*Shades of Red*
by: WhiteGloves
Epilogue pt. 3
*LeoPika Pairing/BL*
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! And more thank you for still being with us in this story!
Just as I thought- Leorio and Kurapika are still one of the best!
And today is the day I can finally watch THE LAST MISSION!
Separation is hard...!
In this chapter~! Enjoy!
A doorknob turned and then the door was pushed open.
In came Leorio in what appeared to be a swift entrance for someone with a handicapped like him. He was followed closely by Kurapika who watched the man with silent eyes and then closed the door gently behind him. The two of them has just returned at their hotel that night after such a tiring day.
Leorio slowed down to find his way on the couch and when the tips of his hands touched it, he immediately dropped himself to it with a loud sigh.
"Screw it. I don't like this plan." was his first comment as Kurapika sat across him with a patient look.
"Neither do I," he agreed quietly, "that's why I'd rather if you stay behind."
Leorio sighed and raised a hand on his face to massage his eyes. Kurapika watched him closely and knew what was tolling on his mind. It was on his too. Embarking on such a journey was something both of them were willing to take—yet both of them didn't want the other to come. This was a mutual strong resolution.
"Leorio—"
"I know what you're going to say," the doctor pulled himself from his comfortable position to face the blonde boy, "but you heard Killua. I need to go."
Kurapika bit his lower lip and lowered his eyes.
"And even if he didn't say that," the tall man went on that made the emerald eyed boy look at him, "I'd still go and you know you won't be able to stop me."
Kurapika stared at him hard.
"Then you can't tell me not to go more than I can tell you not to," he said after awhile.
Leorio's eyebrows contracted but he didn't say anything more.
And two of them ended their discussion in silence.
So passed another night.
Leorio and Kurapika both lay still on their bed.
Yet the two remained awake in the arms of each other. They remained silent in the darkness of the night inside their room, intimately closeted with each other. They were in speaking terms just moments ago about the plans with Gon and Killua once they arrive at the Zoldyck grounds till the black haired man fell silent for no reason. The blonde one thought his lover must've fallen asleep but the absence of his usual snore was a suggestion that he was nowhere near in slumber.
And the stillness continued between the two but it was not cold. It was comforting to know they were laying next to each other so the silent night passed on.
Yet their minds were still troubled for their journey once sunlight strikes the sky.
An hour passed...
Then the blonde young man then felt his partner stir into a sitting position, the blanket on his chest falling sadly on his lap. Kurapika waited but Leorio did not lie back on the bed. This made the green eyed pretty man shift a look at him and then slowly, he sat up to.
"Leorio..." he whispered, the first voice to end the silence of the night.
He saw Leorio's form beside him. The black haired man was in a sitting position with his back arched; his left arm was leaning on his raised left knee which was still under the blanket. This form made Kurapika sit straighter and to reach a hand on the man's bare shoulder.
"Leorio..." he whispered again, feeling a little anxious for the man's abrupt silence and restlessness.
"It's dangerous after all..." came the man's soft voice, making the blonde boy stare at him transfixed, "going there and facing those monsters in our situation... and thinking of overwhelming them... what a ridiculous plan. It's dangerous no matter how you look at it!"
Kurapika didn't respond for a moment with his eyes softening.
And then after a long pause, he replied.
"It is dangerous. Nobody said it was going to be easy... but it's our only chance."
Leorio frowned and reached both hand on his head.
"My eyes... it's fine if I don't get my eyes original eyes. Having a transplant should be enough so—"
Kurapika shook his head.
"No... I want your real eyes, Leorio..."
It's the most important thing to me, he thought deeply. It won't be the same for him if he doesn't find Leorio's real eyes... Leorio's eyes—he wants to get them back no matter!
The tall man bowed his head and grunted.
"I kept on thinking... maybe we shouldn't have left my island after all..."
Kurapika's eyes flickered at this and he remembered so vividly the green plain of the peaceful land where Leorio's clinic was on; the breeze of the cool wind, the sound of the ocean waves... the times he walked with Leorio during sunset... staying in the man's room and feeling his presence... the afternoon lunch in the cafe and the nice people... Tristan's music and Mayu's gentle voice... the old library shop and the little music shop... that peaceful life. All were left behind.
