*HxH Disclaimer*

Author's note: Hmmmm... lemme guess... you guys aren't very fond of prose written 18th-century style, is it?=P Welp, authors have their own styles. ^_^

Thanks for your comments, XD-san! Hehe... you're right, my paragraphs tend to be long. I've gotten used to it... especially when you need those length of paragraphs to fill up a quota in school papers... o.O (And the typos... "Kuripica" indeed... ay caramba, I'm a disgrace. I am shamed... X.x)

And it also happened that I just had this wonderful knowledge acquired only very recently and had sent me semi-panicking... I had just placed in this fic that Kurapica was about fourteen or fifteen, when Togashi-sama had already announced months ago (mayhap I was not in the real world at that time) that he was actually seventeen years old already! (And Leorio, BTW, is 19.) Shucks. And to think I thought that the lad was just Gon's and Killua's age, only taller, when I first saw his character in the first episode opening credits [My reaction: Ay, lahat bata (Gon, Killua, Kurapica... a.k.a. Where are the teen-agers?)... yun isa naman (Leorio), mukhang teen-ager nga (pseudo-teen-ager, pare...), pero... weird (=P)...] I was probably having culture shock or something, after witnessing the characters of YYH who looked exactly their age (except the Makai and the Reikai inhabitants, 'course. ^o^).

But what the heck, fanfic naman 'to, I'll let my ol' ficcie facts stay.

Oh well...

Oh well...

Oh well...

Oh well.

The Bridge to Being

by: DW-chan

Three: The Preparation

"It's homesickness, Leorio-kun."

"Homesickness? How did you know?" There was a refreshing gleam in Leorio's voice. "Did he finally talk to you? That's how you got to know, right? See, I told you could do it!" The young man instituted such pride in his voice that his addressee could not help but be drawn to the warm humor of it. Senritsu exempted a smile. She had taken more obligations to inform Leorio about the progress, and felt rather indebted and foolish at the same time for suppressing her intuition. Had she not, Kurapica may have been cured, partially, if not entirely from his depression a long time ago.

"Yes, I followed your advice. Thank you again. The problem is, he has decided to leave right away..."

"Then let him leave right away!" The brusque enthusiasm in Leorio's tone revealed a commanding bearing which came next to Kurapica's, and made Senritsu rather alarmed with his ease.

"I know that would be best for Kurapica as well, but you see, Leorio, he just can't leave like that. He is currently the captain of the guard and might make worse impressions from our employer-you know, dereliction, and all that."

"What's that?"

"Dereliction. Negligence of duty." She was also fastened to the fact that it had been her who had suggested that he be appointed to his present hired status, to return to the events in York Shin, and realized its untimely incommodity.

"Ah! Well, now... just tell Mr. Nostrad that he's on leave. You know, like 'sick-leave'-um, pardon the term-those kinds. I'm sure even bodyguards have privileges such as those. Don't you have a manual, or something?"

"I'm afraid not. I'm only quite as ignorant as you are concerning the privileges. But I'll try. And another thing is-Leorio?"

"Yeah?"

Senritsu's tones displayed a small amount of guilt, though the act attributed to it was beneficial for her young friend's well-being. "I know what you're thinking-I know that both of us can entrust Kurapica with our lives, but-can we entrust him with his own?"

"Aha! Good thing you've brought that up! I'd like to accompany him myself too. I can take my books anywhere, you know. Besides, winter break's coming. They'll eventually let the students out, anyway. I'm sure I can account for it, coz I'll be leaving earlier than the rest of the batch."

The gracious young woman braced her emotions with a faculty of strange humor. She was certain that neither of them really meant to think the boy unscrupulous; but without supervision, he can be more than rash. Leorio's and her presence would be more of a boon than a bane, that being the case. She incited another arrangement. "Shall we make plans?"

"Sure! Of course. I'll probably be leaving tomorrow night. Is there an airport anywhere near there, or do I have to take the train?"

"The train, I suppose."

"All right! That's that. I'll give you a call when I'm there. And, uh-please don't tell Kurapica yet about my arrival, will you? I-uh-still wanna keep my head."

