I don't know how to feel about this one...

"You leave him behind."

=oOo=

"It was nice of them to let us stay in their home, wasn't it?" Kurapika mused as he settled himself on one of the beds and I absentmindedly nodded as I stared out the window with my arms crossed. It was a little before sundown when the Kurta came back, but to his defense, he had taken longer than expected because he went looking for a place to crash for a while, which was where we were at now. An old couple's home. They were few of the original citizens of the place and though things had gotten out of hand here in Dolor, they wouldn't leave their land. "You seem distracted. Did you find anything?" Sighing, I shook my head turned away from the window and headed over my bed. "Why do I find that not convincing?"

"Because apparently I'm a horrible liar," I muttered. Honestly, I didn't know how that worked. Was it something on my face? I could look at people straight in the eye and lie, but they would always catch me. Was it some kind of habit I had that I didn't know about?

"Shall I ask again?"

"The answer would just be the same."

"And why would that be?"

Frowning, I rolled over on my bed to side where I could see Kurapika. "Because right now, I don't know how to say stuff to you without-"

A round of knocking came at the door followed by an old woman's voice. "Dinner is ready," she sang. "Won't you come and join us?"

"Thank you. We will be down in a few seconds," Kurapika replied before turning back to me. "You were saying?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing," I huffed, jumping onto my feet and going over to his bed to pick him up. "Come on," I grunted as I grabbed the Kurta by the hand. "Better not keep them waiting. It's already bad enough that we're giving them trouble."

=oOo=

I knew it was bad to be too curious, but with all the photos hanging about the house, I couldn't help but be curious. Each faded photo had a story to tell, I could feel it, and it was kinda interesting to figure out what they were trying to say.

"My husband was a photojournalist, back in the day," the lady of the house – Elsa – hummed as she came to stand beside me. Dinner had just ended and with Kurapika having volunteered to do the dishes for them, I decided to linger a bit and wait for him before going up. "Absolutely loved taking pictures of just about anything," she chuckled.

"It shows," I murmured.

The woman must have taken my words the wrong way, judging from her reaction. "Oh, I'm sorry," Elsa suddenly squeaked. "I didn't mean to bore you. It's just that it's been so long since we had guests and an old lady must show off every now and again."

I shook my head. "It's alright," I reassured her, managing a small smile. "I didn't mean to sound rude."

The old lady smiled warmly at me. "You're a good child, Mina," she laughed. "Would you be so kind as to help me with something in the living room?"

I blinked. "Oh, of course. What is it?" I asked as she led the way.

"It's nothing too difficult," she began, "but they're quite a lot and I was hoping to finish them today." Else flicked open the light switch and I was greeted with a large box filled with frames and albums right beside a smaller box jam-packed with photos. "These are photos my children took when they were young," she stated, picking up one of the glossy pieces of paper. "Some are photos they sent, like this one." She showed me the picture in her fingers and it was of three kids playing by the beach. "These are my grandchildren from my eldest. Charming aren't they?"

I smiled a bit. "They're adorable. So I take it we just have to put them in the frames and albums?"

Else nodded. "Yes, if it's alright."

"It's fine, Elsa," I chirped, picking up an album and sitting myself down on a chair. "We're the ones intruding. This is the least we could do."

The old woman chuckled. "I appreciate it, darling," she hummed before sitting down herself and setting to work. From the other side of the corridor, I could hear water running and I guess Kurapika was still working. Rin, Elsa's husband, was with him, fixing that broken cupboard I heard him complain about earlier. "Oh, this brings me back…"

I looked up from the stuff I was working on and glanced at what Elsa was holding. "You're… wedding?"

The old lady nodded, her loose bun of silver hair shaking a bit. "You have good eyes," she commented, choosing a frame that it would fit in from the box. "I can't believe I haven't put it up yet."

"Here you go," I said, handing over a frame for the thing.

"Thank you, darling… Oh how I remember the time Rin and I first met," she cooed in a lovestruck way. It was amusing how in love the two of them were with each other after all these years living in a place like this. "Rin was trying to snap a photo of an event when my friends and I walked in on the whole thing. We practically took up the whole photo," she laughed, shaking her head, and I couldn't help but smile. She was a sweet old lady. "And what about you, Mina? How long have the two of you been together?"

"Uh… I don't mean to be rude but… What?"

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "You and Kurapika," she pointed out and I fought the urge to slap my forehead. I did, however, fidget in my seat a bit and fumble with the stuff I was working on. "Oh, did I misunderstand something?"

