*Shades of Red*

by: WhiteGloves

Chapter 5

"It's all romance and love... no one can understand it. No one ought to!"

*LeoPika Pairing/BL*

Inside the clinic, Leorio put the medicine down the table and then looked over to his patient quietly. It had been a mockery to put the white sheet on the man's face but Leorio knew if Tobias went over the other side he would be deeply affected.

The patient was breathing irregularly and his pulse was weak. It was thanks to the medicine that he was able to help the guy. Without the medicines at hand his friend may just slip out of his hand too. Leorio's eyes saddened. It was really a good thing that he was a licensed hunter.

"He's still as stubborn as ever," Leorio heard Tristan behind him say, "he shouldn't really be left alone."

"Ah," Leorio answered, gesturing his hands to his pockets, "I've already asked Ethan to contact his family… but it's alright since we're here."

Tristan nodded, "Yep. And your medication's free. What else do we need?"

Leorio glared at him humorously. Then he noticed the absence of other people in his room. Tristan saw him look around and smiled.

"If you're looking for Kurapika, he dashed out of the room just a moment ago."

Leorio's eyes narrowed. "Idiot. Why would I look for him?"

"Heh? It's too obvious you know. Can't be helped since he's too appealing in the eyes!"

The doctor raised an eyebrow. Tristan grinned.

"Anyways, he went out looking tensed. Did you do something to him?"

Leorio blinked as he suddenly remembered the slender arms that slid around his neck just moments ago and didn't answer. He had forgotten to ask why Kurapika thought it was necessary for him to do that in the first place. Leorio remembered just how the blonde boy had hit him because of walking around in his own room naked that morning. He really couldn't figure out Kurapika. That was for sure.

Tristan seemed to read his mind and nudge the doctor on the side with a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"I see… so you really have your eyes on him, huh?"

"Shut up," Leorio grunted with narrowed eyes on his friend, "and what about you? Why are you always messing with him? You're freaking him, you molester! I'm warning you— you don't know Kurapika when he freaks out!"

"Do I smell jealousy?"

"Idiot—I'm not kidding! That guy doesn't even let a mosquito bite him let alone a freaking dude like you clinging to him! Just this morning—"

Leorio stopped abruptly while the musician looked up at him expectantly.

"Yes, yes? This morning?" he asked eagerly with eyes twinkling.

Leorio's eyebrows contracted as he remembered Kurapika's foot on his spine. The crack seemed to make an impression on his face as the next thing, Tristan also frowned at him.

"You're overreacting, Leorio. A gentle guy like Kurapika couldn't have possibly harmed you! If it's between the two of you I'll bet all my instruments that you're the most dangerous one!"

The doctor made a face as he unconsciously touched his backside in the memory of pain, "Suit yourself. Don't you believe about not judging a small person by his appearance? Gentle my butt…I'm telling you—you picked the wrong guy to mess with!"

"But I was just being friendly—unlike you who probably did something shameful that's why he acted that way."

"Why you—!"

"Besides Kurapika's really wonderful. It's really fun to tease him too…it seems to annoy you. You like him that much?"

Leorio tried to kick the musician but he missed as Tristan jumped away with a grin on his face.

"If you don't chase after Kurapika you'll be sorry!"

"Mind your business, moron," the doctor said with twitching eyes, "and why are you in the clinic when I have a patient? Get out of here—stop slacking off and acting like a goof all the time! Where's Mayu?"

Tristan looked over his shoulder to the door.

"She went to her room, dunno why though."

Leorio straightened up. "You're not one to talk about 'chasing' when you're not going to do anything about her! If you keep on pushing her away she might disappear!"

Tristan looked back at Leorio with a simple expression. There was a flicker of seriousness on his eyes that moment—but then he shifted into a wide grin and said,

"What are you saying? Of course I won't let her disappear! She's my food supplier—"

His humor didn't seem to reach the doctor so the musician stopped smiling at once. Leorio didn't look like he was going to argue any further either. So after searching Leorio's eyes, Tristan sighed heavily and then shook his head.

"She's still in love with you…" he said.

"I don't think that's the case now…" Leorio said calmly.

