(Leopika)

Ice X Water

    Kurapika ran to the only place he could think of. The harbor where he had met Leorio.
    He sat on the dock, dangling his feet over the water. The wind blew his hair into his face but he didn't care. He just sat there and thought. He thought about Mykel and Ella. About Abby and her restaurant. But most of all he thought about Leorio.
    Abby and Ella left, and Leorio closed the restaurant. He didn't know why Kurapika ran out so fast, but he was worried. He decided he would go look for him after he closed up.
    Once everything was where it belonged, Leorio left. He didn't know where to start looking, so he just thought of Kurapika and waited to see where he ended up.
    Leorio walked aimlessly for half an hour before he realized where he was headed. He could hear waves crashing against the docks. He walked faster, hoping to find Kurapika there.
     Leorio was not disappointed. The Kurta sat, dangling his legs over the edge of the dock. Leorio smiled, taking off his socks and shoes as he hopped to Kurapika's side.
     "Hey!" Leorio smiled. "You left pretty quickly. Is everything okay?"
      "It's fine." Kurapika snapped. "I'm fine." He said quieter. His feet were numb at this point, the water was so cold. He didn't care.
       Leorio was shocked. Kurapika is usually so composed. He sat there silently, watching as Kurapika clenched and unclenched his fists.
       After a few minutes Leorio got impatient. The water was too cold anyways. "Well don't stay out late. I don't want you to get sick or anything." He stood up and shook off his feet, he left his socks off because his feet were wet, and began his walk home.
       Leorio hung his head. He was only trying to help! Something was wrong with Kurapika, but he couldn't figure out what. He went over the events in his head.
       Kurapika had seemed fine when Ella first arrived. It wasn't until they were sitting in silence that he took off. Was he uncomfortable or was there more to it?
       Leorio was already almost back to his house. He looked at his hands. He didn't realize they were in fists. He relaxed his hands, his fingernails leaving crescent moons in his palms. He sighed, stretching his fingers. He hadn't realized Kurapika made him that angry.
         Leorio opened his door. His house seemed so empty without Abby or Kurapika. It just wasn't the same. The rooms seemed too big, too empty.
         Then it hit him. Abby and Kurapika would eventually move on, leaving him to fend for himself. This apartment would always seem empty to him.
         Leorio's knees began to shake. He grabbed on to the door frame to help stabilize himself. He felt suddenly claustrophobic, even though just seconds ago the room had felt so large.
         How long Leorio stood there, he didn't know. It could have been seconds, minutes, or even an hour.
         As soon as he could stand on his own Leorio went to bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. His dreams were clouded with fear of being alone.
        In the morning Leorio wasn't feeling any better. It felt like a ton of bricks were just dropped on his shoulders. It hurt to breathe, to exist even.
        Leorio poured himself a bowl of cereal, but he barely tasted it. His mind seemed like it was disconnected from his body.  He knew it was stupid, but when Kurapika snapped at him he just broke. His friend was in pain and there was nothing he could do about it.
        Leorio got ready for the day. He was supposed to go help Abby with her restaurant, but he just didn't feel like it.
        The drive to the restaurant was slow. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion.
         As soon as Leorio stepped inside Abby was by his side. She told him that she would be searching for a new apartment for Ella. She wanted Leorio to make sure everything went smoothly. He agreed, though he barely heard a word she said.
         Everything was fine and it didn't take long for Leorio to get bored. Kurapika never came like he said he would. Thinking of Kurapika made Leorio remember how empty his house had felt last night. He couldn't think of what to do about it last night, but now it hit him.
          Shopping. Leorio would go shopping. He'd buy plants and chairs, paintings and tables. Anything and everything to take up space.
           As soon as Abby stepped back inside the restaurant Leorio was gone. He barely looked at her as he ran out the back door, wallet in hand.
           Leorio bought many things. He bought a new, bigger, couch, fake plants that would take up half a room, recliners with strange patterns, and abstract paintings. But even after setting everything up, the room still felt empty.
           That's when Leorio lost it. He broke down crying, the room shrinking in on him. He sobbed until he couldn't breathe. He curled up into a ball and fell asleep, wishing he would never have to wake up again.

Hey guys! So because the holidays are so close, I will only be posting once a week. The post will be on Wednesday nights. I'll be binge writing over the holidays, so after New Years I'll go back to posting regularly. Don't forget to vote and comment!