The brook may have already spent its mouthful of secrets, for Kurapica did not return to it again. He was in his room, with his eyes towards the light of the window, which looked towards the front of the mansion, when the woods were somewhere located at the back; the front, needless to say, faced the gargantuan iron gate which legalized the residence from the roads. Though his eyes portrayed anticipation, his actions spoke more quietly of it, for even eager as he was in carrying out his last statement, he felt that he had more to bear than just provisions for the journey.

A knock at the door.

His voice was parched from disuse, but he had returned to his more normal self and addressed the world as he had addressed it five days ago. "Who's there?"

"It's Senritsu. Are you busy, Kurapica? May I come in?"

"The door's unlocked."

It was not a concise answer; nevertheless, the girl took it carefully and proceeded with her daring in the same manner of discretion.

"I hope I wasn't disturbing you." Senritsu's tone was as benign as usual, but with that accustomed amiability was a small uneasiness.

"Not at all."

"That's good. For I've a matter to talk with you about-" The matter, to stress a bit, had been the subject of her phone call with Leorio; only, of course, with Leorio out of the picture at that moment, as agreed.

Kurapica, who shunned most words when they become disagreeable to him, found himself listening until Senritsu was finished. He had re-established the keenness of inspection and noted his companion's steady stare but wavering voice. It was odd to have someone who may know you almost as well as you know your own self through the utilization of uncanny abilities and still be afraid of you. Putting this to mind, he reacted to the young woman's proposition.

"You want to accompany me?"

"Yes."

"You're aware that I'm returning to Rukuso."

"Yes."

"It's a good five thousand leagues away from here. Perhaps more."

"I'm aware of it, Kurapica."

"And with winter approaching, it will be difficult. Aren't you aware of that too?"

"Yes, I am."

The girl had replied to his every retort with a precision that left him a bit stricken. Kurapica was persuaded that she had used a bit of her skill to wean him into complying, but was surprised when he could not express anger about it. Senritsu had, after all, aided him in his course for revenge, and he might have damaged her in the process, just as he might have done to Gon and Killua, after shamelessly asking for her help. He was then percepient of her sensibility of the role he had compelled her to do in the Genei Ryodan Arc. She had been of great help. What she was offering now was not mere companionship, but friendship. It was his one weakness.

It was only more of a misfortune that the boy had known this particular friend long enough for him to realize a trait of hers which he grew affectionate about, only with an amount of austerity. "There's no turning back, Senritsu."

"Metaphorically, yes; but of course, you'd want to return to this job, wouldn't you?" It was a small cunning in her part and the boy regarded it with a light hand.

"If it would still do well for my quest for the eyes of my people, then of course, I'd report back here. But don't revolve things around Senritsu, and stop answering my queries with more questions. If I'll let you come with me, will you promise me something?"

The girl felt a rush of heat to her face in acquaintance to the boy's clever way of unstitching things. "All right," she replied calmly, with no plans of betraying her scant mortification.

"I'd be grateful if you'd allow me to lead the travel. I know you think my judgment awry at times, and you-well, worry... But I also know that I'm responsible enough for the things I do."

Senritsu's eyes swelled with a brightness that conveyed a weight of good humor. "I promise. I'm sure you won't let any of us down."

The young captain of the guard's appointment with his head employer left the latter rather misty-eyed. Mr. Rait Nostrad was not man whom one will have difficulty communicating with, especially if he or she has won some of his favor. Though laden with the trafficable affairs concerning the MAFIA and other business propositions, he gave the boy a full ear. He was rather intimidated with the boy's sullen yet acute nature that addressed people older than him as though he were of the same age as they. Mr. Nostrad had his own persuasive reasons to entice the captain to remain in his post, especially when the holidays were no more than a few weeks away.

"My daughter will need your services more than ever," Mr. Nostrad said. "It's the time of the season when she becomes relentless. After this week, you may have to accompany her everyday with her shopping, I'm sure of that."

Senritsu was present for Kurapica's word for a leave concerned both of them. She approached the man with audacious elegance. "That's true, sir. But do the bodyguards not get privileges such as taking a leave?"

"If this is to lift you from worry, sir," Kurapica interposed, unabashed, "I have already arranged the recruitment of new bodyguards. By this weekend, we may be getting results."