Tristan put both hands on his side pockets, but before either of them could speak, they heard hurried footsteps running toward the door. Seconds later, Ethan dashed in with a look of panic in his eyes.

"Doc!" he was shouting, "it's bad! Kurapika—he's with Kai!"

Leorio and Tristan both looked at the kid with wide eyes.

"What…?" the musician whispered in disbelief, then turning to Leorio, "Leorio!"

Leorio snapped in attention and then turned to them, "Look after Tobias,"

"I can't let you go alone," Tristan injected and there was an adamant look on his eyes which Leorio suddenly found amusing.

"What are you so worried about you idiot— I'm a hunter."

Tristan blinked and then automatically answered, "Who'd worry about a delinquent like you?! I'm worried about Kurapika!"

"You're kidding?" Leorio called as he exited the door shouting, "It's Kai you should worry about!"

"Eh?" the boy and the musician gaped at the doctor who he dashed away. There was a fraction of a second where the two wondered about the truth in Leorio's words when Ethan suddenly shot out of the room and shouted for the doctor to hear—

"They headed left! Probably toward the fields!"

Leorio heard it and ran on. With a proper beating, Kai would probably realize that it was impossible to harm Kurapika in anyway… but still…

Leorio gritted his teeth.

Even if it's too impossible… but if you put as much as scratch on him… I swear…

Kurapika found himself standing at the far land fields on the outskirts of the city. His surrounding was grassy and the gust of wind was strong. Kai had brought him on top of a small hill. Below him he could see lights flickering inside the small houses from way over the top. The neighbourhood have started to turn on their lights. It was dusk after all.

Kurapika stared at the sunset already bowing down the horizon and then felt exhilarated at the blowing wind against his face. Behind him, the man with the knife was just staring at him intently as if waiting for the right time to dig his weapon on him. It was careless to turn his back on an enemy, but the blonde boy just doesn't feel too threatened.

Kurapika sighed.

"So?" he started quietly as he slowly looked behind him to face his abductor, "why did you bring me here? Do you plan to kill me?"

The man called Kai stood there in front of him with hands shaking. Kurapika saw the guy flinch when he said the word 'kill'. This person certainly is not the type of guy who can do something hideous, Kurapika thought sadly. This person should never resort to that.

Kai stared at Kurapika with for a moment as if weighing his words, and then gritted his teeth.

"Yeah," he answered with much force, "I'm going to end you here."

"Why? I didn't even do anything to you."

"It's because you're his friend. You're that bastard's friend!"

Kurapika didn't say anything for a moment but just stared at Kai quietly. He just stared at him with his serene green eyes too heavy to handle. And then finally, he spoke.

"Don't refer to Leorio as 'bastard'." He said so quietly.

Kai's eyes flared. "I'll call him a bastard when I want to! He's a good for nothing dick who can't even do a damn thing! He's all talk and words but he's just a loser! A guy like that should go to hell!"

Kurapika's eyes flickered in mounting surge of anger with his fists clenched.

"Don't talk about my friend like that," the blonde boy said with a warning tone behind his voice. He was on the edge—Kurapika could feel it.

The man standing in front of him waved his knife wildly and didn't seem to care about his tone. Instead, he laughed mockingly and shouted—

"This is what I think of your great friend!" and he spat on the ground.

The next thing—Kai didn't even know what hit him as he found Kurapika's claw-like fingers closing down on his throat. As he struggled to breath, he was startled to find the blonde boy standing an inch in front of him with their faces too close.

"Don't" Kurapika hissed sounding possessed, "dare say another word…"

Kai's breathing went rapid as his face started to get purple. Kurapika suddenly blinked as he realized what he was doing and slowly loosened his grip. Kai felt it and took advantage as he violently swung his knife around—

Kurapika was quick to jump away from him but was not able to avoid a long cut at the back of his hand. The blond boy raised it in front of him and saw his own blood seep out of the wound continuously down to his wrist and onto the ground. Without much as a blink, Kurapika looked up at the mad man and saw him still holding on to his bloody knife.

"You should drop your weapon now," he said calmly, "you don't want to hurt yourself. You don't stand a chance against me."

