The thing is, I wanted Leorio to believe that Kurapika was dying so that he'd regret not telling the other about his feelings. That way, when he found out that Kurapika was alright, he might actually tell the other his feelings in fear that he'd never get another chance if something like this actually happened in the future."
The former assassin wasn't surprised that Gon seemed a little lost by everything he had just said then, as he stared at him with slight confusion. Killua just rolled his eyes and ruffled Gon's hair affectionately so that the other wouldn't feel insulted that he thought he was stupid or something ridiculous like that.
"Come on, let's just apply Zetsu and sneak into the clearing to watch what's going on, okay…? I'll apologize later…" Killua added as an afterthought.
Gon finally agreed with him, all but a little hesitantly (Killua got the feeling that Gon still wasn't too happy about what he had done), and the both of them turned on their Zetsu before heading back into the bushes to watch.
By the time Gon had agreed and left his side, Leorio was still fuming at the deceitful, disgusting trick that Killua had played on him. Who seriously joked about stuff like that?!
Leorio decided to focus on that anger then instead of the tumultuous feelings currently wreaking havoc inside of him, in order to keep his emotions best in check as he shakily grabbed his medical case and got to his feet. As he made his way over to Kurapika, the Kurta apologized for worrying him and told him that he only needed to put ice on his leg. The young doctor mentally agreed upon seeing the other's slightly swollen shin, but he couldn't be too cautious at that point. Not after how riled up he was on the inside, and also because he knew that Kurapika was notorious for trying to not show weakness.
"Can you blame me for thinking that your pride might be hiding other injuries?" Leorio muttered out darkly then as he knelt down beside the other, his face set in a 'no-nonsense' fashion for his friend to see. "I'm going to be giving you a physical examination. Don't argue."
Despite what he said, though, Kurapika started to protest with him. Leorio didn't listen for a second, though, as he started getting down to business, forcing himself to only focus on his patient's health and not the fact that he had thought he was going to lose the other.
As he was examining the other, he allowed Kurapika to keep his clothes on, despite their slight hindrance, because he knew the Kurta would freak out at him, and because it would be difficult to take his pants off because of his leg at the moment. So, because of that, Leorio did his best as he felt up his friend's arms, back, chest, and his other leg. He also watched carefully as he made Kurapika stretch forward in his sitting position to make sure the Kurta didn't have any pain elsewhere. Also, to be safe, he took the other's temperature, checked his mouth, ears and nose, along with his breathing. Despite the slightly erratic breathing and heartbeat (which Leorio acquitted to the physical activity Kurapika had experienced moments prior), everything else checked out normal except for Kurapika's obviously hurt shin.
"I'm going to touch your shin and some other parts of your leg now to make sure that you didn't hurt anything else in the process, okay?" Leorio stated then as he looked at Kurapika for confirmation of some sort. By this point, Kurapika was going along with the examination without complaining anymore, so the conjurer just nodded his assent and braced for the slight pain that was inevitable to come. As slight guilt consumed the doctor then while he lifted Kurapika's hurting leg a little off the ground for a better look and judgment, Leorio couldn't stop himself from thinking about how Kurapika was lucky that he only had a slightly swollen shin (nothing else seemed to be hurt, so Kurapika must have defended himself a little more than Killua had obviously let on). He tried to stop himself from thinking such thoughts, though, since he didn't want to lose himself at that moment, but it was so hard not to. The situation he was in now could have been totally different, and just the thought of that hurt Leorio like no other. What if Killua had been right? What if Kurapika had been mortally wounded and the only thing Leorio could have done was try to stop the other from bleeding out? What if he hadn't made it in time if that happened, and what if it was already too late by the time Killua had called him?
"Y-Your shin is the only thing that's banged up," Leorio stuttered out then as he practically choked on his words. The images in his head just wouldn't leave him alone! "It should feel better after we elevate it a bit and apply ice to it…like you said…"
Leorio could feel himself begin to shake then as he placed Kurapika's leg back on the ground. Shit! Why couldn't he keep his emotions in check?!
"Damn it, Kurapika! Why the hell did you use Nen during the game?!" Leorio shouted out angrily then as tears formed at the corner of his eyes. "I know you're not an idiot, but that was a seriously stupid idea on your part! Nen should never be used in games like this unless you really want to hurt the opponent! Damn it!"
Before Leorio could stop himself he was hugging Kurapika to his body (being mindful of his injured leg of course) as tears began to fall freely down his cheeks.
"Killua made it sound like you were dying," Leorio choked out through his sobs then as he completely lost himself to his fears. "I thought…I thought I was going to lose you…"
Kurapika couldn't help but answer with a sheepish look. He wasn't hiding anything except a few bruises he didn't think needed mentioning. Yes, he might have kept injuries to himself in the past, but he was pretty good at judging their seriousness, and this injury wasn't really worth mentioning either.
"You don't need to do this. I'm okay. It's going to become a colorful bruise, that's all," the Kurta explained, trying to protest the examination, but Leorio never even listened. Even while Kurapika talked, the doctor started to check on his limbs. He understood why the other examined his back, too, because he had landed pretty hard on that. When his chest was checked as well, the blond started to wonder why that was necessary. This feeling only heightened when Leorio insisted on taking his temperature (what the fuck?!), and went ahead to even examine his mouth and ears.
He definitely wanted to protest then, but the utter concern etched onto the doctor's face made Kurapika endure the whole procedure. "But if he asks me to pee in a pot next, that's it!" He thought. It never came to that, though. Instead, Leorio warned him with a compassionate look that he would go on to examine the hurt leg now. Finally!