"Will you not be here for the screening?"

"I'm afraid not, sir."

"How long will your absence be?"

"A month at least, sir. It will take some time."

Mr. Nostrad was thoughtful for a moment. "I don't see why I should have any right withholding you from your home, despite the fact that I hold a rank higher than yours." He turned to Senritsu. "And we will be missing you as well. It's only seldom we have female bodyguards qualified. It's a pity we had to lose the other in the auction." Senritsu acknowledged this with a patient bow of her head. The man turned once more to Kurapica. "Who shall you then appoint as your assistant while you're gone?"
In this case, strangely enough, the boy produced a miniature smile. "There seems to be no other option, but I trust Bashou to run matters for us."

"Well, I trust your judgment as well," returned the beleaguered man. "I'm only glad there will be no more out-of-town excursions that may lead my daughter's life to peril again. All right, you have my permission to leave. But I expect both of you to report sometime after a month, as you say. Kurapica, you will still remain the captain of the guard, for your service so far has impressed me. And Senritsu, your position will remain yours as well. Your wages will be ready by tomorrow morning. I, ah- I hope you don't mind a bit of benevolence... I have added a bonus, as your allowance. Travel is difficult in winter and I only hope that my two employees will be well-provided for."

"Thank you, sir."

"When will you leave?"

"Tomorrow, sir. We didn't mean to be this abrupt, but before bad weather becomes a threat to us, we must at least have half of the journey done. I hope you don't mind."

"Well, no." Mr. Nostrad rose from his seat behind his study desk, approached the two young people and laid a hand on each of their shoulders. "Best take care. Don't hesitate to give a call at any time. And don't hesitate to deploy commands to the other bodyguards, even in your absence. I have associates on the way in case you need help. Is that clear?"

"Understood, sir."

The success of this appointment would have ceased to commence had not Kurapica imparted his clarity of mind, a clarity which held its course temporarily. By the time the sun had set, the young man was intent on being pensive once again, though his soundness of mind was reassured when he was found bent over a map of intertwining nations in the dimness of the simple mansion library.

There was minimal packing to be done, with the necessary equipment already purchased. Even in his state of privacy he had mentioned before retiring to solitude that he would remain at the disposal to anyone who wanted to see him. Bashou, Senritsu, and two more bodyguards who were somehow spared from the auction fray took this to heart and sought an audience from the boy; though their intentions were not completely duty-related. One of the unnamed bodyguards, an oriental-looking person, offered a helpful load of herbal medicine; and since Kurapica had been too absorbed in his own way to give notice, Senritsu thanked the kind soul. Plans for recruitment were given one last deliberation, and Bashou was cooperative in his own fashion, having been illuminated by a preliminary shot of good whiskey.

Senritsu informed the youth that their heartbeats were still instilled with dependency on him, and had to convince him to give them a small seminar of detachment. Throughout the activity, he held an expression that directed itself to somewhere farther than the faces of the people which surrounded him.

"You have made an influence on them, that's why they think they can't operate well without you," Senritsu conferred to him afterwards, on their way to the bodyguard's quarters. "You will become many a great person when you grow older, Kurapica. I hope you'd keep that in mind."

The only reply she received was the boy's breathing, and it was a young and innocent kind of breathing, like that of an infant's in its sleep.

"I'm glad you don't wear your chains, even for now," Senritsu added. Some months ago Kurapica had been in awe of her talkativeness, and she had proved it countless times already, in a manner known to be executed by young women.

"And I'm glad Miss Neon did not fetch a doctor," said the boy quietly; but to his companion, the words were rumbling thunder.

"How-"

"It's how my mind works, sometimes. I'm aware of more than one thing happening at the same time. I may have been deep in thought, but I was not entirely at the mercy of it."

"Are you angry with me?"

The boy replied, "I'm sure you didn't allow that to happen yourself. So on the contrary, I'm grateful." He then drifted once again, and after a uneventful silence, he added in no more than a pained whisper: "I'm ill in many ways, Senritsu. I just need to go home."

Somewhat eased from a sturdy, exhausting weight, Senritsu smiled in assent. "I understand."

