L E O R I O A N D K U R A P I K A
an unofficial explanation by
Cherrie
Most probably the most famous pairing in the world of Hunter X Hunter, the pair of Leorio and Kurapika--more famously known as "LeoPika"--has captured many heart of fanfic authors and fans alike as the subject of what seems to be quite a popular fixation. But the most common question that most people might when faced with this lovable (my opinion of course) pair ask is, "Why them?"
Indeed, why them? Kurapika doesn't have much rivals for Leorio, but how about the other way around? As far as I'm concerned (and I'm quite sure many of you as well), Kurapika has so many pairs that it even exceeds the numbers I can count on my fingers. But still, despite the vast numbers, it seems that Leorio comes first in the rank. Though I'll dare not say that his looks are unworthy of praise (because surely it is, I'll box you if you think otherwise), let's be truthful: there are more characters out there that are more beautiful, if not exceptionally so. There's Kuroro and Killua to name two. Oh, and don't forget Neon Nostrard. She seems to be a very close rival to Leorio for reasons far too many to mention.
Now, before I start barraging Leorio with bad points, I better stop here and start with the topic itself. But first of all, before I start, I would like to remind everybody that Leorio/Kurapika is not an official couple (sad to say...ehe, don't mind me). I'll tackle the reasons why they're not a couple later on in this analysis. Also, do keep in mind that I'm not trying to change any reader's view or opinions about this pair. Your belief is yours, and I respect that. That's why I want you to respect mine as well. So, needless to say, whoever sends me any senseless flames with the common bad language AND grammar, keep them to yourselves because I'm pretty narrow-minded--if not close-minded all in all--when it comes to such flames. I would take comments though, and most likely, I'll listen and try to understand.
Okay, so to start. I feel like doing the opposing side first, so here I go. Why does some people disagree to the notion that Leorio and Kurapika can be together? Come on guys, you can say it~
"They're not gay!"
*nods* Point taken. But do know that gay relationships are pretty rampant in Japan. *blinks* I can't remember why I felt the need to say that though. Probably because the author came from Japan, maybe YAOI isn't as strange to him as it may be to some other people. Now now, I'm not saying they ARE gay, all right? I just mentioned that for no apparent reason *sweatdrops*.
I'll be going away from Leorio and Kurapika for now and state an opinion I have about homosexuality in general. By all means, I'm not recommending anybody to be inclined to it, but there are some cases wherein I just can't tolerate people bashing somebody just because of such a simple issue. Up until now, religion, morality and tradition still oppose to homosexual relationships. But unfortunately, I'm not one who believes in those things anymore. I'm not saying that I'm going against my religion (I'm Catholic by the way), but neither am I saying that whatever my teacher says, I believe. Everybody is given the free will to think for themselves. I say that sexuality only applies to the practical reason why we're all alive: We're here to spread our race. Well, that is, that was our foremost purpose. But seeing that humanity doesn't need any more help in contaminating the earth with their presence (hehe, sorry to human enthusiasts out there *peace!*), it didn't cross me that there is another purpose in that anymore.
I did find a reason that the Church has given to oppose to homosexuality (geez, I'm being pushy in arguing with myself, aren't I?). I read somewhere that homosexuality triggers "unnecessary lust towards somebody of the same sex". "Unnecessary" being, as I had understood it, a sexual thing that may lead to intercourse or something near to that, which will not be fruitful, referred to as child-bearing. I stated my case on the population bit. Now, about sex and lust. Okay, fine, so that hit me a bit since I do write lime, but that's just about it. The way I think of it is like this: As long as I am not hurting anybody, I find no reason for people to come to me and tell me, "You hentai! What the hell were you thinking?" I have my reasons why I find the need to write such material, and it's not my fault if it causes any mental trauma to whoever reads it. As far as I'm concerned, I write proper warnings and notes before my fanfics that indicates this and that, which I believe are enough for people to know whether or not they'll be able to take it or not.
So there goes my two cents on the matter. Again, please don't flame me! *sweatdrops* Ai-ya, I'm going to get myself in trouble for doing this, but I just really felt the need to write my view, regardless whether or not anybody would be interested. Now, to another reason.
This reason now involves the characters' personalities. Many fans believe that Kurapika is too individualistic and obsessed with revenge to prioritize anything else. It seems to me that his grief had come to the dangerous point that his thirst in avenging his loved ones had become an obsession. As shown clearly by his personality and determination, we get the impression that he will not have anything else stand in his way. Not friends (okay, so maybe some friends might), not money, not even life itself. And most especially, not romance.
It's possible to say that the same goes for Leorio. But then again, he does go after women. Whether or not he does it because he really is fascinated with women or he's just lonely, we can't know for sure. But we do know that Leorio is serious in his studies, and the promise that he gave his dead best friend will be not be broken. But compared to Kurapika, the extent that Leorio is willing to pay for his goals is not as brutal as to how much Kurapika is willing to sacrifice just to attain his purpose (good heavens, his own life controlled by nen!?).
So, aside from the fact that they're both guys and that Kurapika is too busy, I guess that's it. Now I'm going to the reasons why they're seen as a couple, all right?
