*Finding Leorio*

by: WhiteGloves

"It has no effect on me...

But that just means that I can bear the pain.

It still hurts."

-Killua-

Chapter 3: His Plan

Senritsu has been staring at the two vessels containing a pair of red eyes on the table for quite some time now. Kurapika has been on the phone the moment they returned on their room and was shouting on it over and over again.

"What?" Kurapika exclaimed, "you didn't see anyone enter or exit the area? That's impossible! A guy has slipped in and out and you have no idea about it…? No, I want you to continue searching for him. I already gave you the description. Check all the security cameras and report to me when you found something about this guy. I don't care just check everything and find him! I'll be waiting!"

Kurapika hung the phone and then contacted another one. Senritsu just listened as she quietly sat on the chair beside the table.

"Hello, it's me," Kurapika said with composure this time, "I want you to investigate something about a man… yes, he goes by the name Leorio Paladiknight and he's a professional hunter. No, I don't know about that… but it's possible that he's keeping a low profile… yes… contact people from the underground as well… yes, it's very important. I'll be waiting."

He hung up for the second time and then remained rooted on the spot.

Senritsu sensed the turbulence in the blond boy's heart that she opted to remain quiet. After that, Kurapika gave a sigh and headed toward the table where the vessels were. His eyes were clouded with confusion.

"You're worried…" Senritsu whispered after a moment of silence, "that he's changed."

Kurapika just stared transfixed at the eyes, and then bit his lip.

"That guy…" he whispered after a moment, then hatred etched on his eyes, "I don't know what he's up to… but taking on a Ryodan on his own is impossible… how he did it and how he found one of these just doesn't add up… Without connection, that'd be impossible… just what is that guy doing?"

"Maybe he's worried about you too," Senritsu said simply that made Kurapika look at him with hard eyes.

"Worrying about me doesn't mean he needs to do these things…" Kurapika said after awhile with tight jaws, "I don't know how he managed it but I need to speak with him… recklessness may just be his one way to death. I'm even surprised he got back alive after one Ryodan… but just how…?"

Senritsu gazed at her agitated comrade, and then lowered her eyes on the vessels.

"Actually," she said after awhile, "there's something I saw…"

Kurapika shot Senritsu a look with full of attention. Senritsu looked up at Kurapika with meaningful eyes as she said, "It was only for a moment, but when he gave me the bag, I accidentally saw his whole face and… I saw a long ugly scar right across his eyes down to his cheek… the one his been hiding in the dark."

Kurapika's eyes flickered.

"What…?" he muttered as Senritsu nodded at him in confirmation

"The scar looked quiet fresh… not only that, I sensed he was trying to hide his emotion from me. I'm afraid he was able to do it because aside from his normal beating, I couldn't sense anything else from him that's why I told you something's wrong."

She glanced up at Kurapika with a concerned look on her face as she said in a matter of fact voice, "I think he's deliberately hiding it. He knew about me so he's keeping it… he knows how… he's not the same person I saw the last time but it's him."

Kurapika didn't speak for a moment and then he immediately took out his phone and dialled a number. Senritsu watched a trickle of sweat run down the blonde boy's face.

"Hello," he said strongly after a moment, "Killua? It's me. May I know where you are right now?... ahh.. I know that… Listen, do you have any idea where Leorio might be? Is that so? No… he's just causing me a little trouble… yeah, it's definitely serious. Is Gon there? That's good… Killua, I've got a favor to ask you. Can you look into Leorio and what he's been doing since the last time you saw him? It's very important that we know… I can tell you little details over the phone but this is the truth— he came to meet me just now with a dead body of a Ryodan member and a pair of red eyes."

Senritsu could hear the shock responses from the other line of the phone and close her eyes.

"No," Kurapika said after a moment, "he disappeared right after that… he seems to have become good at it for some reason. I know… I've been thinking about the same possibility… so can I count on you and on Gon? I'm in Naria City hotel… Yeah, I know. Will you send a word if you find anything…? Thank you… Yes, I know… he's that of an idiot alright. Thank you."