If only the boy would be more open to the fact that another traveling companion was on his way. Leorio's call came in the afternoon of the next day, but that is getting too forward in the events.

The morning of the eighth of November had more frost than usual. There were trees which were nearly bare of leaves and the diminutive birds that still flew high in the autumn that settled upon the branches gave shivers of desolation with rapid feather movements before flitting away. The barest of trees seemed to have augmented their deprived selves beside the windows of the halls of the bodyguards' quarters. There was a bit of a joke formulated by the rambunctious Bashou which he amused (often terrified) inquisitive guests with, that the bodyguards' quarters were divided into two corridors: one which went straight from the main hall, where Senritsu resided, and the other wing which turned right, a dismal wing, "Where we men stay, of course (he had then placed a emphatic arm around a less amused Kurapica). And it's haunted, I tell you. It's haunted!"

The man had not really been joking, after all.

There were the child-spirits, who grew more and more fervent in ushering themselves to frequent visits. Their voices produced maimed speech and were only hollow proclamations, as one would hear him- or herself speak in the astral plane. They perceived and even anticipated Kurapica's departure, and had gathered once more in his room, unseen in their cinereous forms which were not even the substance of mist. The boy sat on his bed, ever so still, facing the windows and contemplating the vapor that clouded the panes. A few bolder spirits reached out to touch his hair; only then did the boy flinch, and blinked: there could have been tears in his eyes, but then again, his cheeks were dry.

He resumed his pace as though he had just merely took time to look out the window for a brief glimpse of the sky, gathered his things, hitched the weight upon his shoulders and walked out of the room. The child-spirits blew a wind of an unheard call: but contrary to what was to be expected, Kurapica turned to their direction and his gaze lay fixated, as though he had found a long-sought object. This ceremonial gesture was interrupted by a twitch of an eyelash and he turned away, and walked down the corridor to the main hall. Before he continually left, he had cleared his throat to softly utter to the air around him: I haven't forgotten any of you.

The spirits remained waiting at the back of the youth's mind.

Kurapica and Senritsu departed with the monumental tidings of those whom they would be leaving behind in the mansion. Even Neon Nostrad was flamboyant in her impressions towards this sudden departure, and felt quite envious that he recovered in a pace she could not contest (Better already? squalled she). There was smug delight in having been relieved of two bodyguards only to feel dismay when she realized that she had rather preferred them over a new batch of recruits. It was eventful, in a way, for she had flung upon the captain the complete and unabridged hardbound edition of the Oxford Dictionary with the threat of doing the same to a seven-volume set of marketing management primers if he and Senritsu did not return and she had managed to find them.

"I'll have you two as my bodyguards any day," she proclaimed, "as long you keep yourselves from being replaced by a bunch of morons!"

Kurapica was in a less jovial mood, and was also very upset. On their way to the train station with the complimented service of Bashou and the car, the boy declared in a state of vehemence: "Did you see what she's done? Flinging the Oxford Dictionary at us! That... Amazon! Why, I'll never forgive her!"

"I'm sure she didn't intend to be abusive. Besides, the herbal medicine and ice will do well to that bruise on your eye," Senritsu offered, slightly distressed.

"Imagine treating a book like that! You know that anything published from Oxford is sacred!"

Senritsu and Bashou could only retreat in pondering the boy's priorities.

Bashou had left informally with the aid of his roots of possessing exotic blood, and in a disturbingly handsome manner took Senritsu's hand like how a gentleman does to a fine lady and gave it a parting kiss, and the girl stood rather confounded; on the other hand, the burly man was more at ease with a fellow gentleman, and consequently tweaked the boy's nose with the fondness of an old acquaintance (and Kurapica should have been suitably outraged for the man's lack of respect for his captain if not for Senritsu's timely interruption). Before Bashou whistled (or weasled?) away, Kurapica did spare a moment to firmly address him with last-minute orders.

"Remember, Bashou. No biases with the recruitment. For all I know, I'd be returning with women as the crew."

The man then chuckled uneasily. "But if they happen to be capable?"

Kurapica only darted the bohemian soul with a grim stare which presented a statement, and having encountered the boy's moods before, the man assented with a gruff sigh. "All right, all right, no biases." And, having accomplished his acts of farewell, Bashou strut out of sight.