A twinge of pain and longing suddenly made Kurapika reach a hand to Leorio's arm again and hold him still. The sudden memory of this kind of past—he didn't know he could still have it. Before when he was still young—whenever he tried to remember his tribe all he could see was blood and marks of the spiders, all he could hear was the cries and pleas of his people, all he could imagine was the hate and anguish they must've felt...
He never imagined he could still have a memory of peace and a life he would be longing about. It made his heartache. And indeed, it took him all his energy not to open his mouth and to tell Leorio the words that ever wanted to slip through his lips.
"Let's go back."
Kurapika's eyes widened as he thought he had just said the very words he wanted to say—only to realize it wasn't him who spoke but the doctor. He looked up at the man who raised his head a little from his hands.
"We shouldn't do this, Kurapika. Let's go back."
Kurapika didn't respond for his heart was also crying to agree. But he knew he must not. So biting his lips, he squeezed Leorio's arm as if to tell him how he felt. It was all he could do that time.
Surprisingly, Leorio reached and clasped on his.
"I'm sorry I had to drag you to this," the black haired man whispered, reaching his other hand toward the blonde boy's cheeks and linking their foreheads, "I'm sorry you had to go through this... it's my fault."
"Don't say that," Kurapika whispered, reaching his hands and embracing the man closer to his chest, "it's not your fault... we both agreed to come this far..."
"No," Leorio wrapped his arms around the blonde man's back, "I wanted to see you so badly that's why we're here... I wanted to see you again that's why I dragged you here..."
Kurapika's eyes flickered again. And he embraced the man ever so tightly once more.
"Kurapika?"
"Yes?"
"I promise... I'll bring you back home."
Flashes of what he considers home now filled the green boy's eyes. Yet he knew, he wouldn't consider it his home without a certain someone being there. The most important one on the scene.
He held the doctor closer.
"Okay."
Early the next morning the two found Gon and Killua waiting at Gon's front door. With little farewell to Mito-san and to the little boy named Haru and his sister who had woken up from her coma, the party of Gon, Killua, Kurapika and Leorio marched together once more under the sunlight's grace.
Aunt Mito watched the four disappear in to the horizon with a satisfied expression. She had never seen such a lively scene. She had never seen such great companionship. Yet she couldn't help feeling a little worried over their journey. She felt it just then as she watched their backs go... that somehow what linked them together this time was another dangerous string like that of the Hunter Exam.
She watched the kids go and felt her heart go with them.
She wished then that things go smoothly for the four. She wished they didn't have to go through so many hardships. She wished that they could all go back to her with their smiles. That was all she could ask for.
"Aren't we a bit fast?" Leorio muttered as he stared outside the red bullet train window heading toward Kukuroo Mountain. He was wearing his favourite blue coat with a tie while Kurapika was on his comfortable white training suit he hadn't worn for a long time topped with his blue tabard. Gon and Killua matched them with over all jackets and t-shirts inside. They shared a table inside the train with the mountain on the scene of the window, "Last time I remembered we had to go through many trouble just to get there. And we didn't even reach the mansion."
"There's no need to go through all that since you're with me," Killua said in a matter of fact tone, "when we arrive at the station Gotoh's car is gonna take us to the gates and from there we can ride another car and end in the butler's quarters."
Then Killua's eyes darkened.
"But it's still impossible for you guys to reach the mansion."
"So he says," Kurapika gave Leorio a look but the man was found oblivious to this.
"The gates... huh..." Leorio muttered with an exasperated sigh, "I wonder if I can still push that stupid thing."
"Eh?" Killua's voice was sly, "admitting we're old now, aren't we?"
"Shuddup."
"That reminds me," Gon's spirit rose, "Is Zebro-san still there? It's been a long time after all!"
"Of course he is," Killua shrugged, "I kept thinking about it too but people there just refuse to die easily."
"But I don't want him to die, Killua!" Gon said reproachfully.
"Anyways," Killiua's serious tone returned, "once we're inside the gate it's not safe for us to talk about our plan. Since I've already contacted Gotoh I'm sure he has already informed my mom—it's his job. We'll enter the yard... and then after that I would prefer it... if only Leorio and I go continue to the mansion and you two stay at the butler's quarters."
And once again— this sparked an argument in the group.