I cleared my throat. "Nothing… romantic is going on between us," I slowly said and I couldn't help but feel a tad bit guilty when I saw her expression sadden. Well, I was telling the truth. Nothing was going on. Absolutely nothing. Except that thing on the boat, but I didn't even understand what that was. "We've only known each other for almost three months. We're close and I'd do anything to see him happy, but we're simply friends."

Now both the woman's eyebrows shot up. "That's nonsense," she huffed and I had to admit, I did not see that coming. "Child, I've seen all eight of my children fall in love several times and get married and what I see between the two of you is nothing short of young love."

An eye of mine twitched while the rest of my face began to heat up. "I-It's nothing like that, honestly," I weakly argued. "He and I…" I shook my head. "It's just that… I can't…"

"Is there someone else?"

My eyes grew wide. "O-Of course not!" I stammered in surprise. What happened to sweet old Elsa? Who was this? "I mean, not on my part but-" I caught myself before I could say more stupid stuff and went back to the almost full album on my lap.

"I caught you," Elsa sang as she placed her completed album and frames on a nearby table, a smile of triumph on her face. "I might be old, but I'm not-" A crash echoed from the other side of the hallway and I immediately got up and rushed over to the kitchen.

"Kurapika!" I called out as soon as I saw him bleeding and I quickly ran to his side. "Are you alright? What happened here?" I worriedly asked as I took a look at his blood-covered hand.

"It's nothing little missy," Rin chuckled. "I just surprised him is all when I accidentally dropped my tools. No need for a heart attack."

I pulled my eyebrows together and turned towards the old man. "Then why the blood?"

"I was holding a brittle cup when he dropped his things," Kurapika explained. "I had accidentally crushed it. I apologize for that. I'll replace it."

"No need to worry," Elsa sighed as she handed me a small towel. "We were meaning to throw it away anyway. Mina, why don't you take care of your friend's cuts? There's a first aid kit in your room. It should still be good. We'll finish things up here."

Nodding, I gently wrapped the blonde's hand with the piece of cloth and eased the boy up. "Come on, you idiot. Let's get you patched up."

"When you say it, it sounds like an ordeal," he chuckled and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"It's gonna be, if you don't shut your mouth."

=oOo=

"That should do it," I huffed as I tied the bandage securely at Kurapika's newly mummified hand. The blonde lifted it and began flexing it a bit. "I remember the time when I had a bad hand," I hummed, beginning to put away the stuff I had used. "Do you?"

The blonde flinched. "Yes, I do. Again, I have already apologized for that," he sighed.

I smiled a bit, elbowing the boy. "Just pulling your leg, Kurapika," I quietly chuckled as I got up from his bed and made my way over to the cabinet and put the first aid kit back. "Still haven't heard a 'thank you' though."

"Thank you."

"I can't hear you," I sang, my smile growing wider.

"Demina."

It was my turn to flinch. "No need to be forceful," I grunted, pouting as I plopped myself on my bed. A sigh escaped my lips as I felt all my muscles slowly relax and ease out. "Kurapika?" The blonde hummed. "Rin and Elsa are still in love, aren't they?"

The Kurta took a few moments before replying. "Yes, they very much are," he quietly said. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering…" I hummed as I rolled over to my side so I could see the blonde and for some reason, I've seen this somewhere before. Déjà vu, was it? I thought over what I wanted to say, shook my head at realizing how stupid it was and closed my eyes. I could be such a girl sometimes, thinking about getting married when all of this blew over. Well, that was gonna happen a long, long time from now… If it would happen. "It's nothing," I sighed, smiling to myself. "Forget I said anything."

It was then that someone came knocking at our door. "Mina, Kurapika," we heard Rin call out. "Are you kids still awake?"

"Yes," my blonde friend answered as I heard his sheets shift, probably to get up and get the door. "Is everything alright?" he asked just as the door creaked open. I forced my eyes open to watch and an embarrassed-looking Rin and a grinning Elsa were standing in the doorway.

"Oh, everything's fine," Elsa cooed, waving a hand. "We just wanted something to remember you by. It's not often that we have guests, you see."

"A… remembrance?" Kurapika echoed, voicing my thoughts.

Rin nodded and lifted the black device that was hanging from his neck. "Won't you take a photo with us?" Kurapika turned to me and I just shrugged. It was just a photo. It wasn't gonna kill us. Besides, I didn't have a picture of Kurapika and I yet.

I frowned inwardly.

I gotta stop thinking that.

"I don't see the harm," the blonde replied as he opened the door fully for them. "Mina, get up."

"I'm up, I'm up," I hummed as I got myself onto my feet. "So where are we gonna do this?"