It would be two more hours before the train bound to a destination which would consume some miles' worth a quarter of the entire journey to Rukuso. Senritsu felt she was having a derring-do battle against time by suggesting the boy to take his lunch while bracing herself for Leorio's call upon his arrival. The hours had been calculated and schemed a good deal between the doctor and the musician which would hopefully result that on the hour before Kurapica's train departs from the station, Leorio's would arrive in it.

"Lunch?" inquired Kurapica, as though he were speaking a forgotten word. Registering the autumn chill and the discomfort of cold air assaulting an empty belly, he gave a curt nod and asked his companion, "What would you like to have?"

"Um, anything." Senritsu struggled to display her best behavior which would least likely arouse the lad's suspicion. With a nearly absent-minded air, the lad nodded once again, and promptly went off to fetch the food. The station clock's face shone a meager five minutes before noon when Senritsu's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Ey, it's me! I'm at platform seventeen. Train arrived earlier. So where are you?" It was odd for the girl to hear the same voice, which was Leorio's, emit from the receiver and simultaneously echo a considerable distance from where she sat.

"Station C, platform five. I'm at the benches beside the vending machines. Kurapica's left a moment so you might as well hurry and make use of a quiet entrance." Their scheming had reached its end; both parties heaved a sigh in all good humor, with a little anxiety.

"Ayt! See ya!"

There was a familiar mark in the air, and Kurapica analyzed it as being a person's aura. Confirming his memory on the last time he had chanced upon that aura, which was a clumsy, friendly kind when that certain person's guards were down, the youth emerged from his sullen stupor and bent himself on harnessing his dismay, which somehow bled to a rising temper. Having returned to the benches where Senritsu waited for him, he stopped a few paces away from the rows of cushioned plastic chairs.

He was not in his usual coat and tie, and he was garbed in a simple parka with its hood half drawn over his head, with his ears absurdly decorated with dazzlingly bright orange muffs. Had he not known the older youth as a friend, Kurapica would have taken the leisure of entirely abandoning every thought of regarding the former's very existence and spare himself the ridicule of associating with a scrupulously dressed individual. The young man was equipped with an irritating grin which tried in vain to cover a mischievous deed. But the young Kuruta would not accede to such folly.

"What're you doing here?" There was something of a small growl in Kurapica's tone, similar of what might emerge from the throat of a dog suppressing the urge to leap and bite.

Leorio donned himself with airs and presented himself with the habit of salute. "To check on you, of course! Just happened to drop by! Hehehehe!"

The boy had no plans to appear convinced. He shifted his focus to Senritsu, and darkly raised a brow in obvious demand of an explanation.

"You may punish us after we had helped you," stated the girl plainly in her inherently mild tone, though a convicted blush dashed her on the cheeks.

"Yeah, you know, punish us! Like the iron rack, right-or the stocks, hehehe!" Leorio was in an evident state of garbled wits mixed with the sheer joy of seeing a friend once again.

"Help me?" Kurapica approached with deliberate steps in prominent disapproval, though inconspicuous enough not to create a scene. "Help me? Or restrain me?"

"Uh..." Leorio began.

"Um, yes, actually, a bit of that too." Senritsu confessed, preparing for the worst.

"Senritsu, my permission for your companionship is no guarantee for another's." The boy was trembling in his efforts to speak reasonably without flaring in a murderous stance.

"Aw, come on, loosen up and let me come with ya!" The poor young medical student was in a more fit state to whine, and ended in sounding unbearably piteous.

The next hour was resolved with the three boarding the two o' clock train. Kurapica gifted his two companions with glares of plans on future torture strategies, seemingly having forgotten his honor of invoking more courtesy to a lady. Senritsu, sensing his heartbeat, flinched a little.

"Jailers! That's what you two will be."

"Aw, enough already!" Leorio cried.

"I just don't know what to call you both-either my conscience or my government!"

"Well..."

"I demand some sort of anarchy, hear?"

"But..."

"Plotting behind my back..."

"Hehe..."

The three C's-Comments, Criticisms, and

Cheers!

DW-chan:-)