He clicked on his phone. Senritsu stared at him. She could see Kurapika grinding his teeth again and sense that turbulent feeling encircling his heart.

"That guy…" Kurapika repeated all over again with hands clasped together.

For weeks Kurapika didn't hear from Leorio again. He had his men take care of the body of the Ryodan and kept close eyes to the Kuruta eyes. His information weren't doing very much as well for there is little to know about Leorio's exploration after their parting. He didn't even hear a word from Gon and Killua which made it more of a mystery.

Though Leorio may be one of his problems right then, he couldn't just ignore information about the whereabouts of the other Kuruta eyes. He has his scope about a pair of Kuruta eyes and was reluctant to be disturbed to find it when for the first time, Killua contacted him.

He was in the middle of reading an intel about the billionaire whose got a pair of eyes when his phone rang. Picking it up, he recognized Killua's voice.

"Hey," Killua said on the other end, "mind seeing me and Gon right now? We're outside your building."

Kurapika was surprised to hear that and hastened his way toward his old companions.

Gon and Killua haven't changed much since the last time he saw them. He found them lurking in front of the building and when they saw him Gon immediately run toward him in delight while Killua brought up the rear.

"Kurapika!" Gon called as he shook hands with the blond boy, "How have you been?"

"I'm doing fine," Kurapika managed an easy smile and then turned a serious face towards Killua. Killua gave him the same look before looking up at the tall building behind Kurapika.

"Do you mind if we talk about the old man inside?" he said quietly with hands on both pockets, "It's not gonna be nice to be talking about what that idiot's been doing in the middle of sunlight."

Kurapika's eyes turned serious as well as Gon's. The blond boy knew Killua wouldn't just appear out of nowhere if he didn't have any serious information that is worth discussing in person. And by the way Gon was acting it seemed a very crucial one.

"Let's talk inside."

Kurapika locked his door and waited for Gon and Killua to settle on their chairs. Senritsu has joined them and was across the two boys.

"How have you been, Senritsu-san?" Gon greeted politely for starters. Senritsu nodded and smiled.

"I'm glad to see you again, Gon-kun, though the reason for our meeting is not really what I want our next meeting would be."' she looked at Kurapika who nodded at Killua.

"What did you find?"

"Not much, but it's worth the start," the Zoldyck boy started conversationally, "but really, I still can't believe what you told me on the phone. Is Leorio really the one who killed that guy?"

"I cannot say for sure. Leorio might just have delivered the body."

"What's the cause of death?"

Kurapika paused, and then, "Physical. His heart was ripped out."

Killua's eyes narrowed. There was some meaningful flicker on them for a moment but Kurapika shook his head as if to read his mind.

"No… I don't think it's any of your family."

"What made you say that?"

"It's the ripping of the heart. It's not as smooth as your family could do. It was a poor job."

Killua grinned, "Then it might just be the old man after all!"

No one but him found it humorous.

Killua rolled his eyes, "Well—not like I was expecting my family to do anything with Leorio to begin with…"

"What I want to know," Kurapika said quietly, "is how Leorio managed to neutralize Shalnark… it would require a powerful person to catch a Ryodan just like that."

"Only if," Killua continued by taking a brown envelop from inside his bag and showing it to Kurapika, "if Leorio's alone. We've found a little information about him but it's a good start if we want to know what he's been up to. You'll be interested to know that details."

And he went on.

"Right after he left Yorknew City it seemed he spent his time by studying for his medical exam. Then in the middle of studying he abruptly stopped and has gone missing since. These are some footage that were caught the day he disappeared a year ago and that's him walking with a man… do you recognize him?"

Kurapika looked at the picture and saw Leorio with his back on the camera with someone right next to him. The guy was as tall as Leorio wearing a black jacket with curly hair under his black cap. His position in the picture was enough to show a side of his face.