"No!" Gon's voice was loud while Kurapika merely closed his eyes and shook his head for they thought they could change the Zoldyck boy's mind.
"I want to go," the emerald eyed boy said in a dead calm voice.
Killua scratched his head while Leorio didn't say anything as he pushed his glasses at the bridge of his nose.
"It's not safe for you guys to go there." The white haired boy reasoned.
"So you're saying it's not safe for Leorio?" Gon went on.
"It's different. I'll be with him."
"Then you'll be with us too!" the spiky haired youngster insisted with his bright eyes striking at his best friend, "I'll feel more safe if we're all together! Neh, Kill!"
Killua stared back at Gon looking uncertain.
"Look," he said as he leaned a little closer, "I know it's best if we're together... but it'll get more complicated once we're there with Alluka."
"Who?" Gon raised his head.
Killua looked uncertain for awhile. Then with a sigh, he opened up the discussion.
"She's my sister... a very special one. And she's the only one who can help Leorio."
This information was greeted with silence.
Kurapika then frowned and put a hand on his chin. He was half familiar with Killua's sibling from the little information he gathered from the Zoldyck boy before so he decided to clarify some matters too.
"You told me there's a 100% certainty she can succeed, right? Is she a doctor?"
"No. She's actually younger than me."
Leorio turned his head toward Killua's direction with his eyes fixedly close. Kurapika and Gon both stared at the white haired boy too, before looking at each other.
Killua licked his lips as he went on, "If you want to restore Leorio's real eyes then she can help. Otherwise we can just get Leorio have a medical operation and change his eyes with someone else's... if you prefer that."
Silence greeted him once more. It made the answer much apparent to Killua.
"Then just trust me and believe me when I say that only Leorio gets to enter the household. You don't have a problem with that, right, Leorio?"
The tall man straightened a little as he faced his comrades.
"I think it's the best plan."
Kurapika knew Leorio would say that. He knew the man would agree to anything that would keep him—Kurapika—out of harm's way. But it was something he couldn't let to pass on.
"I—" he started, the refusal on his lips already forming but then—
"Kurapika."
The blonde haired young man stared at the doctor's face and saw his serious gaze. A look Kurapika was so familiar with because the doctor often used it to him to make him agree on situations like this. It made the pretty boy's jaw tighten.
But then Leorio straightened and leaned both his arms on the table with a serious look. Kurapika's eyes then widened when the doctor gave him a reassuring smile.
"Leave this to me. I can do this."
Kurapika gaped at him, and then felt himself fall under his spell.
And then closed his eyes with a sigh.
"No way..." Gon muttered to himself but he knew it was already final.
The rest of their time on the train were spent on the plan of how to keep themselves from attention once they've entered the gates. Killua said it was possible his mum 'prepared' surprised for them—all of them.
"It doesn't matter if you come with us in the mansion or not," he said in a severe voice, "even staying in the butler's place isn't a reassurance that nothing would happen. So Gon, Kurapika, always keep your guard up."
"You don't need to tell me that," the blonde replied while Gon nodded with a serious look.
"Don't worry, ossan," Killua then turned to Leorio, "we're the ones who'll be targeted by my mom but I will protect you," there was a gloating look on the Zoldyck boy's face.
"Somehow..." a nerve pounded on Leorio's head as he muttered this, "I don't like the tone of your voice..."
"And then another thing," another dark look clouded the white haired boy's face, "my brother."
A gloom of silence greeted the group next and Killua pushed himself back on his chair with a long face.
"Yeah. I heard he's there. There's also a 100% chance he'll try to intervene. Don't ask me why though. He just likes getting in the way."
"It'll really be in our disadvantage if Illumi gets in the way," Kurapika noted quietly while Killua continued looking away, "he's not someone... no... he's never on anyone's reach from the very beginning."
There was a silent agreement.
"Anyways," Killua went on again as he looked at the blonde boy and his spiky haired best friend, "Illumi will most certainly meet me so he'll come after me and Leorio. When that happens... I'll meet him."
Kurapika and Gon both stared and saw blades of daggers flash on the Zoldyck boy's eyes.
There was no doubt—Killua was serious.
They arrive at the Testing Gate after another half an hour in the Zoldyck's dark limousine. As planned, Gotoh had met them in the train station and brought them there. An old round guard raised from his seat and saw the group. They saw his eyes widen in surprise.
