SETTING SUN

Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers apply, Hunter X Hunter and all mentioned characters are not mine. I bow down to my eternal mentor, Yoshihiro Togashi-sama, he's a real-life genius!
Notes: YAOI, YAOI, and...more YAOI. This fanfic contains romantic relationship between two men, and so if you're at all disturbed by the concept, please read no further. Leorio+Kurapika pairing ^.^ I got the idea while reading Leorio's story in my profiles page, and from the weird thing I have for kids ^.^ Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

"Oniichan!!!"

A boy of thirteen, Kurapika turned around to look at the young girl who called for him, her long, golden blonde hair tied in a loose braid behind her. He remembered how she approached him that morning, as she asked him to fix her hair, telling him how annoyed she is that she has curly hair while her brother has such nice, straight ones. Kurapika would always tell her that her hair was pretty in its own way, but she will always shake her head and ask him to braid it.

It was because their mother and father had different hair types. Their mother had beautiful wavy curls while their father had straight ones from which he grew until the middle of his back. His sister always like their father's hair and made it a point to always play with it before they go to sleep. He always loved watching them, with his father wincing every once in a while because his little daughter was pulling too strongly, and the bright, tingling laughter of his mother's angelic voice as she held his sister to keep her from falling. He had always come to love his mother's smile, and the way she will always smile despite everything.

"Oniichan, come play with us! You're working too hard!" came the small voice of his sister as she finally reached him. She took away the axe that he held in his hand and placed it on the ground with a bit of an effort against the weight, then took his hand in her small ones to pull him away from their house's backyard.

"Imouto, I have work to do!" he said exasperatedly, even if a smile broke its way to his young face.

"No! I told my friends that you'll be playing with us, you should play with us!" his little sister exclaimed, still pulling him out to the streets.

One of the kids tilted his head to look at them, a bright smile finding its way on his child-like face. "Kurapika! Hey, it's Kurapika-oniichan! Kai-chan is right, he IS going to play with us!" he shouted happily, dropping the rubber ball he was holding to run towards Kurapika and his sister. The other village children ran towards them as well.

Kai happily ran towards them, knowing well that her brother won't go anywhere. She proudly smiled at them when they met. "I told you oniichan will be here!" she said, her voice reflecting her smile. She turned around to Kurapika, holding up her arms to him to ask him to carry her.

Kurapika chuckled, amused at the way his sister would always show him off with the other kids. She would always tell him that the other children love him because he always played with them, and that because he always smiles at them. She always told him that the children told her that her brother loves them all, because it shows whenever he smiles at them.

And yes, he does love them. Every single one of them. Their clan was not that very big, so almost everyone knows each other. They live a peaceful life, hiding from people who would try to harm them. But it didn't matter to him that they would be isolated from everyone else, he knew that they were different. It's clear in their eyes, the scarlet eyes that everyone seem to love. It was a treasure they inherited from the ancestors, and they had no complaints. Especially Kurapika. He loved their eyes, because every single eye is different no matter what everybody else say.

"Kurapika, I want you to carry me too," said another little girl. She had short, golden locks as well, her blue eyes lighting with a small tinge of red. It was clear that she was jealous of Kai.

Kurapika's eyes softened. "I guess I can carry you both. Is that okay with you, Kai?" he asked. Kai wasn't really selfish, all she ever wanted was to have Kurapika as a brother, but she never fails to share him with everyone else. So she nodded happily, waving at the small girl.

"Mika-chan, don't feel bad. Oniichan's here to play with all of us!" said Kai, who held the other girl's hand in hers. The other girl smiled and leaned her small head on the space between Kurapika's neck and shoulders, resting there quietly and closed her eyes.

Kurapika smiled as he let himself be pulled by the other children, their squeals of innocent happiness serving as harmonious music to his ears. They played for a while, the rubber ball almost always in his hands, but he never failed to smile and throw them gently to another child. From which the child never failed to smile in glee.

"Kurapika!"

It was his father. He excused himself from the other children and ran to where his father called him to. "Otousan?"

His father was holding a spear in his hand when he looked at Kurapika. "Can you fill in for me for tonight? I won't be able to hunt for now because my back hurts. We need at least three deer or five boars for tonight's feast, is that okay?" he asked his son as he handed him the spear.

Kurapika remembered that there would be a feast that night to celebrate their race, and he smiled happily and nodded obediently. "Hai! I'll be back before nightfall!" he said and held the spear. He turned to look back at the other children who seem to have started to frown and pout when they saw him holding the spear.

"Oniichan?"

Kurapika bent down to look at Kai. "I have to hunt for tonight's feast. I'll make sure I catch the best ones so we'll all be stuffed, okay?" he said to reassure everyone, his eyes running around to everyone.

