What If...? 
A Leorio Paladiknight Series
Written by: Dreamer of Clouds

***

Author's Note:

Hello, my darlings!

First off, I want to say – happy thanksgiving! I hope you guys are enjoying your time with your family, friends, loved ones, as it is such a wonderful time of the year. May your bellies be stuffed like Arie's :P

Second off, thank you for your patience. I realize that I am not updating as much as I should be, and that's caused a lot of you to wait around – very painfully – for the next chapter of Jacked UP!! I promise you, I will get that out as soon as the semester is over. If not, earlier. I hope you guys don't mind. I am trying my best; though, school is getting the best of me nowadays. Will definitely keep you posted on the next chapters though, so please be on the lookout for that.

And third off, welcome to Leorio's love story! This was an idea I had a while ago, and was planning to release as soon as Jacked UP!! is finished; but, as you can see, that may not happen anytime soon. So, instead of making you guys wait, I'll write this alongside Arie's story.

This takes place during the Heaven's Arena arc, after Leorio had just received his Hunter's license. Most of it will be an original story line, considering the series didn't focus much on Leorio's story.

Hope you guys enjoy! Please let me know what you think. Questions, comments, concerns and criticisms are always welcome!!

Sincerely,

Dreamer of Clouds

***

Main Character
***

Name: Iphigeneia "Gen" Mirabella

Age: 19 years old

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 130 lbs

Birthday: February 7

Hair Color: Black hair

Eye Color: Black eyes

Blood Type: O

Affiliations:
Emerson Grace Hospital, First Year Intern
Healing Hands

Occupation:
First Year Intern
Medical Student
Chairman of Healing Hands

Nen Abilities
Type: Specialist
Abilities: Binding Exchange (which Gen takes the injured person's pain, for well-being)

***
Leorio's P.O.V.
***

"I – I'm sorry," Arie said, eyes wide as she watched me. "I didn't realize... I didn't think you would –"

"Yeah, well," I shrugged half-heartedly, trying my best to not look like a pathetic looser. "You know, things happen."

"But still –"

"Oh, it's no big deal!" I brushed off, feeling more macho than I really should. "It's not like I won't get over it. Right?"

"...I guess."

Clapping a hand down on Arie's shoulder, I flashed her the biggest grin I could muster. "So, I'll see you around then?"

"Yeah..." She nodded, still watching me carefully. "See you around."

***

It was another shitty day.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the people were dancing all around the block, filled with joy.

I hated it.

Groaning, I slowly opened my eyes and blinked a few times, just so my vision would clear up. It sort of did.

One eye was crystal clear, the other fuzzy like a caterpillar. Not exactly the most comfortable thing for my brain to process at the moment.

Barely moving, I read the digital clock that hung on the wall across the room. It read 9:53 AM – which means I was currently operating on five hours of sleep.

Just what I needed to start the day.

Half-heartedly, I flipped myself over so that I was now laying on my backside on the couch. Empty plastic cups and soda bottles spilled on the floor.

Not that I cared.

The housekeeper would just clean it up anyway.

And now that I think about it, my neck's really stiff. Probably should've slept on my back on the bed instead of my front on such a small seat.

Ugh, whatever, I thought, the side of my hand rubbing out whatever crap was left in my eye. It's not like I care.

As a matter of fact, I didn't care much about anything nowadays.

Not since the Hunter exam ended.

Not since I left my friends.

Not since Arie...

Gah, I'm not doing this, I scowled. It's way too early in the morning to be brooding about her...

Swinging up, I propped myself on my elbows and sighed. Closing my eyes, I counted slowly from one to ten, then ten to one. I read somewhere that, if I were to do this, my blood pressure would go down and my nerves would calm.

And I would forget whatever it was that was stressing me out.

For the most part, it worked.

But for some godforsaken reason, it didn't work today. I could still remember her. How she smiled, how she kicked ass, how she broke my cheek and bent me back.

It hurt like hell.

But for some reason, I really –

"Screw it," I muttered, throwing the remaining plastic cups off of me. "I'm going out today, whether I want to or not."

There was no way I was going to lock myself in my apartment forever. Not with the goal that I had in mind.

I didn't come here, to the city of the world's greatest training hospital, to whine and cry about my feelings. I came here to the Republic of Padokia to train – to become a doctor and save lives.

And I was going to do it.