Aside from the episode wherein Kurapika had come back to the group that involves what seemed to me as a MAJOR LeoPika scene, we have no proof that any romance exists between Leorio and Kurapika. When I said that that episode may serve as a mild proof, I was just intrigued with that certain meeting. Kurapika, after a long while of absence from the group, had come back. He was met by two jumping kids, namely Gon and Killua. Later on, just when it seemed that Leorio had forgotten about him, Kurapika's cellphone rings and here comes Leorio, giving us the impression that he wants a private talk with him without Gon and Killua's nosiness. Either that, or he wants to be seen as this sweet guy who finds another way of saying "hello" to a long lost friend. He asks how he has been, asks if he's all right and continued to babble about sweet nothings for goodness knows how long. Soon after, Leorio and Kurapika are looking at each other as if they had a mutual understanding (which, I think, they actually did, but may not be romantic depending on how one looks at it) with smiles that seem to speak volumes that even Gon and Killua had stared and blinked, dumbfounded at the weirdness that's going on between their two elders. The moment was only broken when Gon and Killua shoved their ice creams on Leorio's face and starts a brawl with him over who gets to bathe in sweets next. But despite that mood-shifter (HUGE thanks to Gon and Killua *sarcastic snort*), as a LeoPika fan, it was pretty difficult to forget that episode *hearts popping out*. Especially when Kurapika-sama had been so very beautiful when he laughed *swoons like mad and goes on ranting about Kurapika's bishounen-ness for about five more minutes*. But still, it wasn't a sure proof, so that's almost like saying that we have no proof at all (*grins* but it works for me~!).
Why Leorio and Kurapika? The main reason mostly given by LeoPika fans is that they're best friends. Even if it's not admitted by either party--because both are too proud to say the obvious probably, it's pretty evident in how they act and how the author/animation directors (whatever you call them) shove it in our faces that they ARE together (not romantically speaking). If you don't believe me, try to check out a couple of image galleries out there, why don't you? Or watch the ending songs? In fact, just watch the anime or read the manga itself and you'll see what I'm talking about.
"Geez, so they're best friends, why don't you just leave it as that!?" many people against this pair may ask.
In the world of YAOI, best friends are most likely the victims of squealing fans going googoo eyes while waving pompoms and banners that says, "kakkoi deshou~!!!" There's Kurama and Hiei, Gojyo and Hakkai, Tasuki and Nuriko, and Gateau and Marron, to name a few. Hell even our very own Hisoka and Illumi are a part of this. Even Gon and Killua. So what's my point in stating this? All I'm saying is that the constant pairings between two best friends is not entirely a new thing when it comes to anime couples. Though that isn't a very good excuse to ease the minds of those against this pair, I'm sorry to say that that is most probably the best reason I can give.
To expound on this "best friends make cute couples" issue, let's go and see just what exactly makes them go together. First of all, it's how their personalities clash and mix in the most perfect ways that makes their chemistry work so well. They're similar in many ways, and yet so different in another. Kurapika is mostly quiet and keeps to himself, while Leorio is more cheerful and hyperactive. Both have pasts that they want to overcome so they can finally go on with the life given to them.
Which now reminds me of a typical plot when it comes to writing LeoPika fanfics. Kurapika is lonely over the Kuruta clan, while Leorio is lonely over his late best friend. They go together, they talk, they find their similarities. They then realize that they're alike. So that gives them a mutual understanding that the other would be there for them. It goes like, "He went through the same as I did, so he understands me more than anybody else can". And we all know that understanding is a very crucial part of knowing how to comfort a person. And has anybody noticed? It's easier for us to be comfortable with somebody who understands us and knows how we feel. It's easier to open up when you know this person will understand you even before you speak.
Another thing to point out is how they handle each other. Sure, they fight more often than anyone can count, but that just seems to strengthen the bond between them even more. Also, constant bickering makes one immune to such arguments later on, and it somehow eases an individual to know that, "Hey, we've done this before, but we're still friends!" Apparently, this somehow applies with Leorio and Kurapika. They've fought far too many times to even be bothered by each other anymore, and perhaps that's one of the reasons why they're so close.
Remember the time during the Hunter Exam when they were stuck on an island? There was a part there where Leorio found Kurapika staring off at a ship that belonged to a member of the Kuruta clan. Leorio approaches him and asks if he was all right, saying that he's worried that his roommate may not be feeling well. And sooner than we had expected, we suddenly know about Kurapika's past, plainly because Kurapika decided that he can entrust Leorio with his grief. And did I mention that they had been constantly fighting a few episodes before? Pretty weird to see them bonding right after such things, isn't it?
But then again, they can be very close but still remain friends, right? Well, yes, that's right actually. Whether or not they are seen as a couple depends on the one who looks at them anyway. Let's say that somebody inclined to YAOI looks at them. I'll bet they'll look like a couple, opposed to what a non-yaoist might see them as, who will only see nothing but pure, platonic friendship.
Either way, both are all right. Similar to how they say, "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder", each of us have our own opinions on various things. Personally, I don't really think that they are a couple in the anime, but that doesn't stop me from being a fan of LeoPika, does it? There's something about what catches one's interests without necessarily needing a sure confirmation from the main sources themselves. I just find them cute together, simple as that. And it's not impossible, is it? As long as I find a hole to crawl into that gives me the impression that they're still up for grabs to play around with, I'll stay.
It doesn't really take an intelligent reason to love something. Ask me for a good reason why I support them, limited in 20 words or less. I might just say, "I think they look good together and they know each other well". That's it, and I'll probably rest my case. It's an issue that doesn't need to be argued about, don't you think? -10/15/02