"Shut up!" Kai yelled, "I'll kill you here—I'll kill you now!"

Kurapika stared at the guy sadly as he reached his other hand on his wounded one. Then, with voice so low, he spoke with eyes hidden behind the shadow of his hair.

"Killing me won't bring her back."

Kai's eyes suddenly widened. Kurapika saw through him.

"Even if you kill me, it won't change anything," he continued as he looked up with sympathetic green eyes, "even if you kill Leorio, it won't change the fact that she's gone. Wielding your petty knife and threatening people… doing this to get revenge… it won't change anything."

"Shut up!" Kai shouted fiercely but Kurapika didn't look as if he was daunted by the sight of a knife pointed at him. Instead, the boy looked like he was battling with inner turmoil, as if he was remembering things in the past…

"Revenge is an unending cycle…" Kurapika continued quietly, "if you stray toward it, it's impossible to get out… one's you've killed and stained your hands with the blood of other people, you won't be able to feel human again… and soon you'll find yourself sucked in the cycle and other people will want you dead too… that's why I'm telling you, stop this pointless action. It's meaningless."

"If you mean to say the doctor will want to kill me after I killed you then that's also fine," Kai smiled foolhardily as he gazed at Kurapika with pained eyes, "that's all I wanted! I want him to feel what I felt! I want him to suffer!"

Kurapika's eyes reflected Kai's face and for a moment he was silent. Then he bit his lower lip as he said these words. His blood continued to flow down his hand but he didn't give it a damn.

"You don't know what you're talking about…"

"I said shut your trap! People who're about to die shouldn't preach! And I just know it—killing you would bring him to his knees! I saw how interacted with you… I knew you're the right guy to kill!"

Kurapika blinked as if lost for a moment. What does that mean?!

"That's why I will kill you here! And when that happens he can hate me forever if he wants! That way… that way we will be even!"

Kai grinded his teeth as he said this. The wind blew against their bodies and made the grass turn in one direction. Blood continued to drop down the ground. Kurapika's eyes flickered as he saw the man's eyes fill with so much hatred and agitation to take revenge…

But Leorio knows how it felt like to lost someone… he wanted to say but his lips wouldn't allow him to, Leorio knows the helplessness of losing somebody important… he knows it just like you… that's why he never dares to stop you… because he knows exactly what it felt like…

"Even so…" Kurapika found himself saying as he closed his eyes for a moment, "even if I try to reason out to you it'll be no use since your mind's already clouded with revenge. The only thing that can stop you now is force… that's why if you have really made up your mind about this action, then take responsibility for what will happen next."

Kai gazed at the blonde boy with a frown as if puzzled by what the delicate blond boy meant. Kurapika on the other hand, stood his ground and clenched his bloody hands. But then when he opened his eyes— they were flashing daggers.

"I won't let you do as you want." He said firmly and determinedly, "You think blaming people for her death is enough for you to take other people's lives? Is it really that easy? You can blame anyone you want— you can kill anyone if you really have the guts to do it! But I won't let you run free if you're planning to hurt my friend. I won't let you."

As Kurapika stood there with nothing but himself and Kai with his knife at hand, another shadow appeared and joined the scene. Kurapika had seen him come from a distance and even watched as the new guy took his final step just behind the assaulter.

"Kai, stop it already," Leorio suddenly said and Kai whipped round dangerously as he heard the doctor's voice. An angry streak came out of his face.

"You!" he said in a strangled voice and pointed the knife at him. Leorio suddenly eyed the knife sharply as he saw visible sign of blood on it. Then he turned over to Kurapika who was still standing some meters from them. His inattentiveness draw Kai's attention as he swung his knife once again—

Kurapika's eyes slightly widened but he didn't need to act as he saw Leorio man handled the man's arm by pulling it upward and bending his wrist painfully. Kai cried in pain and was forced to let go of his weapon. Leorio gave him a dark look and then set his wrist free.

"It's enough, Kai," he repeated quietly, "you've been running around like this for a year now… just stop it already."

Kai's held on to his injured wrist and then looked up sharply at Leorio.