"That's a famous guy you've got there," Killua hinted with a glint on his eye. Kurapika frowned at the man looking thoughtful. That was when his eyes showed recognition.

"That man…" he breathed, "could it be… Rye Shin?!"

Senritsu and Gon looked up at him. Killua smiled.

"So you do recognize him."

"Yes… I've heard about that guy," Kurapika cut in with a trickle of sweat at the side of his face, "This guy's got himself pretty famous for years… he's most known to be an excellent black list hunter… and he's method in finishing his enemy is pretty simple… his expertise is mind control."

Gon frowned, "But there are a lot of mind control users out there... what makes him so different?"

"It's because it's the focus of his ability," Kurapika shook his head, "He can only control people with powerful nen. The more powerful your nen is, the more you are prone to his control. I often hear his name with a nasty rumor after it… and his techniques are ruthless… you can say he's Hisoka's shadow."

Gon and Killua shrivelled. Then the Zoldyck kid smiled a little.

"Why don't they fight each other then and see who's more ruthless?" Gon smiled forcefully.

"Hisoka doesn't like him," Kurapika muttered, "but all the reason for him to look for Rye."

"Well..." Killua cleared his throat, "what do you know? Is it by coincidence that he's with the old man who also mysteriously disappeared and returned with a Ryodan?"

The white haired boy threw the question at Kurapika who was still staring transfixed at the photo.

"It's like you're saying Leorio went to join him," Gon said after a moment of silence that made the rest look at him. There was a clear look of disappointment in Gon's eyes that made Killua sigh.

"Yeah… that's exactly what I'm saying because then how would you explain the old man's luck in killing a Ryodan and retrieving Kuruta eyes like magic? His connection with this person is the only logical explanation for all of this."

Gon lowered his eyes. Kurapika stared at him, and then averted his eyes back on the photo.

"But I still don't understand," the blond boy said, "why would a person like this man be interested with Leorio, let alone help him? I don't see any special reason…"

"Maybe he's controlling Leorio!" Gon suggested with urgency.

Killua threw his hands up at the back of his head and slump his back on the couch with a mild look of one who doesn't have any idea at all.

"That bugs me too," he admitted, "But what would he achieve by controlling Leorio? I mean—Leorio's your average type of man except for being a licensed hunter. And not to mention—he's pretty ordinary, right?"

"I don't think Leorio's ordinary at all," Gon said in a matter of fact voice that made Kurapika glance at him, "I think of all the people I've met, Leorio has the most candid aura about him."

Killua snorted, "That's why he's pretty ordinary, neh? Anyways, aside from that there is little known about Leorio after. Oh yeah, it seemed like he gave up being a doctor for the time being."

Kurapika straightened as he glanced at the Zoldyck kid. Then rummaging through his pocket, he took out Leorio's first letter and showed it to Killua. The boys read it together while Kurapika stood up and strode toward the glass window.

"Seems like Leorio's fine," Gon said with a relieved expression, "to be able to write something like this, I think he's still the same guy."

"You think so?" Killua murmured that made Gon stare at him. There was this glint on Killua's eyes that Gon found disturbing. The white haired boy was staring at Kurapika with glinting eyes once more, "you realized it don't you, Kurapika? Leorio's clear plan?"

Kurapika didn't answer but merely stared quietly ahead.

"Why? What's his plan?" Gon nagged Killua with a look of concern in his eyes.

Killua closed his eyes.

"I don't know what kind of guts he's got, but it's clear the old man's playing a game." he told Gon in a convinced voice, "From this letter… It can only mean one thing…"

Both Gon and Senritsu anticipated Killua's last words as the white haired boy smiled with glee though there was an uncertain sweat drop at the side of his face and said…

"He wants to finish the Ryodan before Kurapika gets to them. And he's doing it before we can even say 'go'."

-To Be Continued-

next the gangs gonna be on the hunt in the next chapter:

His Whereabouts

Thanks for Reading!