*Finding Leorio*

by: WhiteGloves

"melancholy" is the word

Chapter 8: His Consequences (part 3)

Rye didn't look as nice but he still looked indifferent.

"It's simple. His chain didn't kill Kuroro for a reason… but he cunningly finished another spider before- Uvogin? Killing a bloodlust monster like that must've meant your friend became one himself. He has already swum in the pool of blood of his enemy. That made him stronger—but then, in finishing Kuroro—something or 'somebody' interfered."

His eyes glinted at Leorio and for a moment Leorio suddenly had that nagging feeling that this guy—Rye—also knew what took place between them and the Ryodan.

"Having said that, your friend needs to be more merciless," Rye added simply, "if I am to help him, all I need is turn his mind into someone like them who doesn't hesitate to kill when its kill time. He may be on his way to that mindset but it's still not enough."

"T-that…" Leorio started, already mustering his strength to get on his feet.

For the first time Rye smiled from ear to ear and that was when Leorio realized who this guy was reminding him of. It was Hisoka! That bloodlust monster whose idea of killing surpasses every single killer out there.

"You can't!" Leorio breathed with wide eyes, "That's not what I meant when I ask you to help him!"

"Hmm? And since when have you decided my method of helping your friend?"

Leorio was lost for words as he stared at the guy. It was all not going according to what he planned… turning Kurapika to a killer was never his intention. He wanted to help Kurapika so that his life will at least be saved! Kurapika doesn't need to die for his revenge! He found someone who he thought could help him but just then it turned out differently… it doesn't look good… if he didn't stop this guy then surely…

"Bastard," he muttered strongly, "that's not what I… I want you to help him survive! Not turn him into another killer!"

Was it only Leorio's imagination? Or did Rye's eyes turned even colder?

The next thing Leorio knew, Rye turned towards him—in the next blink of an eye, Rye was standing in front of him with eyes full of menace.

"Hm?"

Leorio swallowed hard, his whole body numb for some reason. "You…"

"You said you want me to help," Rye's voice was monotonous once more, "but the only way to help him is to make him what he wants to be. Didn't you realize that? You should have. The moment he chose revenge exactly means he wants to destroy people. You cannot help him by merely thinking of his survival. You're a little soft in the head, aren't you? Thinking of the possibility of saving him… aren't you blissful?"

Leorio could hear him, and he could only gape.

"Your friend doesn't want saving," Rye continued in a matter of fact voice, "he wants to finish his task. If you really want to help him then stop being a nuisance. The way you are thinking… you're only getting in the way."

Leorio felt every word Rye has said was etching on his memory like blades cutting into his skin. He couldn't take it, but it was all ringing on his ears.

Getting in the way… him? Asking to save a friend was getting in the way…?

Rye turned his back on him as Leorio fell on his knees again.

There was no way Rye's words were not true… knowing Kurapika, if that guy heard what he just said, definitely Kurapika will never let him hear the end of it. That stubborn fool…

Leorio clenched his hands at the thought that it was all hopeless. He then berated himself for worrying about a fool like that whose only dream was to die. Yeah, after all the tragedy he's been through… maybe Kurapika does want to die…

"He's my friend," Leorio found his voice flashes of Kurapika and their journey together appeared before his mind, "that's why I want to help… even just a little I want to help him…? You bastard… how can I think of letting him do as he please… you're the weird one."

He shot Rye a glowering look and didn't care what the bastard thinks. All he wanted was to help Kurapika in anyway because it wasn't his battle alone. Leorio strongly believed that. But Rye looked as if he was not interested anymore. What more, he seemed to be eager to leave—

"Where is this friend of yours?" Rye said after a moment that shook Leorio, "I don't have any other reason to speak with you. If he wants to continue his dark path, I'll gladly help and you cannot stop us. I've always admired people who go on that path… I want to see more people going in that path."

Rye chuckled and Leorio was strongly reminded of Hisoka.

"You… why?"

"It's because it's interesting."

"It's not interesting!" Leorio bellowed indignantly, "My friend is destroying himself because of those monsters! He has thrown himself in and has never thought of living since! I won't let you add to his destruction!"

Rye merely chuckled as if to mock the man's resolve. Leorio gritted his teeth once more.

"You…" he started, "you've made up your mind to use Kurapika for your entertainment, haven't you? So that's why you were so eager to find out my connection with the Ryodan… so that you can have your fun…"

Rye's eyes gleamed in the light of the night. Leorio could just see him smiling.

"You're troublesome. It's not as if you can stop our meeting now. I bet your friend will be delighted to see me. What more, if its all the Kuruta eyes he's after, I know more about it than anyone else seeing as I know the place where they were first auctioned...if I told him that, I guess we'll call it even. I do not help people out of whim without getting something in turn after all…"

And Leorio saw his eyes once more and a glimmer of something terrifying was there— like a satisfaction he could not understand. All he knew that it was something not acceptable—not for a human.

"Why do you do that?" the man spat looking disgusted, "making a killer out of humans—you're not human yourself!"

"To have some fun," repeated Rye, "I've seen how humans go to such lengths for their emotions, and I've seen pretty good ones turn into fantastic demons… merely extinguishing vile creatures like the Ryodan is no fun for me. All I want is to see full potential of a human once they've delve into the deepest darkness of their mind… and let them run free… that's what worth observing, don't you agree? We all have our free will after all… you can't tell me this friend of your is not acting on his own accord. If anything—I think he is really the one who doesn't need any persuasion. I've seen someone like him. You cannot imagine how a wicked creature he is right now."

Leorio's eyes rounded. Is this guy talking about a certain someone he knew? Leorio stared at the back of the guy with his mind racing. He could just see Kurapika agreeing with Rye and by then, everything will be too late… to turn everything into something like this was something he never anticipated.

