*Finding Leorio*

by: WhiteGloves

"Because true friends are as hard to come by as having true talents. "

~Satotsu (Hunter Examiner 1)

Chapter 17: His World

Chrollo watched calmly as the bandit's secret, which he was holding on his right hand, shone brightly as a last sign of completing its job. The Phantom Troup leader's eyes shone and flickered after it, knowing that his book was taking its time in completing— a phenomenon that hasn't happened for many years. He knew that it had taken in some nasty powers (he actually felt a tinge of something ominous as he waited for its completion). How terrible it would have been if this guy was able to maximize his potential. Chrollo would have seen another threat in his time—especially someone who was on the opposing side.

Then suddenly the light disappeared from the book and then it kept still in his hand like an ordinary book. With the idea that another tremendous power was added above his already magnificent ones—Chrollo couldn't help but smile.

He then averted his eyes coldly to the man crouched on the ground and howling in front of him. Whatever this man may have given him, the fact that Leorio killed his members forever marked a grudge in his heart. He gazed down at Leorio with his eyes not intending to forgive.

Leorio's shoulders were shaking, his fists were clutched tightly and he was pounding them on the floor nonstop. Chrollo could now see the man's body clearly for the black shadow covering it was gone. His body was full of deep scars and scratches that infer a nasty past. There were no clear directions where the lines of scars on his body were going for most of them go on different directions.

This made Chrollo frown.

What kind of vicious past did this man went through in such a short time? If he remembered correctly, it wasn't too long ago when he labelled Leorio as a common man—he didn't even pay attention to him when the Kuruta boy and those two other little interesting children were after his group. What kind of special training did this man go through? And who, if anyone can enlighten him now, was this man's master?

The questions were each coming up on his head when he was suddenly reminded of Feitan's lost. The fact that Leorio was able to use Feitan in his heart's content didn't do much to improve Chrollo's temper. He clutched his fists slowly.

"Don't be too hard on the eyes," Chrollo heard Hisoka say and he was reminded that he was holding a delicate pair, "I adore them you know."

Chrollo slowly looked sideways at Hisoka. He noticed the side of the magician's face had splatter of blood on them. It also didn't escape him how the magician seemed to be enjoying his time.

"You would have enjoyed taking these eyes from the boy if you had induced him to be angry even more." He told the Hisoka in a matter of a fact tone. He remembered well the feeling of taking those burning eyes from that special tribe years ago in the middle of their rage. It was one of the highlights of the Ryodan for him.

Hisoka pressed his lips a little, and then ended up shrugging.

"Well… I was in a hurry to take them out, if you didn't notice."

Chrollo didn't say anything as he turned back to the man crying in front of him. The Ryodan leader squeezed the eyeballs lightly on his palm, and then uncaringly threw them on the ground in front of the helpless Leorio. The boss clearly didn't give a damn if those eyes were the only pair in the world. He actually felt like crushing them in front of Leorio just to spite him. Maybe he would.

The eyes covered in red blood rolled slowly in front of the despairing man who immediately swallowed his voice as he saw the eyes come by.

"These are…" he breathed again, raising his trembling hands and wishing to touch the eyes but at the same time afraid to do so, "no… Kurapika's eyes…"

The red eyeballs looked back pointlessly at him.

Leorio's eyes flickered and his whole body shook. Memories of his friend that seemed like a distant past suddenly came back like they were all part of his yesterday. Coldness enveloped his body and for the first time in years, Leorio felt his cold, unshaken heart would explode with all the sudden emotions flowing to it. It had been years since he felt such a strong surge of overwhelming emotions.

Chrollo watched Leorio's anguish form with an unfazed expression.

"Mourn as much as you can," Chrollo whispered coldly, his eyes showing no kindness at all as he slowly walked toward the man, "the fact that you have failed the friend you've tried so hard to protect… you can live bearing that responsibility…"

Leorio's lips trembled as tears flowed down his cheeks quietly. Chrollo's eyes suddenly hardened as he stopped in front of Leorio. Then without warning—he stoop down one of the eyes and crushed the eye ball under his foot.

Both Hisoka and Leorio suddenly looked surprised—though Hisoka looked a little more amused.