"Bastard…" he grinded his teeth with perspiration all over his face, "and you damn call yourself a doctor?"

Leorio's eyes hardened and before Kurapika could say anything—Leorio had grabbed the man's collar again and there was a cracking sound as he pulled Kai into a deadly head butt.

And then the doctor was yelling at the top of his voice—

"YOU SELFISH BASTARD! ANN'S MY FRIEND TOO YOU JERK—SHE'S MY FRIEND TOO! DO YOU THINK I WAS HAPPY WHEN SHE DIED!? DO YOU THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO MOURNED HER DEATH!? I WAS HER DOCTOR, DAMMIT!"

"Shut up!" Kai's eyes have begun to get teary but he was still fighting back as he tried to punch Leorio but the doctor was not backing down anymore. He swayed on one side to dodge the attack, and then using his right fist, he slammed it squarely on Kai's stomach without hesitation. Kai's face showed immense pain as he fell on his knees, gasping.

Leorio straightened quietly with his back on the man.

"Stop being selfish. We can't bring the dead back," he whispered quietly as Kai choked on the ground, "even doctors have accepted that… but we still wish to save as many lives as we can… and if ever we fail, we also have that burden on our shoulder… that's why you're not the only one who's suffering!"

He eyed Kurapika who was also looking at him with meaningful eyes. Kai had stopped choking by this time and was quiet on the ground with his knife left forgotten beside him. Leorio closed his eyes and then knelt in front of the man. To Kurapika's surprise however, Leorio grabbed Kai's collar again and pulled him gruffly so that their faces were close once more.

"You can blame me as much as you want… I won't stop you… but don't involve other people for the sake of your hatred… nobody wants to lose someone important… but that's just how it is. Come to your senses, Kai! You know this is not what Ann wants for you!"

Kai didn't answer him but remained immobilize on the ground. Leorio's eyes softened as he gazed at the man and felt the same clenching feeling in his heart whenever a death occurred. Kurapika saw it, and he too felt suddenly weak. Just then he felt so sorry and helpless for the doctor. Just then he want to embrace him again.

Leorio slowly let the man go and stood up quietly. Kai didn't make any movements.

"Leorio?" Kurapika had walked toward the doctor with eyes transfixed at him. Leorio, who had been gazing at Kai, turned a look at the blonde boy suddenly—

Kurapika's eyes widened to see how somber Leorio's eyes had been. It was heart thumping. The doctor was looking at him so intensely, Kurapika thought he'd never look away. But then Leorio took something from his pocket, held his bleeding hand and then wrapped it neatly on his white handkerchief. Kurapika watched the process in a breathtaking silence.

"…Leorio…" he muttered as he tried to catch the doctor's eyes, but Leorio looked away at once and instead glanced down back at the man who was still crouching on the floor. Then he whispered to his blonde companion, "Let's go."

The doctor turned around and left without another glance with Kurapika right behind him, supporting his injured hand. They walked out of the fields down toward the rocky road toward the small town. Night has already befallen them.

Kurapika continued to follow Leorio but neither of them was speaking. As they made their way down, Leorio hasn't made any sound. He didn't even turn back to his blonde companion to see if he was alright. Kurapika kept up with it knowing that for some reason, the doctor was angry.

He kept up until he lost patience himself. Halfway down the road, Leorio first stopped and then glanced back at the startled blonde boy. Kurapika blinked as he saw the doctor look at him with creased on his eyebrows as if accusing him of something. Kurapika stopped walking and waited for the man to say anything, but then Leorio let out a grunt and then continued walking.

An impatient vein popped on the side of Kurapika's face.

"Hey," he started heatedly, "if you want something to tell me, just say it!"

That made Leorio stop.

"What the hell?" the doctor suddenly muttered as he turned at the blonde boy with gritted teeth, "shouldn't I be the one saying that?"

Kurapika stood his ground with a frown still on his fair face as the tall man walked toward him with an accusing glare. The two looked at each other with intensity for a moment.

"You—" Leorio started with gritted teeth. Kurapika kept his large green eyes at the doctor while deep inside he was wondering what he has done.