He just nodded and dug his fingers into the grass behind him, bracing himself. Leorio seemed very distracted while he examined his leg. His gaze went out of focus a few times. Kurapika was able to bear the examination for the most part, and only hissed in pain when the swollen parts were prodded, most likely to make sure nothing was broken.
Finally the good doctor came to the same conclusion Kurapika had arrived at long before. "See? Just like I said. I would have known if it was brok..." His light words trailed off as Leorio began to shake and his facial expression changed to something the Kurta didn't understand under the circumstances.
Suddenly, Leorio shouted at him, scolding him like a naughty boy. "It was just an accident..." He mumbled in his deference, surprised that he even felt the need to defend himself. He hadn't done anything wrong.
Before he could think on this more, though, he was brought into a tight embrace. Unsure of what was happening, Kurapika tensed up for a moment, until he felt the body holding him shake, felt wet tears against his neck, and heard the choked out words Leorio uttered.
With a deep sigh and a loving smile, the Kurta wrapped his arms around the other man then. "I'm okay. I won't just die on you. You're not going to lose me," he said softly, trying to calm the taller man. Tenderly, he stroked the doctor's back to soothe him. "It's just a bruise. If you'll help me up, I think I can even walk back to the hotel. Everything's okay, Leorio. You can stop worrying."
It meant the world to the young Kurta, that the doctor was so concerned about him, yet he felt guilty that the other was crying because of him.
"You won't lose me, Leorio. Remember? We promised each other something, and I intend to stick to that promise," he tried again to get the other man's attention and make him stop worrying and crying.
When he felt Kurapika return his embrace, Leorio felt his tears come harder then. The other whispered words of comfort to him while he rubbed his back, and the young doctor was truly thankful then that the Kurta was still there with him, very much alive. He couldn't afford to dwell on 'what ifs' but it was so hard not to in that moment. Leorio knew that, at any given moment, he really could lose the other to some sort of freak accident, or because of his work, and that thought absolutely terrified him.
Kurapika's next words reached his ears then, about how he intended to keep the promise they made with each other about their futures. The thought only made Leorio's tears come faster, because that promise was the one thing that he truly kept going for by that point, and he never realized how much it had meant to him until then.
"You b-better k-keep your p-promise," Leorio choked out through his sobs again as he started to calm down some, his fingers digging desperately into Kurapika's back. "I-I'll be seriously pissed i-if you don't…b-because y-you're the only person I c-can't afford t-to lose…"
He heard the questioning tone in Kurapika's voice then, his blond friend stiffening slightly in his hold. Leorio knew that he couldn't go back on what he had said, but, then again, he also knew that this was something he wanted to tell Kurapika as well. He couldn't afford to lose Kurapika, and he knew that he didn't want to lose the other before he had the chance to tell him how he truly felt. Even if the other wouldn't reciprocate his feelings, Leorio didn't want to live with the regret of the possibility that maybe…just maybe…Kurapika did feel the same way for him, and that by stalling, he was wasting the precious time that they had.
Unwrapping his arms from around the other, Leorio grabbed hold of Kurapika's shoulders then and stared directly into the other's confused, brown orbs.
"I…I can't afford to lose you because I…I…" Leorio started but choked on his words the next second. He felt so self-conscious then. Was he really going to do this?! As the young doctor continued to stare down into Kurapika's beautiful, very much alive, face, all doubts left him completely. With a look of determination in his own features then, his tears finally stopping, Leorio finally finished with what he had wanted to say.
"…I love you, Kurapika…"
His words were slowly getting through to the distraught doctor. Instead of calming him, though, for some reason they seemed to have the opposite effect. Leorio's fingers dug into his back like he feared the Kurta might disappear the next moment if they loosened their grip just a little. Through his sobs, the other held him to his promise, which Kurapika intended to keep anyway, just like he had said.
What hit him unprepared though, were the doctor's next words. Leorio told him that he was the one person he couldn't afford to lose. Where...where was this coming from? Why him? They were friends, sure, but...but what about Gon and Killua? Kurapika tensed a little then. This wasn't happening. There was some misunderstanding...for sure.
"L-Leorio, what are you talking about?" The blond asked.
The doctor let go of him then and Kurapika drew back his arms, too. He felt very uncertain then. What was going on? The warm, strong yet supple hands of the other man took hold of his shoulders and held him, so their eyes could meet. Confusion riddled the Kurta's hazel eyes. Apprehension was making him tense. He feared to allow himself to hope, and at the same time feared said hope might get fulfilled. He had wanted the doctor's love with all his heart and yet he was scared his wishes might actually come true, because nothing good ever happened to him. There had to be something wrong about this. It had to be some kind of cruel, twisted joke the universe played on him, and, of course it was.
Again Leorio told him that he couldn't afford to lose him and choked on the next words. Kurapika tried to feel relief, but couldn't. He feared to hear more and yet yearned to. Confused and uncertain, he gazed into Leorio's warm, chocolate eyes and saw determination flood them. Finally the words he had wanted to hear for the longest time poured from the lips of the man he loved. He had waited and hoped to hear them for so long and yet, now that they were finally uttered, all he felt was sadness.
"Th-That's nice, Leorio. And I love you, too," Kurapika said softly, like one would talk to a child and even gently clapped his shoulder, like he was a good boy.
Leorio had uttered the words he had been longing to hear for the longest time, but sadly they didn't bear the meaning the Kurta was hoping for. If anything, the other loved him like a brother, and that was all there ever could be between them. Feeling his heart break, it took everything that Kurapika had to keep his tears at bay.