"Killua-bochama! And his friends!"
"Zebro-san!" Gon waved at the old man who continued looking at them in disbelief. Kurapika smiled at him in recognition while Leorio looked around with his dark glasses flashing in the sunlight.
And Gon ran toward the guard in joy. As they exchanged words for awhile, Killua signalled for Gotoh to enter the gates first which he did without a second thought—and opened the fourth door with a single hand.
He then vanished inside.
Moments later, after checking out Zebro-san, Killua proceeded on opening the fifth gate.
"Let's go," he told them casually while Kurapika and Gon stared at him with their jaws dropped. "I told Gotoh to clear the area first for our coming."
Both Gon and Kurapika remained staring at him.
"He did something awful, didn't he?" the blind manmuttered when he felt Kurapika pulling his hand.
And the four walked in once more in the dark backyard of the Zoldyck family.
"It doesn't get less entertaining no matter how many times you return here with this kind of atmosphere," Kurapika was saying as they walk in the forest, "though, being with Killua is rather convenient."
"Yeah, maybe..." Leorio said, his hands still entwined with the blonde's.
They walked for some while with the thick forest never fading. They noticed it too—that even though it was still sunlight outside, the darkness of the forest was too ominous and gloomy. The tall trees were shading them from most of the light—then again it has always been dark around Kukuroo Mountain.
Once in a while Gon and Killua would whisper to one another. Kurapika knew what they were talking about for he could feel it as well—that somehow out there—he could feel prying eyes upon them.
"This is creepy," the tall man then whispered with a sigh, "I don't think it will matter here if you're blind or not."
Kurapika pressed his lips closed but kept a firm hand on Leorio.
They continued walking without any further surprises toward their destination. Once they stopped on the way because Canary was there—who Gon was really anticipating to meet.
"Gotoh informed me of your return," she told them with a bow, "I'm happy to see you back after such a long time, Killua-sama."
"Still formal, eh?" Killua said with hands at the back of his head, "glad to see you're doing fine. But we need to proceed now, Canary,"
"I understand," and the girl opened the path for them without any struggles.
"I really thought my mother had instructed her to stop us," Killua said as they walked from her line of vision.
"That was why you were preparing yourself for a fight," Kurapika said behind him.
"Yeah."
"I don't think Killua would hurt Canary though," Gon said quietly, "and she won't hurt you either."
"Well, who knows..." Killua muttered as they walked, "it's my family's land... after all..."
Darknes continued to loom ahead of them. Nothing whatsoever happened nor met them. It was Killua who was with them. Even if there were sudden movements around, Killua would just throw it a look and everything would pass on without anything happening. It was like that for the rest of the walk.
Until finally, after what seemed to be an hour walk, they saw light coming from a far. Kurapika's eyes glinted and he squeezed Leorio's hand on his.
"We're here," Killua said quietly as they stared at the butler's quarters.
Gotoh met them on the doorway and showed them to the living room.
"We'll proceed with the plan," the Zoldyck boy continued as he put his bag down the couch, "we'll take it from here, Leorio and I."
Leorio straightened while Gon and Kurapika stared at the white haired boy.
"Gotoh," Killua said in a serious tone, "stay with them. Don't try anything funny too, got that?"
The tall butler gave a small bow and a little smile.
"Of course."
"But Killua," Gon suddenly said with a jump in front of his friend, "we can't just stay here being entertained by Gotoh-san with his magic tricks!"
The butler's expression was blank.
"I really want to come too!" the spiky haired boy proceeded, "I'm sure we'll be more useful if we're together!"
"But this case is different, Gon," Killua said with a little frown, "it's my family we're talking about. As much as I want you to come—it's better for you guys not to meet them directly. You understand that, don't you?"
Gon looked crestfallen at the refusal. Kurapika knew there was no way in talking with Killua with this matter. He glanced at Leorio and then down at their entwined hands.
And then let go, surprising even Leorio himself.
"Gon," the blonde boy said as he placed a hand on Gon's shoulder. The youngster looked at him with his wide, bright eyes and then saw Kurapika shook his head. "Let's go with the plan."
Killua and Gon both stared at the blonde boy while Leorio was on silent reverie.
It was then that the plan continued.
The next thing, we found Killua and Leorio outside the cabin.