"NO!" Leorio bellowed as he threw himself forward and grabbed Chrollo's leg, "STOP IT!"

Without even blinking, Chrollo swayed his leg with such a force that threw Leorio backwards. The powerless man was thrown and hit the wall with a short groan. The force robbed him of his breathe— then he fell down the ground with a thud where he hunkered his body in pain with his lips bloody.

Chrollo turned his back at the man, not wishing to be bothered anymore.

"Pathetic," he said quietly, "You can come after me with all your might but the way you are right now, you'll be nothing more than a nuisance. You're not even worth my time. I never want to see a weak guy like you again."

Hisoka chuckled as Chrollo went pass him. The Ryodan leader stopped and gave Hisoka a side glance.

"You've been true to your words, Hisoka… I shall grant you your wish sooner."

"Oh? Is that so?" Hisoka's eyes glinted maliciously. Chrollo's calm eyes showed the tiniest spark in them as he stared at Hisoka. He knew something was up.

"Do you intend to fight me here?" he asked in a tone so cold it would have penetrated anyone who heard it— unless you are Hisoka that is, who seemed to feel the thrill of having the Ryodan leader's attention all to himself. It was a pleasure no one can understand.

"If you want to, that is…" he said very meaningfully as he eyed Chrollo and then licked his right hand which was bloody from his recent activity, "I won't stop you."

Chrollo didn't like Hisoka's implied meaning and was about to point it out when his attention was taken by Leorio's sudden gasp.

Leorio stared in disbelief at something on the floor.

"What…?" he murmured sounding confused, "why is this…?"

Chrollo slowly glanced at the man.

Leorio was gaping at the other eyeball on the floor in front of him. It seemed like the ball rolled there. The boss watched as Leorio slowly and hesitatingly picked up the eyeball with his fingers. He watched as Leorio wiped the bloody eyeball with his thumb. That was when his eyes widened as he finally noticed what was wrong—it wasn't only him. Once Leorio wiped the blood off the eye they all realized it – the eyeball Leorio was holding doesn't contain the red eyes— the pupil was blue.

"What?" Chrollo muttered but then felt the hair at the back of his neck stand up as Hisoka's resounding snicker came after the dead silence of his realization.

"What's the meaning of this?" he shot Hisoka a deadly look but then something else finally caught his eyes. Someone was staring at him from the other side of the room. Chrollo turned his eyes and saw them.

He didn't notice them at first for they were enveloped by the shadow—but when it seemed like the illusion was wearing off, he finally saw he first noticed Kurapika, with his red flaming eyes, staring at him from the same spot where he was tied. His eyes were as red as ever. This made Chrollo frown. Beside Kurapika, a tall figure of a man was standing. He was a pale, placid looking young man who was covering Kurapika's mouth to stop him from crying out.

Chrollo's mouth slightly opened as he recognized who it was.

"YOU!" he hissed in disbelief, "Rye Shin!"

"Kuroro," Rye said back quietly as he removed his hand from Kurapika's lips.

"LEORIO!" the blond boy shouted at once to the man still kneeling on the ground. Leorio looked up toward the voice and found himself staring at his friend. The man blinked for a second and then life started to came back to his eyes.

"Kurapika!" he muttered then slowly look down the eye he was holding, "but whose…?"

Chrollo also had the same question in mind when he heard Hisoka's chuckle again. Looking around, the Ryodan leader noticed the magician eyeing something on the ground. Following his eyes, surprise and boiling anger struck Chrollo as he saw his only remaining member— Machi's body lying on the floor with her eyes gouged out. She was dead—Hisoka had killed her.

Dead silence followed his findings.

"You…" he turned to the magician with wrath in his eyes, "betrayed me?"

Hisoka stood straight and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that's why I told you I adored those eyes… and then you crushed it with your own feet. Poor Machi-chan."

Chrollo's eyes flickered and darkened. Absolute foreboding feeling filled the whole room and the next moment he disappeared—

Like a flash—Chrollo had started his retaliation—he didn't waste any time targeting none other than Rye Shin. In a blink of an eye he was in front of the Black List hunter with a deadly weapon in shape of a horn on his fist. He aimed it at Rye—

Rye's eyes flickered and there was a clash. A sharp whip in the air made Kurapika shut his eyes close and Leorio to lose the eyeball that belonged to Machi.