"I want to help him!" Leorio blurted out desperately, his eyes flashing daggers at Rye who, in turn, gave him a gloating look.

"But you can't help him if you keep that attitude, Leorio. Simply put you don't have the guts."

An angry vein popped on the side of Leorio's face.

"I don't have the guts…?" he muttered, grinding his teeth.

Rye Shin traveled his eyes around looking uninterested. "You don't even understand what your friend truly needs. He needs someone who has the guts to kill, not someone who wants to stop him."

And Leorio stood up, his body rigid, his fist clenched and his face contorted.

"If you want to talk about not having guts… I think you're talking to the wrong person…" he whispered, eyes flashing as he looked up, full of determination, "there's nothing I can't do! Guts? Don't make me laugh… guts is all I have even if I'm not that strong!"

There was a chuckle in front of him and the next thing, Leorio found Rye laughing.

"What's so funny!" Leorio hollered furiously, "if you're so damn great—why don't you tell me what to do to become strong? It's what you're good at right—to make a monster and have your fun!"

Rye stopped laughing and eyed Leorio once more. Leorio gave the guy a hard look before looking away with gritted teeth… not like it was possible… but if he could get stronger then he'll be the one to help his friend and not a monster like this. Thinking about it now…

"What do I do?" he whispered after a moment of silence, "if I want to get stronger—what do I do?"

Rye, who had been walking leisurely toward the opposite direction, didn't even look back as he answered, "If I must say… if you want to be rid of people like the Ginei Ryodan, you must be one like them."

Leorio didn't respond but just stood there with a bewildered look.

"You mean I kill them?" Leorio swallowed hard, "you want me to kill…"

Rye visibly smiled and for the first time, Leorio understood that feeling. It wasn't just the aura of this person. It was his intent. Someone who doesn't hesitate to kill, this guy Rye Shin has that aura— someone like Hisoka.

And then the voice floated in his mind again as if it was just a whispered on his ear—

There's no better way to be a killer than to experience being one.

And there it was again—the feeling of someone squeezing a memory in his mind. Flashes of people killing each other—gruesome death—blood.

And Leorio was down on his knees once more, his eyes throbbing out of its sockets. How many times must he see something like that…? And the images continued to flash before his eyes.

"Are you sure you're up to my expectations?" Rye whispered from somewhere above him, "I do not mind. If you die in the process."

"Shut up," Leorio hissed as he shut his eyes close, "if I manage... to get through this, you'll be a laughing stock..."

Rye smiled.

"If you insist."

Leorio saw far enough blood to make him clutch his head. Rye's eyes glinted.

"I have much more to offer," he heard Rye's voice from a distant on the corner of his mind, "if you really want the strength to go after the guys to help your friend's clan then I will willingly help you if you have the guts. But remember this; I am not less than they are. I will give you pain. I will show you no mercy. I will drive this memory—and all other hideous things— in your mind until you can no longer think of living. I will drive you mad. I will push you to the last sane corner of your mind… until all you wish is for everything to stop. Mercy doesn't work on the people you want to go after. If you want them gone you must be one of them. Think about this carefully and go. There is always turning back. But if you finally decided on an answer, you know where to find me."

Leorio gasped as silence rang in his ears. The voice and the flashes have disappeared.

Looking up with eyes blurry and with unequal breathes, he found he was already alone.

Leorio stayed in his room for two days. He stayed there without bothering to turn his lights on. He never answered anyone who knocks. He never took the exam that was scheduled a day ago. He was in his room in one corner with head clutched on his hands.

He could still hear them cry… their anguish please of help…

He could still see their blood… all splattered on the ground…

And he was afraid of this but… he could smell their scent. The scent of blood was lingering on his nose… on his arms to his body… what made it all so real?

Burning red eyes suddenly flashed before his eyes and Leorio looked up with his heart thumping. Perspiration has already claimed his whole body and face. He wasn't feeling any hunger.

Slowly realizing that he was still in his room, the man breathed and looked down the ground once more. The projection of the memory in his mind was probably the work of that guy. Maybe he could create illusion. But Leorio has decided that even if it was an illusion, it was far too real. He never heard the real story about the massacre, but from what he saw it was revolting.

As he laid his head on his arms, his mind had traveled back to Kurapika. He couldn't blame Kurapika for choosing his path. No, if anything, he could sympathize with him. The mere thought of his clan being killed so gruesomely was enough to make Leorio mad… yet Kurapika, in his early age had to go through the idea without losing his mind… or maybe he did… Leorio couldn't be sure. Kurapika had always seemed strong to him… so intelligent and powerful...

Leorio dug his fingernails on his skin. He could just remember the first time he met Kurapika. How rigid and severe he was. It even came to the point that he, Leorio, insulted his tribe. The mere memory sent a pang on his already weakened heart. He was really a fool.

Hours went by and all that was there as silence.

His medical book lay forgotten on the floor. Leorio stare at it blankly.

Rye Shin's eyes seemed to go deep in his mind. Leorio dug his fingers on his arms and closed his eyes tightly.

"I'll beat you... just wait and see..." he whispered like an oath.

Within moments, he was on his feet. The man fixed himself, even wore his favorite coat and tie. He picked up all the books lying on the floor and placed them neatly on his table. And then he headed for the door and opened it.

Pietro… can you wait up there for awhile?

I have another friend who needs saving. I don't want him to die.

I won't feel right if I just left him out there…he's a reckless guy, see?

I'll do what I can… unlike the last time…

So… don't think badly of me…

The door closed.

-To Be Continued-

The continued mystery in the next chapter:

Hisoka's Smile

Thanks for Reading!