"Just downstairs, dear," Elsa answered. "We were supposed to ask after dinner, but with what happened earlier… Is your hand alright?"

The Kurta nodded. "It's nothing too serious, and it's been well taken care of." I must have been seeing things since I thought I saw Kurapika send me a small smile just as he said that. I shook my head.

Seeing things, I tell ya.

=oOo=

"I'll keep this."

"Ei? But I wanted to keep that!"

Kurapika smirked. "You snooze, you lose," he huffed, waving a photo of the two of us in the air.

Frowning, I reached out to snatch the thing away from him, but he moved it at the last second. "Honestly, you act so unlike you that it's frustrating," I grunted as I tried to chase after the piece of glossy paper. "Now give it to me!"

"And you act so much like a child that it's amusing," he chuckled, continuing to play this game of cat and mouse with me.

"Hand it over."

"No," he evenly answered. "You're keeping majority of the photos. At least let me keep this one."

I couldn't stop the blush that quickly crept up my face. "I am not!" I huffed. "Now give it." The photo moved away again and I couldn't help but pout. "A trade then?" I offered, not really liking the idea of having to let go of one – or maybe more – photo for that particular piece he was holding.

The Kurta raised his eyebrows and looked like he was considering the offer. I guess he was since he eventually nodded after a few seconds. "Alright, a trade."

Grumbling curses to myself, I laid down all the photos I was supposed to keep. There were twenty pieces all in all that Rin and Elsa gave us and I was holding onto twelve. "So which one–" – or ones – "–would it be?" I patiently watched with my arms crossed as the boy scanned the photos one by one. He then pointed somewhere behind me and I looked around, an eyebrow raised and saw two turned over photos peaking under my pillow on the other bed. I could've sworn the blood drained from my face when I realized what those were. The pictures Ranno left me.

"Those," he quietly said.

"No," I quickly replied. "Those aren't even part of the pile. Pick from the ones over here."

"What are those?"

"They're nothing."

Kurapika gave me a look. "You're hiding something."

"Am not."

"You're a horrible liar."

"Again with that."

"It's the truth," he huffed as he got up and without thinking, I grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him down. "Mina?"

"You are not looking at those," I growled. Not appreciating my tone, the Kurta frowned and turned me over, holding me down to his bed with him on top of me. It was in an awkward position for me to be in and I would've loved to get out of it as soon as possible, but he was very heavy and I couldn't push him off just like that without proper motivation.

"And why not?" he asked in a serious tone that I rarely heard him use on me. It was a bit unnerving, but I steeled myself. He was so not getting those photos.

"Just no, so get off of me," I hissed. He didn't budge and that only got me more annoyed. "Kurapika," I darkly said as I glared into his equally burning brown eyes. "If you do not get off in ten seconds, I'll-"

"You'll what?"

My mouth fell open at what he said. He was being very unreasonable and was actually challenging me. "Ku-" My eyes grew wide and my whole body froze up when I felt something warm and soft on my lips. I could feel a hand of his travel to the back of my neck and pull me closer to him. All the while, my stomach began to turn in a way I knew it shouldn't and I fought to urge to… I dunno… do anything.

The whole thing, I knew, lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like it took centuries before Kurapika pulled away, his face flushed, and I swear I must've looked the same for the few short moments that I used to gather my thoughts. And once I did manage to pull myself together, my eyes grew wide and my hands flew to cover my mouth while I could feel my whole body shake.

Breathe, Demina, goddamit. Remember how to breathe.

"D-Demina," I heard Kurapika call out, worried, but I just ignored him, turned my head away and closed my eyes.

He… He just kissed me!

"Mina, please look at me," he pleaded but I shook my head wildly and as soon as I felt him remove his weight from me, I slipped away like an eel. I didn't care when I fell on the floorboards on my back. I just wanted to get away. "Mina, I'm sorry," he continued to say, but I just backed up until my back hit the wall. "Mina… I don't know what-"

I lifted a hand, signaling him to stop from whatever he was doing. "Just… stay where you are," I shakily said. "Don't come any closer. Don't say a word. I…" I unconsciously licked my lips and I immediately wished I hadn't. It still tasted like him and that sent my stomach turning and my cheeks burning. "I'm going to bed…" I dared to spare him a glance and he was watching me with a worried-slash-guilty look on his face.

"If that's what you-"

"Yeah, I need to get some rest," I quickly said as I got up and all but ran for my bed. "Good night!" I exclaimed as I threw the sheets over my head and made sure my back was facing him, heart still pounding in my ears and my face still as hot as the sun.

"… Good night, Mina."