Just when everyone's head was down, a familiar voice called out from behind. "I'll play with you!" came the voice. Kurapika looked up to see the face of his best friend running up to the group. The young boy, about Kurapika's age then, bent down to grin at the kids. "I'll play with you in place of oniichan here, is that okay?" he asked, pointing a thumb at Kurapika.

After a hesitant look from Kurapika to the other boy, the kids nodded. "Okay!" they said in unison and started running to pull the other guy in a similar way they had trapped Kurapika just a while ago.

Kurapika smiled at them, thanking his friend for his kindness and waved, laughing at how the kids stopped to wave back, almost tripping their caretaker. "Hey, careful!" shouted the slightly impatient male, only to smile uneasily when the children laughed instead of being scared of him.

With a last smile, Kurapika set off to hunt, the smiles of his clan members etched at the back of his mind. He knew he had everything. He was happy just being with everybody, content even if they were but a small number. He was thankful even then. He was so happy, that the thought that it would be the last time he'd see them all smile, that the thought of any vile creatures like the Geneiryodan would ever visit his beloved village, didn't at all cross his mind.

He never knew. He wasn't even able to say goodbye.

* * * * *

"What's your name?"

Kurapika's thoughts were cut off when that voice and the weak pulling came again. He snapped his head back, shaking it to push back all memories away lest he felt himself drop down at the familiar ache it gave him. Instead, he bent down to give the child a smile. "Kurapika," was all he said.

Aieka looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. "You're very pretty!" she said happily, coming up to boldly hold Kurapika's face between her small hands, her cheerful smile coming up to her innocent face again. She smiled even more when the pretty stranger smiled back at her and held one of her hands in a gentle way.

With another smile, she turned around to face Leorio. "Oniichan! Is this your girlfriend?"

If it wouldn't have been so strange, Kurapika would've laughed. Leorio almost passed out at the very absurd question, but he somehow got over it eventually. He hit himself on the head and started walking towards them, glaring at Aieka through narrowed eyes before pulling her up to be carried.

"Baka, Aieka-chan!" he said, scolding the girl with a glare, which only seem to amuse her. Leorio shook his head. "That's a man!"

Aieka's eyes widened, another innocent display from which Kurapika seem to be amused of. He usually hated it when he was mistaken for a girl, but the little child was just too amusing that he couldn't find it in himself to be angry. He also shook his head.

Aieka was confused. "But...she's so pretty! And she's nice, she'll make a good girlfriend for you, Leorio!"

Leorio and Kurapika's cheeks somehow turned a slight shade of crimson at what the child said. But it was Leorio who took the situation in his own hands and just playfully slapped the child's bare arms to cover his blush. "Aieka-chan, he's a man! Stop calling him a 'she'!"

Aieka looked at him. "Leorio-oniichan, your face is all pink! And so is Kurapika-oniichan's!" she said cheerfully, clapping her hands and pointing at the two.

Only the child's laughter sounded between them, another air of uneasiness coming between them as more blood rushed to their cheeks. Kurapika cleared his throat in a sign of discomfort, but he eventually gained control of himself and looked up at Leorio. "Leorio, you were saying something about a place to rest?" asked the young Kuruta, all signs of a blush lost from his face.

Leorio, who also seemed to be over his embarrassment, nodded. "Right about there," he said, shifting Aieka in one arm to point at a nearby house. "I know the inn keeper there, we'll get ourselves a room then," he said while picking up his luggage in his free hand.

Aieka laughed. "Silly, you know everybody here!" she said, throwing up her arms as if surrounding the whole town. Her smile brightened when Leorio gave her a toothy grin.

Kurapika watched in silence as Leorio entered the building, bidding goodbye to Aieka before the child ran away to go some place else to play. He sighed, the memories of his childhood coming back to him whenever he looked at the young Aieka. But he forced himself to be numb, and shook his head again before he tightened his grip on his own luggage. He willed his feet to move from their stony stance and walked after Leorio.

Like Leorio had said, the town was not at all what one may call rich when it comes to wealth. But in turn, it seemed pretty beautiful in its own way. Small, humble houses were scattered in a neat manner across the lands, with at least three trees surrounding the buildings. He could see different kinds of people, children like Aieka and other adults who watched over these children. The place was actually a valley, and Kurapika took note of the beautiful mountain before entering the inn.

"What do you mean you only have one room left?!" asked an incredulous Leorio from the front counter.

Kurapika's eyebrows rose in question as he watched Leorio throw a fit, knocking his head over and over. He walked forward to the counter as well. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Leorio almost jumped when he heard his voice, and he turned around to face Kurapika. "A-Anou, Kurapika? They only have one room left."