"We'll meet you here in a few hours," the white haired boy said with a thumbs up.
"Don't worry about us," Kurapika said, his eyes then lingering on the blind man standing behind Killua, "we'll be fine here."
Leorio nodded silently, "Don't cause trouble here, you two."
"Same for you," Kurapika told him, wanting very much to hold his hand again. Leorio seemed to think as well but he merely pushed his glasses back at the bridge of his nose. The blonde boy smiled slightly and knew the tall man must've been controlling himself. He was too.
"Behave now, Gon." Killua said, pointing at his friend.
"Yeah," Gon said with a sigh while Killua smirked at him.
"You're not thinking I'm hogging all the fun, are you?"
"Ehh?"
"Well, then," Killua said, "we'll be going."
And the two young men turned their backs while the two who were left behind watched them go.
"Leorio!"
The tall man paused at the call of his name while it took all his efforts for Kurapika not to join him.
And it ended with the doctor raising a hand into a wave. The blonde boy closed his fists.
It was an eerie sight—to watch their friends get swallowed up by the darkness toward where the most ominous auras were coming from. Kurapika felt his heart clenching.
They watched until they couldn't even see their friend's silhouette.
"Master Gon and Master Kurapika," Gotoh said with a bow near the doorway.
"Kill's near, mom," Milluki Zoldyck, a big man with dark, slimy hair, said as he stared at the monitor of his screen. Behind him stood a woman with no apparent facial expression for her face was hidden in the dark. Beside her stood a young man with a blank expression on his face.
"And he really brought his friends over," Lady Zoldyck said with a curve on her lips, "really, my son doing as he pleases... and only because his father let him do so... this is killing me."
"What should we do then?" Milluki turned to her with a nasty smirk, "getting rid of them should be easy, mom. Just give me a word and I'll take care of every—"
"Hush, Milluki!" Lady Zoldyck's voice was beginning to get hysterical, "do you want Kill to never return here again? Rid of that thinking! And besides, your father did say not to do anything."
"Geez," the round Zoldyck son said as he slumped down on his favourite chair, "he's acting like that because you always spoil him."
"Don't do anything too, Kalluto," the mother said as she turned to the young fellow standing behind her silently, "and where is Illumi? He was just here awhile ago!"
"Oh, mum! Don't start your hysterics because one of your son's gone missing again!" Milluki rolled his eyes while his mother looked from left to right.
"Illumi-aniki's gone to meet them."
Both the fat man and the lady looked down at Kalluto who spoke.
He stared back at them with his black, expressionless orbs.
"What is Illumi thinking..." Lady Zoldyck muttered, "... this is killing me."
And their eyes fell on Killua who was already standing outside the mansion's door.
The moment Leorio felt his feet touch a pavement ground, he felt chills run down his spine and cold sweat slid down the side of his face. It was not a help when he heard thunder clasp so near where he was standing it nearly made him back out.
And without even seeing—he knew they had arrived at the place.
The Zoldyck mansion where nobody had ever laid their eyes on.
At least—not a living person aside from the family itself.
And Leorio felt himself tremble at the ominous aura of the place itself.
"We're here." Killua said.
"Y-you don't need to tell me that," the doctor licked his lips and was ever glad for Killua's comforting presence, "are you sure your family is okay with me intruding?"
"Of course they are not," Killua said, stepping ahead while Leorio followed behind him.
"What?"
"Don't worry. I told him of your situation," the Zoldyck boy continued quietly, "I told them you're blind so there was no need to worry of you seeing things you don't need to see. The problem is..."
There was a sound of door opening and the doctor knew they were already about to be engulfed by hell itself.
And Killua's eyes flickered.
"What will happen once you are able to see...?"
The doors closed behind him.
"I wonder if they've already reached the place." Gon said thoughtfully as he looked at the grandfather clock opposite him. Kurapika was well aware of the time since separating with Leorio.
"They have," Gotoh said as he motioned for a butler to bring in some tea for the guests.
"Really...huh..." Gon lowered his eyes on the tea in front of him and sighed.
Kurapika too, was well aware that by this time Leorio must've entered the Zoldyck mansion. It made him close his eyes. It was the only thing he could do to control his impatience.
And then suddenly they heard a chuckle from outside the cabin. A familiar, enticing chuckle.
