Episode 16: The Knack Of Sharing

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face into his shoulder.

" Kurapica-san, he died. My father and brother were both murdered, " I sobbed. " My father told me to run and not look back. I-I was so terrified! "

I squeezed my eyes shut and started to tremble.

" Hikari, it's okay now. You are not there. Most importantly, you are not alone anymore. You have all of us here with you, " Kurapica told me, trying his best to comfort me. "So, please don't cry. "

" I guess so, " I said as my eyes suddenly snapped open when I was aware of my awkward position.

Almost instantly, I jumped back as if I was burnt by Kurapica's skin.

" Oh, I'm really sorry! " I exclaimed, my cheeks growing warm and placed my hands into my lap. " You must have found that uncomfortable. "

" It's alright, Hikari, " Kurapica replied.

Soon after, there was silence.

I unwrapped the plastic wrapping of the candy apple that Kurapica bought for me.

" Uhm, Kurapica-san? " I began, not quite looking at him. " Do you have a handkerchief? "
" Sure, I do. Why? "

" Do you mind if I borrowed it? " I explained. " I will wash it after that and give it back to you. "
The seventeen-year-old handed his handkerchief over.

I took over the handkerchief and used it to cover a portion of the candy apple.

" Eh, what are you doing? " Kurapica asked me, bemused.

I bit into the covered part of the sweet and broke a large portion of it.

" Here! "

I offered it to him which he willingly accepted.

" Thank you, Hikari. "

I smiled at him, kindly and nodded.

" Hikari, I wanted to ask you something, " Kurapica began, meeting my eyes directly.

I stopped nibbling on my piece of candy apple.

" What is it? " I asked, looking curiously at him.

" Earlier on, I saw those men being flung aside like they were merely puppets and those knives… How did you that? "

I broke eye contact and looked away.

" Why do you want to know all this, Kurapica-san? " I asked him softly.

He paused before going to on to answer me.

" You and I, we belong to the same race. "

" I-I don't know how to explain it, " I admitted. " I've had this power since I was young. I'm able to move things around with my mind using…Nen, at least that was my father called it. I don't like to use this power because it drains me of my life energy and it takes me some time to recover. He says that I'm in the Specialization Group and also, I've been able to cancel out any forms of Nen being placed upon others. In other words, I'm a Jyonen user as well. "

" You mean, you have done this before? " Kurapica demanded.

I looked at him, startled, at his sudden change in voice.

" Huh? Done what? " I asked him, stupidly.

" You cancel out the Nen on others? "

I nodded, looking thoughtful.

" Yes, I've done it several times before under the supervision of my father, of course because I'm not that skilled in it. It's a really dodgy business since the person in question and me included could get killed in the process. Anyway, one reason our clan prospered is due to this. There are only a certain few who knows about this ability of mine. But of course, this type of dealing is done under strict rules and in secrecy because the people who placed Nen upon the others will know about it and hunt me

down. "

The boy's eyes widened at this.

" Has anyone ever died before when you did this? "

I shook my head.

" No, there wasn't but one nearly because I almost lost control of my power. "

The seventeen-year-old lapsed into silence.

" Kurapica-san, I would appreciate it if you would not tell this to anyone, " I added, now yawning, finishing the last of the candy apple.

" You better get some rest. We've talked nearly the whole night away, " he advised me after noticing my yawning.

" Okay, " I said sleepily. " Good-night, Kurapica-san. "

I turned my back to him and was about to head inside when I stopped.

I turned back to face him.

" Kurapica-san? Aren't you coming in as well? "

" Yes, I will be but not now, " he told me. " You go on first. "

I nodded and went in, without turning back. I was too bushed to argue back.

Maybe, I should have turned back because the boy was staring at me with a pensive look on his face.