"But there are two beds in that room, Leorio-san, it's not so bad," said the elderly man as he looked from Kurapika to Leorio. "If you like, we'll just charge you half a room if it would make you feel better."

That's not the problem, thought Leorio as he stared at Kurapika. I can't stay in the same room as he does, I won't be able to stand it!

Kurapika was almost thinking the same. He felt a brow twitch at the memory, since after all, he was roommates with Leorio during the Hunter Exam. And the memory was not at all pleasant. And the incident from the ship just a while ago was not helping either.

"I'm sorry, but all rooms are already occupied except one," said the old man from the counter again. "A group of four tourists just came in yesterday and took the remaining three rooms already."

"Three?!" asked Leorio incredulously. "Four people in THREE rooms?!"

The old man scratched his head. "Er...they were having a problem with this other young man I think. Nobody seems to want to be his roommate. You should actually be happy that the two kids didn't take separate rooms, if they did, you wouldn't have a room left," he said.

Just then, a young boy's voice sounded through the whole room. "HISOKA, STOP THAT!!!"

Leorio and Kurapika blinked in surprise when they heard the familiar name, said by a very familiar voice. And as if on cue, footsteps were heard from the wooden stairway, followed by a view of four people. There was Gon in his usual smile as he looked at his best friend, Killua, who was still yelling angrily at a stubborn Hisoka who, in turn, insisted in staying beside a very familiar figure of Killua's older brother.

"Butt out, brat, I'm not here for you," came Hisoka's playful voice as he continued to cling on the other man beside him. Illumi wasn't really the type who'd let facial expressions sink in, but Leorio and Kurapika could've sworn they saw one of those cat eyes twitch in irritation.

"And I'm here for Killua, so if you please..." came Illumi's low voice as he turned his head to look at Hisoka. "Let go."

Hisoka shook his head. "You already refused sharing a room with me, I won't tolerate such rudeness!" he said, glaring at the eldest Zoldick beside him through his narrow eyes.

"Why would he want to share a room with a hentai like YOU?!" exclaimed Killua. The young boy seemed so furious that shouting was all he could do lest he jumped on the older magician's head to pull it right off.

Hisoka turned his head and looked away from Killua. "I didn't ask for your opinion, did I?" he asked.

"But who asked you to trail around him like a lost puppy anyway?! You're just making a fool of yourself, you idiot!"

"Shut your mouth, kid, or I'll rip it out of your face!"

"Hisoka, stop it."

"Aw, Illu-chan, don't be mad~~"

"Hisoka, get your hands off him!!!"

The old inn keeper sighed exasperatedly and looked at Leorio. "See what I told you?" he asked.

Leorio could only nod. Gon, who seem to be the only sane one among the four, acted out as the referee and went between Hisoka and Killua. "Guys stop it, this is embarrassing!" he hissed under his breath, glaring at Killua for a while to make his point.

Hisoka, who was still looking at Killua with an unreadable expression in his eyes, suddenly looked up to lock gazes with a shocked Kurapika. "Oops, look who's here..." he said, one slender finger pointing at the direction of the young Kuruta.

Gon and Killua looked at him only to follow the direction from which Hisoka pointed at. Their faces lit up in bright smiles as they saw the two familiar face. "Kurapika! Leorio!" they cried in unison as they jumped down the remaining steps to run towards the two. But not without a warning glare from Killua to Hisoka, which only earned him a playful smirk from the older magician.

Leorio couldn't help but let out an uneasy smile as the two approached them. "Hey! What are you two doing here?" he asked, giving them each a pat on the head.

Gon was the first to answer. "Killua heard of some rare creature from the forests of the mountain here and he wants to have one," he answered, pointing at his friend beside him.

"I see," muttered Leorio, who still looked down at the two. "And uh...how about those two?" he asked, slightly lowering his tone of voice while indicating Hisoka and Illumi.

Killua scowled. "My brother's here to take me home. Again!" he whined, resting his head on his clasped palms behind his head. "And as for that insane clown over there," he said, pointing a thumb at Hisoka, "he seems to be my brother's one-man fan club."

Gon laughed. "I think Hisoka just wants to be friends with your brother, Killua."

Killua turned to him, his hands threatening to turn into claws. "Have you SEEN how the guy practically GLUES himself to my brother, Gon?! That's MORE than friendship that hentai's looking for!" he cried furiously, shooting another sharp glare at Hisoka before he was moved by Gon again.

"Eh...Killua, leave your brother alone. I'm sure he can take care of himself," said a very exasperated Gon, who had to use all his strength just to make Killua turn his head towards Leorio and Kurapika instead of the other direction.

"Gee, that's pretty hard to do considering that HE does the following!" cried a frustrated Killua, pointing at a silent Illumi who silently watched him while silently tolerating a very obnoxious magician. He winced every time Hisoka would wave a playful hand at him, boldly indicating how close he was to the other Zoldick. "H-I-S-O-K-A!!!"