Chrollo and Rye both eyed each other when the outcome of the attack came to view,

"So you are being controlled," Chrollo muttered his eyes falling on him, "Hisoka?"

Hisoka was in front of Rye and was the one who deflected Chrollo's attack. There were dark circles under the magician's eyes that had never been so alive. His pale face had that shadow look in them and when the magician was like that it was better to keep out of his way. But not Chrollo.

"Hardly," he answered as he swung his arms that made the Ryodan leader jump lightly away, "let's just say he has a better offer for my entertainment *chuckles*,"

Hisoka stood up high in front of Rye with his body in an angle provocative enough as if to invite another attack. Rye Shin was also gazing at Chrollo with mild interest and a satisfied smile.

"I never knew you to be so intense when it comes to your comrades, Chrollo. You've change since we last saw each other."

"I can hardly say the same for you," Chrollo's eyes glinted, "what are you doing here and siding with the people opposing me, brother?"

Rye eyed Chrollo with his pitch black eyes.

Kurapika stared at the two with his whole body striking numb. He couldn't quite register the connection of the two for just his body felt like it would die that way. It may not be apparent to everyone except himself—but he and Leorio were the only normal beings in that building. The fact that three of the most fearsome monsters in the world emitting malevolent nen in close proximity to them was enough to disintegrate his very body. It was dangerous.

That was why Kurapika was struggling hard to move with eyes seeking his friend.

We need to get out of here!

Rye Shin decided not to comment on Chrollo's last word though Hisoka's eyes showed a little spark of interest about the matter. The Black List hunter looked around as if to seek something.

"I'm not against you," he said quietly as he found Leorio coughing on the other side of a boulder, "my interest so happens to be on your opposing side. I don't give inkling whoever it affects… but I see that I'm already too late."

Leorio forcibly pushed himself up and eyed the three beasts in front of him. He caught Rye's eyes and the two looked at each other quietly. Then Rye closed his eyes with a final sigh.

"Too bad," he whispered as he eyed his brother again, "I've always been fond of my creations."

"I see," Chrollo answered as he looked at Leorio from the corner of his eyes, "so you are the man behind him…I understand it clearly now… however,"

He looked at intensely at Rye and Hisoka.

"Considering you are the guy who helped them, I won't give a damn either."

He released his Bandit's Secret that made Hisoka and Rye in full alert. Using his best stolen abilities, Chrollo showed no mercy as he attacked one after another— long sharp clothes suddenly seemed to come out of his book and tried to tackle the other two. Rye easily deflected them while Hisoka didn't even bother but managed to destroy the linen all the same. Chrollo didn't stop there and the next thing— he released a giant net of fire and aimed them at Rye but Hisoka was much flattered to defend him. All the same—Chrollo proved to be in par of both monsters.

Not that Rye was moving at all. He was merely dodging and making Hisoka do all the work which he was glad to do. The magician didn't seem to mind this as another collision with Chrollo tore away his clothes. This only made him more excited.

"Come—Chrollo!" he cooed as step by step the two clashed with each other in rapid speed as if dancing in the air—it was a sight not even a normal hunter can follow.

Kurapika dropped himself on the ground while breathing heavily. His shoulder blades were bleeding as he forced himself out of Machi's giant needles. With sweat drop at the side of his face, he looked up to see flashes of shadows colliding above him.

"You enjoy being my brother's pawn much, Hisoka?" Chrollo threw at the magician.

"Don't get jealous over it," Hisoka answered as he sharply sent bullet speed cards on the leader's direction, "As soon as I'm done with you I'm moving to him. Isn't that lovely?"

Chrollo materialized a chain whip on his right hand and thrashed it the magician. Hisoka dodged but his right hand was still caught.

"Dangerous," he muttered as he cut the giant chain with a single slay of his bare hand, "Machi-chan's not here anymore to fix me." He chuckled to himself. Chrollo didn't look pleased.

Kurapika tried to get up but his knees gave away. There was too much power surrounding him and making his body go numb. What more—the monsters fighting around him were not holding back—the place was an actual battlefield. He tried to get up again with clenched teeth but his legs betrayed him.

That was when he felt someone tap his shoulder.

