Heart X to X Heart

AN: Sorry for the late upload, I had some stuff today for the earlier part of the day. That, and I spent a bit more time thinking about what I wanted to do with this arc, some real changes you know? In earlier arcs, I tried to make new stuff and plot lines but I was never comfortable enough to make any real change with that first arc. Something that really tanked the quality of the story if you ask me. As for this chapter, I think I kind of like it, I won't say it's great or anything but I would like to consider it a step up in quality? Giving some characters a bit more development besides the main character Let me know what you guys think of it, as I always try to consider and integrate any useful critiques.

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"By the way, what have you been up to four eyes?" walking next to Leorio as Gon and Killua were up ahead, leading the way to the hotel they have been staying at. Looking over at him with a curious look, mostly due to his silence after we met up tonight.

*sigh* "It's… well, I figured we would be in the same boat here but it seems like I got left behind." turning to me and giving me a frustrated look that was unfitting of his usually boisterous character.

"That's… what's up? You are not one to look so grim, normally you would scream your head off while flipping off whatever was troubling you." slowing down my pace coming to a stop, as the two boys went on ahead. Giving him a goofy grin as I give a half-hearted smack on his shoulder I stood there waiting for a response.

"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence… *sigh* I guess the issue is everyone around me is getting stronger, Gon and Killua are miles ahead of me in terms of Nen. Not only that, the way Killua reacted to you showing up can only mean you are somewhat similar. Not to mention Kurapika who I have not seen yet, but knowing his goals he is probably just as powerful… I just figured we would be more similar." Looking down at his outstretched hand that was now coated in Ten Leorio looked up at me before sighing as his aura simmered back down.

"Similar? In what way, because I always felt our little group was made up of well… unique characters. As for everyone getting stronger, from the little I heard from Gon about your travels you went and opened the testing gates. Making you most likely physically stronger than me." looking at his expression curve into the slightest smile, I mentally let out a sigh of relief. I was never good at reassuring people, most of the time making situations worse by coming off as an asshole with my god-awful word choice.

"Maybe… It wasn't like I opened the gate by myself, It was with the help of everybody else. I probably contributed the least out of us, maybe it was because I don't have some grand goal like everyone else did. I mean, when we met at the exams, just like me you did not really have some grand goal… It was selfish like mine. It was enjoying your life and the unexplored places of the world right?" nodding at his question I began to think back on my 'grand goal' I pulled out of my ass on the spot. While it wasn't an awful goal it felt more like a hobby than an aspiration of mine, though that is something I had to think about later.

"Yeah, that was the jist of it. I even made some headway in the last sixth months, you would not believe the places I have been! I'll have to show you the pictures sometime." Chuckling at the memories of the three-month expedition that were fresh in my mind from re-reading my journal before I burned it earlier tonight. Though I quickly removed the smile from my face when I saw the twitchy expression on Leorio's face, apparently bragging about how awesome things have been lately is not appropriate right now.

"I am sure you will... *sigh* Yet you are already making strides towards your goal, My goal was also a selfish pursuit, I wanted to become a doctor… I still do, and I figured I would just focus on that. Get into med school after the exam and anything else would be pushed aside. That's why I never put much importance into Nen, I just learned Ten and called it quits. But seeing you, who was just as useless as me in the hunter exam, put that much importance to Nen has made me start to rethink how I spent these last few months…" scowling as soon as he finished speaking his mind, Leorio began to space out. Something I was all too familiar with, he was probably having an over-the-top internal monologue.

"Leorio." snapping him out of his thoughts with a deadpan tone I called out to him.

"Yeah?" seemingly jolting 'awake' he looked over at me in confusion as his scowl deepened.

"As my brutish and unsophisticated teacher would say; 'you are overthinking it dumbass.' There is no problem with all the studying you have been doing, it's vital in becoming a doctor. If you had put more focus on Nen you would become a school nurse giving out band-aids and icepacks that could use superpowers. " elbowing him the ribs as I chuckled at the thought of him being pestered all day by school children trying to skip class. Thankfully, my little joke at the end was good at keeping his depressive mood at bay as evident from the small laugh that escaped his lips.

"You can always learn about Nen at any point in your life but… I think you could do some amazing things should you explore that avenue Leorio. Nen is such a versatile and personal thing, you can do nearly anything with it. From special attacks from your favorite comic books to something that might help you become the best doctor out there. From what I heard from Kurapika you wanted the best of the best no? Best liquor, nice cars, designer suits, becoming filthy rich, and of course, getting married to the sexiest woman out there? Why should your main aspiration be any different? So get out of this depressing slump of yours and get back to being the bothersome and ear-damaging bastard of a friend I know you are." Stepping away from the wall we were leaning on I began to slowly walk in the same direction I saw Gona and Killua going earlier.

"By the way what hotel are you guys staying at?" turning around to steal a glimpse of Leorio who was still standing there, I ended up asking the where he was staying. Mostly so I could leave and give him some space to think for a while if he needed it.

"And why do I have to tell you, you annoying bastard!" quickly catching up to me and passing me up, Leorio began to lead the way back to the hotel. Fortunately, he seemed to be back up to task, false bravado and all.

'Though I wonder what brought all this on in the first place, Leorio from what I always pictured was never the type for drama. However, I have seen some events or people acting in a different way than what I was used to. Whether it was due to my near minimal interference or the world of HxH is different than what was captured in the Anime and Manga…I have no clue! As for Leorio acting like this, it could be I was the straw that broke the camels back here? I mean his speech in the chairman arc was pretty self-deprecating, So something like this may have been happening internally back in the original series as well…' squaring those thoughts away, I continued to talk with Leorio as we slowly made our way to the hotel everyone was staying at for the time.