Leorio, on the other hand, seemed unable to hold the serene gaze of his blonde companion, so in the end he let out a curse, jammed both hands on his pocket and then turned around and continued marching toward the apartment.

"Forget it!" he shouted with horns blowing from his ears.

Kurapika watched him go with a concerned frown.

When Kurapika returned to the apartment a quarter later, he found its lodgers waiting anxiously for him. Tristan had tried to give him a comforting embrace but the blonde boy gave him a penetrating look that seemed to unnerve the musician. This was followed up by Mayu sighing in relief and asking him what was the matter with Leorio because it seemed that the doctor returned back moodily.

Kurapika could only press his lips closed while Ethan bounced around him happily. If he only knew…

Minutes later, Kurapika returned to their room and found it still dark. He quietly turned on the lights and found that Leorio was nowhere to be seen. With a heavy feeling, Kurapika closed his eyes and sighed as he sat on the table chair.

He remained there gloomily while pondering what has gotten Leorio so pissed at him.

"Idiot, Leorio," he muttered in defeat.

"Talking behind my back again, are you?"

Kurapika shot the door a startled look and saw Leorio standing there carrying a medical kit.

"Leorio," he whispered as he watched the doctor walk near him and sat on the opposite chair. Without saying another word or even looking him in the eyes, Leorio gently took his bleeding hand and unwrapped it from the handkerchief. He then started cleaning the wound quietly.

"Careless," the doctor hissed after a second, making Kurapika glance on his face eagerly but Leorio still refused to look him in the eye. Biting his lip, Kurapika looked down.

"Hey…" he started in the middle of silence as the doctor worked on his hand, "I'm sorry."

Leorio stopped.

"Whatever I did," Kurapika continued, "I'm sorry."

Leorio was silent for a few moments before continuing his job.

"Idiot," Leorio suddenly remarked as he wrapped the blonde boy's hand in a neat bandage, "apologizing without knowing what you're apologizing for, what's the point?"

Kurapika flared up at once.

"What's with that!?" he exclaimed, trying to pry his wounded hand away from the doctor but Leorio held it firmly, "I already apologized, didn't I?"

So it was no point apologizing, eh?

"What I'm saying is," Leorio pat Kurapika's hand gently, "you should know… I'm angry because you put yourself in danger because of me. I want you to realize that before saying your apology, idiot."

Kurapika stared at him and for the first time, Leorio held his gaze.

"You're the idiot one," the blonde boy found himself saying automatically while unable to look away from the doctor's gaze, "why would you worry about me? You know well I can perfectly take care of myself."

"That's not that point!" Leorio said strongly as he held Kurapika's hand into his, "that was still careless. You telling me just because you're capable then no one should worry about you? Who in their right mind would do that?"

Leorio gave the boy a stern look who at that time was already defeated. Kurapika stared at the doctor in a heart thumping moment, not knowing what to do to keep his heart still.

"So stop acting so careless!" Leorio injected with a frown. Kurapika nodded without a word, utterly defeated. He didn't know what to think anymore, but one thing was for sure. Leorio was making his heart race for some reason.

"If that is clear enough then go take some rest," Leorio said as he stood up while the blonde boy remained still, "I'm going to check on Mayu."

Kurapika slightly raised his head upon hearing this.

"I'm not hungry by the way," Leorio continued on as he grabbed his medical kit and headed for the door, "and I'll stay in the clinic tonight."

As he reached the door open, Leorio was surprised to feel someone grabbed his arm. Looking behind him, he saw Kurapika standing there quietly with mouth open as if meaning to say something.

"Hm?" he blinked at the boy, "what's up?"

And Kurapika stared at Leorio in the eye not knowing what brought him there. He knew there was a turbulent in his heart for no reason. Or was there really no reason? Why was he acting that way?

Kurapika kept still for a fraction of a second as he analyzed his action.

Leorio frowned at the blonde and stared at his face closely.

"Are you sick?" he asked scrutinizing but he was lost for words when Kurapika's hands suddenly seized both his collar and pulled him closer into a kiss.

Yep. Leorio's having fun alright!

The Ending chapter awaits~

*To Be Continued*

Thanks for Reading!