"You look like you're in a pinch," said the familiar voice.

Kurapika looked around and saw Leorio staring down at him with that gentle look back in his eyes. Kurapika could not say anything for a moment as he gazed at his friend. Leorio was in no better form than him with beaten and wounded body. What more—the scar on his face were as clear as ever but just then it didn't matter—because the look on Leorio's eyes were shadowing them. His gentle and determined spirit was there again like the old days.

"Leorio…?" he muttered, suddenly overwhelmed. Leorio was back.

The tall man smiled at him and held his hand.

"Let's get out of here."

Picking Kurapika up, Leorio helped him with his shoulder and half carried his friend with one hand holding the blonde's arm and the other on his waist.

They exited the shaking room that explained nothing about how it can remain standing despite the powerful forces wrecking havoc inside it.

"Damn those monsters," Leorio muttered as they walked in the dark hallway. The distance from the battlefield proved to be useless—they could feel their power all the same, "I can't believe it…"

"Let's just leave," Kurapika muttered, desperate to put more distance to those freaking powers with his friend, "the way we are—we cannot fight them anymore."

Leorio didn't say anything but the two of them understood it very well. Both have lost their powers. Both understood very well what it means.

Then Kurapika half glanced at Leorio. A feeling of relief washed down his heart that shrouded his regret about his lost ability. He may have lost his power—but he would gladly forsake it if it meant having his precious friend back. Nothing else mattered to him anymore.

Leorio felt his gaze and looked down at the blonde boy.

"What?" he asked.

"I got you back, Leorio."

Leorio raised an eyebrow. He found the boy's gentle green eyes looking at him sincerely. It made him embarrassed and at the same time relieved too. What kind of emotion he had to go through when he thought he lost those precious eyes, he didn't want to remember.

"What's that suppose to mean?" he countered trying to sound casual.

Kurapika chuckled as he shook his head. Leorio smiled too.

"I thought you said I was annoying."

"Wha—?" the tall man quacked.

"And that you never wanted to be bothered by us—Gon, Killua and I— again."

"Why d'you have to bring that up—?"

"You even called Gon and Killua childish."

"Oi…"

All the worries seem to leave the two as they brought each other up toward the exit. Kurapika couldn't help feeling glad for he was able to survive with his friend this time. He wasn't alone.

That was when they both noticed a shadow of a man standing in the middle of the building's exit.

Leorio noticed him first and he stopped abruptly, his whole body going rigid. Kurapika noticed it and looked up. Then his green eyes flickered for there he was—the masters of shadow, Rye Shin waiting for them.

Rye Shin looked coolly at them with hands on his pocket. He had the air of someone who didn't seem to mind anything at all. He watched Leorio and Kurapika gaze back at him with his eyes narrowing a little.

"Leorio?" Kurapika muttered with a little frown as he noticed a sweat drop at the side of his friend's face. Leorio didn't look at him but he saw the tall man's adam's apple go up and down tensely.

"Don't mind him," the man said quietly, "let's continue."

They approached the exit slowly with Kurapika aware that Rye Shin was eyeing them attentively.

They were only a few steps from him; the blonde boy could hear the echo of their footsteps.

Then they were almost upon him, he could feel his friend's body tensing.

Then they were walking pass him—Kurapika felt Leorio gripped his hand tightly and then the man paused. The blonde boy looked worriedly at his friend. Leorio's jaw was clenched and his burrows furrowed. It was like something was bothering him.

"Leorio?" he started and then noticed from the corner of his eyes that Rye Shin had disappeared.

"Let's go." Leorio said quietly and the two friends continued walking into the twilight, leaving behind the trembling building where two most ferocious creature ever alive were still fighting.

"There's been no report on any death toll but the authorities have remarked that these two mysterious and consecutive destructions on public and abandoned buildings of the city may have been caused by random group of people who had initially been fighting. Evidence of struggle could be seen in these areas and authorities are looking at the approximate number of groups involved. The sum of destruction may reach millions according to some source…"

Kurapika's eyes flickered as he watched the newscast two days later. The television showed a large crater at the outskirts of the metropolitan where collapsed buildings and wreckage could be seen. Kurapika held his hands together and watched the report with serious eyes, knowing that only two or three people were responsible for it. Whether the three of them survived or not or whoeve died and who survived, only fate can tell.

