Episode 15: The Forgotten Past

" K-Kurapica-san, you scared me! " I exclaimed, my hand trying to slow down the rate of my pounding heart.

" Sorry about that. "

The seventeen-year-old jumped down nimbly and landed expertly on his feet.

Although I was only a year younger, Kurapica still towered over me. There was a very apparent difference in height.

" You can't sleep too? " I asked him, timidly.

" Seems like it, " the seventeen-year-old answered.

For a moment, there was only silence before I shattered it.

" Kurapica-san, why did you name me, Hikari? "

" You don't remember what happened five years ago? " he countered.

" Of course, I do. The total annihilation of the Kuruta Tribe, " I replied. " But why Hikari? "

" You were so traumatised by it that you forgot about your own identity. "

My eyes narrowed at this.

" My identity? " I echoed, confused. " What are you talking about? "

Kurapica continued to stare down at me.

" You are Hikari Kuruta, the tribal Chief's daughter, " he explained.

" H-H-Hikari? "

My voice came out but a mere whisper.

It was then, that the images of the past which I had tried so hard to forget came rushing back to me.

Before they came, I was outside, playing ball with my nineteen-year-old brother, Ryu.

" Ryu, pass the ball! Pass the ball! "

" Where's my 'I love you, Ryu' ? " my brother teased me, winking.

I pouted, " Geez, do I really have to? "

Ryu nodded firmly.

I sighed unhappily.

" Since you much, much older than me, you will constantly bully me! "

Ryu grinned mischievously.

" Well, there's no two ways about it. Either you do that or you don't get the ball, Hikari. "

" Ryu, daisukke! " I told him in my most saccharine voice. " Now, could you please pass me the ball? "

He laughed and threw the ball over to me. However, it flew over my head and past my hands which were high above my head, trying to grab the ball. It bounced away from me.

Angrily, I placed my hands on my hips and scolded him.

" You threw the ball like that on purpose! You know very well that I can't catch the ball at such a height! "

" Really? " he asked me, acting all innocent.

With a huff, I turned away from him and marched over to retrieve the ball which had bounced to a stop, just several metres away from me.

And then…

" RYU, HIKARI! RUN! "

It was my father, Kazuya Kuruta, the tribal Chief of our clan. He was also rumoured to be the strongest Nen-user amongst our people.

" Daddy? " I called out, looking puzzled.

At the age of eleven, I was clueless about what was happening around me.

Without another word, Ryu scooped me up into his arms as I lost my grip on the ball and it went bouncing off again.

" Come on, Hikari. We've got to go, now! "

Then, Ryu took of with me in his arms.

" Wait, but what about Daddy? " I cried out, turning to look back.

It was then that I was it.

A man just came up to my father and killed him just like that before my eyes just as he was trying to help out his people in fighting some unknown enemy.

I gasped in horror at the macabre scene as tears brimmed in my eyes when I realised that my father had been murdered, just like that.

" Hikari, be a good girl and stay here. I'll come back for you, " Ryu told me.

" P-Promise…? " I sobbed, swiping at the tears that were now spilling onto my blouse.

" Yes, I promise, " my brother replied, hurriedly.

He ruffled my hair affectionately and then he left me there, huddling behind a boulder not far from the village, to fend for myself.

I heard screams of many people dying and cries of pain. I could almost smell death as I just sat there, not moving and listened helplessly.

All I could think of were my brother and father.

After a few minutes, there was nothing but silence.

Hope blossomed in my chest as I mustered up my courage to take a peek.

My eyes widened as a gasp escaped my throat. I took a step back.

There were no sign of the village at all but only ruins. Many people were all scattered around, dead. There was blood everywhere as the stench of burnt flesh wafted through my nose, making me gag.

What is going on here…?

Without thinking, I ran forward in the direction of my house or what was left of it.

" Ryu? Daddy? " I called out, anxiously.

Where are they…?

Did they leave me here…?

By now, the tears were falling.

" RYU? DADDY? " I tried again, calling for them in a louder voice.

However, no one came to me. There was only the utter silence.

It was then I saw him. My father.

My lips stretched into a wide smile as I ran to him.

" DADDY! " I yelled, relieved.

I thought he was murdered…

Thank the Heavens above…

" H-Hikari… "
I lost my smile when I saw his face. It was all bruised and bleeding.

" D-Daddy, are you alright? " I asked him, concerned.

He caressed my cheek with one hand.

" Hikari, run. Run away from here and don't look back. You must live, that's why you were spared. The Gods have protected you so you must go, " he told me softly, tears running down his face.

And then, his eyes glazed over, now devoid of life and fell to the ground.

" NO, DADDY! " I screamed, as reality struck me.

I was alone now. There was no one around for me anymore.

Ryu…

My father…

Everyone was gone…

" HIKARI! "

Immediately, my head snapped up. I blinked my eyes repeatedly, realising that I had sunk to the ground. I looked at Kurapica who was kneeling in front of me with a worried look on his face.

" K-K-Kurapica-san, " I whispered, my voice, hoarse and heavy with sadness. " I saw it. I saw my father. He died in front of my eyes… "