Illumi, seeming to have enough of the magician's playfulness, heaved a gruff sigh and started walking towards his brother. "Killua," he called, his wide, emotionless eyes focusing on his younger brother, making the other boy jump behind Gon. They weren't really that close, and Illumi knew all along that even if Killua was exceptionally strong compared to the whole family, the boy was still afraid of him. But the older Zoldick didn't mind, all he ever wanted anyway was to bring Killua home. Every time.

Killua cringed at the sound of his name and pulled himself and Gon behind Kurapika, who only blinked at them from behind. "Aw! But I'm staying here with Gon and I'm going to find me some money!!!"

"Killua. You don't need money, we have all the money you'll ever need."

"But nevertheless, I'm staying with Gon!"

"Killua..."

"I'll never come with you! I'll go home when I want to, go away!!!"

"My my!" said Hisoka, who somehow found his way behind Illumi. "Is that a way to talk to your older brother?" he asked, one eyebrow rising in a scolding gesture towards the light-haired Zoldick.

"Hisoka, please stay out of thi--"

"Go away, Hisoka! Last thing my brother needs is a crazy stalker like you!"

This went on for heaven knows how long, until Leorio decided that he was too tired for all of it. He quickly turned to Kurapika, who in turn, from between Hisoka and Killua's argument, looked at him as well and nodded. Without another thought, Leorio turned to the man in the counter and said, "We'll take the room."

* * * * *

"Aah! Who would've thought we'd see those guys here?" asked Leorio, spreading his arms and legs in a show of weariness as he lay sprawled on the rightmost bed. One hand came up to rest on his aching forehead, Killua's voice still ringing through his ears as if planning to make him deaf.

Kurapika sighed. He found his way through the other bed himself, elbows leaning on his legs as he sat and faced Leorio. "So, what are you planning to do first again?" he asked, looking at the other man across the room from where he sat.

The room was a bit small. From the front door, one would see a small night table between two separate beds, each with a clean white pillow and covers. There was only one bathroom, yet again small in size but has everything one might need. A lamp hung from the ceiling and one two large windows to keep the air in placed on opposite walls.

Leorio took this all in while thinking of an answer to give Kurapika. "Visit the clinic, of course," he said, pausing for a while. He took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes to rest. "Then do what I have to do. Last time, it was like that as well."

The young Kuruta nodded, his eyes still resting on the tall frame of the doctor. Past thoughts that had passed him by during that time in the ship went back through his mind again, yet again keeping his eyes focused on the other man's form, arms spread wide as if teasing him to come forward and into those arms, eyes closed so softly he could've sworn he could still see through those eyelashes.

Kurapika stared for what seemed like countless hours, just sitting there and taking in Leorio's form on that small bed. The rise and fall of the doctor's chest indicated the calm breathing of the older man, making the young Kuruta watch in silent awe at how such a simple view could entrance him so much. It took Leorio but a few minutes to fall asleep, with Kurapika still immobile on his side of the room.

It happened beyond his own volition when he slowly stood up, making his way towards the other bed, eyes still captured in a dazed trance. His left hand, the one free from his chains, came up to rest inches above Leorio's face, not knowing whether to touch or do anything at all. Not knowing what to do, he willed himself to pull away, standing back to just look and take in the view.

He looks so tired, he thought, his eyes locking on the slightly opened lips of the young doctor. He wondered if they were as soft as they seem to be.

A momentary blush graced Kurapika's face yet again at that random thought. Again, he asked himself what the hell was wrong, shaking his head and willing his eyes to turn away. But just when he was about to turn back and leave, he turned around to look at Leorio. He sighed, shaking his head in a more gentle manner and walked towards the doctor, careful as he made his steps as quiet as possible. His hands came up to rest very lightly on each side of the small sunglasses, pulling them away slowly off the man's eyes.

Kurapika folded it neatly between his fingers, couldn't help but marveling at how Leorio's simple face could trigger so much emotion in him. But again, he shoved this thought away, and he walked towards the night table a few feet away from him. He placed the glasses there, figuring that Leorio would find it when he wakes up. And without looking back at the young doctor's face again, he left to find another place to rest.

To be continued...

A/N: There's chapter 2 ^^; Honestly, I have no idea why I like this pair, but what the heck ^.^ Forgive the Hisoka+Illumi side story, I seem to be currently obsessed with that pair! *hearts popping out* But they're just there to lighten up the mood, Hisoka and Killua are cute when they argue anyway =P Thank you for reading!

Cherrie ( [email protected] )
http://www.geocities.com/kurapika_eyesofcrimson