He was in deep thinking when he heard a door open. Looking behind him, he saw Senritsu emerge from the room and join him in the living room. They were at a hotel.

"How's Leorio?" the blonde boy asked her as she rounded toward the television to see the report.

"His fever has gone down a bit," Senritsu said quietly but with a sweat drop at the side of her face, "I've tried given him medicine but he said it only makes him sicker."

Kurapika's hardened face softened as he looked at the door where he knew Leorio was. Senritsu smiled a bit at him before saying, "he's asking for you."

Kurapika nodded and headed for the room. He knocked once and then went inside where he found his friend lying on the bed with his right hand on his face. The room was dark with the veil of the curtains down. Kurapika walked up beside the bed and noticed the man's perspiring body and uneven breathes.

Leorio peered at him through his one opened eye.

"Kurapika…" he breathed.

Kurapika sat down at the chair and gaze at the man.

"You don't look well…" he started conversationally that only received a chuckle from the man.

"I've been at my worst," he said hoarsely, "don't worry, it will pass…"

Kurapika's face turned solemn all of a sudden.

"Do you still see it?" he said with a little note of worry, "those things in your head?"

Kurapika saw Leorio gulp with difficulty and noticed his eyes narrow a little.

"Yeah," he answered after awhile, "when you see those things repeatedly on your head… it kinda makes it difficult to get rid of it… all of it…"

The blonde boy was aware of Leorio's problem. The man had been speaking unconsciously during his delusion state about plenty of dead bodies and pool of blood—and then crying voices. Senritsu had said that it was probably because Rye Shin had triggered these images to Leorio for those years they were together and now that Leorio was free from his beast, the withdrawal from this hobby was making him suffer. Kurapika remembered the last he saw of Rye Shin and Leorio's reaction… he couldn't help but suspect that Rye Shin said something to his friend without uttering a single word.

"Hey…" Leorio said in the middle of silence, "Gon and Killua… coming?"

"They're on their way," Kurapika assured as he leaned closer to the man, "I haven't told them anything except that I was able to get you back."

"'Get back' is a strong word," Leorio chuckled, "If only that were true… because all I can feel is that I'm never the same…"

"Leorio," Kurapika's eyes hardened and he felt Leorio's burden in his voice, "don't say that…"

"It's fine," Leorio muttered huskily, "look at us, isn't it ironic? You were the one who was sick like this before…I was thinking how you…got over your sickness back at Yorknew… I couldn't help thinking we rode on the same boat…"

"You'll be fine too…" Kurapika said strongly as he touched his friend's arm, "someday… then maybe… you can pursue your real dream… there's still time for that, Leorio…"

Leorio gazed at Kurapika's green eyes before closing his eyes.

"Pursue my dream… huh?" were his last words.

An hour later, Kurapika stood up and headed for the door. He opened the door quietly and then looked back at his friend's sleeping form. There was a gentle gleam on his eyes as he watched his friend. They have been through so many things since the beginning of their adventure on that first ship they both rode on with Gon. So many things have happened and so many changes… and yet…

Kurapika was just glad he found real friends and was glad they were still there beside him. He would give anything to protect what he has now. Friendship, camaraderie and the feeling that he was no longer alone…

Kurapika closed the door finally.

Leorio opened his eyes in the middle of the dark with his face full of perspiration. He couldn't get rid of the picture of blood in his mind... let alone, the intent idea of killing... he could barely contain himself from hurting them. How his body was aching to rip a throat... A hard expression came on his face and then he buried his eyes on his arms and bit his lips. With those thoughts in his mind, the lone man knew his world was different from theirs.

The next day, when Kurapika opened the room's door, Leorio was gone.

*.*.*

A/N: 'Finding Leorio' thanks everyone for keeping up with the action!

This idea started when I read the chapter 'Kurapika Reminisce from the manga! Then when Leorio finally showed up in the Hunter's Association election to give Ging a piece of his mind! And then Kurapika's absence and constant ignorance of Leorio's call! I'd love to see this development in canon but, oh well :)

Time Skip, well see what happens to their friendship at the short-

-Epilogue Chapter-

Thanks for Reading!