Both Gon and Kurapika froze at the sound—even Gotoh had to look sharply at the doorway.
"Intruders?" he got up from his seat while Gon did the same—
Inside the mansion, Killua and Leorio were found standing just outside a large door that appeared to be a vault.
"Where are we?" the blind man whispered with chills still lingering on his body.
"Outside my sibling's room." Killua said without further thought. "Now, Leorio. Stay back for a minute."
"Huh?"
"I need to enter first. I need to talk to her privately."
Leorio was silent for a moment. Then he nodded.
Killua turned the locks, and then the vault opened. The number of metallic sound being opened surprised Leorio and he wondered deeply just what kind of room the Zoldyck kids have—do they have a cage for a room? Or was it merely for protection?
"Stay here," Killua repeated once the opening of the door was over.
"Again," Leorio muttered when he felt Killua leave him, "you don't need to tell me that."
The chuckle continued to ring in the butler's cabin and everyone in it looked at every corner of the roof to see where it was coming from.
"This voice..." Kurapika whispered while Gon nodded beside him.
"Yeah..." the boy gulped, "it's him."
And like a striking lighting—an overwhelming aura shook the occupants of the house and as the presence made itself clear—they suddenly realized where the voice was coming from—
"Outside!" Gon shouted but not before Gotoh could run as swift as the wind toward the doorway and out of the house—
"Wait—!" Kurapika jumped to his feet but then froze on the spot—
What...?
"So it really is you, huh? The chain user?" said a voice that sent fear on the blonde boy's heart.
T-this voice... could it be...?
Kurapika's eyes widened and with all his might and will, he looked up the ceiling to where the voice was coming from. The ceiling was dark, yet in that darkness appeared as if he was hanging by a thread— a tall, young man with pale white skin and black, shoulder length silky hair.
A man whose eyes reflected nothing but complete darkness.
Illumi Zoldyck.
Kurapika felt his heart skipped a beat at the sudden appearance before him.
Just what is the meaning of this?
Leorio kept his feet firm on the ground where Killua had left him. Aside from not trusting his instinct by then, he believed the best way to survive was to follow Killua's instructions.
Minutes passed after that, and then Leorio heard footsteps coming out from the vault room.
Killua must've done talking with his sister.
"Leorio," Killua's voice then came as he emerged from the door quietly, "listen to me..."
The white haired boy was cut in mid air when he stepped outside the room and found it empty.
Leorio was nowhere to be seen. Killua's eyes rounded and his claws appeared.
"This has got to be a bad joke..."
Back at the butler's house, Kurapika managed to overcame his surprised and prepared himself.
"Illumi... Zoldyck..." he whispered with such precaution, his mind racing.
At least he isn't with Killua and Leorio.
Illumi's dark eyes didn't change as his feet swiftly touched the ground.
"I don't understand why you look so relieved," the Zoldyck older brother said in his dead calm voice as he stared at Kurapika again, "when you are here with me."
The blonde boy closed his fists.
"You aren't after Killua... that's what I'm relieved about."
"Hmm?" Illumi still lack any expression, "I can come after him any time I want. No. I am actually here because of you."
A contraction of eyebrows appeared on the blonde boy's fair face.
"What do you mean?"
"How'd you forget?" Illumi then voiced out, "all that darkness you did in the past?"
And like a spider crawling toward him—a cloth of darkness seemed to wrap itself around the blonde boy—engulfing him—swallowing him—
T-this! Kurapika gritted his teeth as sudden panic rose in his heart.
That was when he found Illumi in front of him with his arms extended—his middle finger almost touching Kurapika's forehead. And his eyes continued to intimidate Kurapika with its pitch black—darkness.
"It's interesting of you to leave everything behind," Illumi's voice echoed in Kurapika's ears, "it's also interesting how I'm going to make you remember them."
Kurapika stared and then felt cold as memories flashed before his eyes.
And all he could do was to scream.
"LEORIO!" Killua shouted as well as he ran inside the mansion, "LEORIO!"
A/N: Panic is in the air!
What is happening with this lot!?
And why are we suddenly action packed!?
*shakes the head*
Its as they say- if you want to achieve peace-
YOU'VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR IT!
Thanks for reading! Now for the last part of the EPILOGUE!
Thank You!