Episode 18: The Final But Dangerous Decision
That afternoon, Mito-san and I set out to town for clothes shopping.
" Are you sure that they will be fine? " I asked her for the umpteenth time.
Mito-san smiled down at me and ruffled my hair.
" You really are worried about your friends, aren't you? "
I nodded as I looked up at her, anxiously.
" Are they going to be alright? "
" Yes, I'm sure they are going to be just fine. My mother will watch over them, " the woman reassured me. " Don't worry too much, Hikari or pimples will start popping out on your face! Try to relax and enjoy our time together, okay? "
I smiled at her and nodded.
" Now, that's a good girl. "
After a few minutes of walking, we had finally reached the town.
" Hikari, I'm making sure that you will get all the cutest clothes, alright? " Mito-san sang out happily as we went over to a clothes shop that was the nearest. " This is my very first time shopping for a girl. Normally, I only shop for Gon's clothes and never a girl's. "
" Oh…uhm, o-okay, " I stammered.
She looks so happy…
Will I ever be this happy…?
I mean, I've never shopped before…
All I have ever done…
Is to steal food and not clothes…
My robe is the only garment that I've ever owned…
And, it's also something I stole…
I've never owned anything that I've bought with money…
I've got no money for all this…
Then…
I stopped up suddenly.
" Hikari? "
" M-Mito-san, I can't buy clothes, " I told her.
The woman's eyes widened in astonishment.
" But, why not? "
" Well, that's because…I've got no money to buy them with, " I admitted. " Besides, the clothes will be too expensive. "
For a moment, Mito-san stared at me and then she burst out laughing.
" Oh, Hikari, dear. You sure are full of surprises, aren't you? " she told me, fondly. " My dear sweet child, you don't have to pay for them. I will buy them for you. "
My eyes widened at this.
" But, I can't pay you back for them, " I bickered.
Mito-san laughed again.
" Hikari, is money everything you think about? " she asked me, amused. " You don't have to pay me back. I'm doing this readily. Besides, wasn't it me who suggested that we go shopping together? "
There was no way for me to argue at her logic when she puts it that way so I kept quiet.
" There you go. Now, let's get you some clothes, " she told me gently, leading me into the shop, holding my hand.
" Hikari, are you done yet? " Mito-san called out from outside the changing room.
" I'll be done in a minute or two, " I answered from inside.
Mito-san had told me to try on many different blouses of all colours. She said that the most practical way to buy clothes is to start with the top and then the skirts or pants, followed by shoes to match the whole outfit.
Once I was done, I stepped out.
" How's this? " I asked her.
Mito-san gave me a once good look-over, tapping her index finger against her lips in concentration.
" Blue and purple seems to accentuate your figure and brings out the colour of your
eyes, " she told me, her eyes never leaving the blouse I had on. " What colour do you like, Hikari? "
" Me? "
I looked down at the soft woollen mauve coloured blouse which I now wore.
" Purple? " I answered, looking unsure of myself.
" Well then, we'll get this blouse as well, " the woman declared. " Hikari, then try this on as well. "
She handed me another blouse.
" But… "
My eyes roved over to Mito-san's basket which was stuffed to the brim with blouses.
" Don't we have enough? "
The twenty-five-year-old shook her head.
" Well, one more and then we'll go over to skirts and shorts section, " she promised me.
Oh dear…
This is going to be a long afternoon…
I mean, when is this ever going to end…?
I have never known that choosing clothes is such a hassle and bother…!
I closed the door to the changing room once again.
It was only evening that we arrived back.
" We're back! " Mito-san announced our arrival.
" Wow, you look really pretty, Hikari! " Gon praised me when we entered the shop.
I blushed and stared down at the floor.
" Uhm…thank you, Gon, " I told him shyly.
Mito-san had insisted me on wearing an outfit that she had put together after we had decided on and bought everything. Gone were Mito-san's clothes and in their place were clothes that I could call my own. I had a brand new heliotrope coloured sleeveless top with a sailor's collar, a white knee-length skirt and matching sneakers. My hair was in a half up-do with some hair twisted loosely, framing my heart-shaped face. Everything was done with the courtesy of Mito-san.
" Simply adorable! " Leorio commented.
Kurapica took one look at me and turned away.
" Whatever, " Killua responded.
" Killua, don't be rude to her! " Leorio scolded him, for his blunt remark. " For once, be nice to her! "
Inwardly, I smiled as the both of them started to argue, throwing insults back and forth, neither one giving in, until Mito-san intervened.
" Mito-san, I'm going out with Hikari and the others for just a few minutes. I'll be back in time for dinner, " Gon announced.
" Okay, but please be careful out there! " Mito-san called back.
We walked for quite a distance before we stopped.
" Hikari, let's continue where we left off earlier, " Gon told me.
" During breakfast, Kurapica told us about you being another surviving member of the Kuruta Tribe. Is that for real? " Leorio began.
" Yes, that's true, " I confirmed. " I am part of the Tribe. "
" I see. Kurapica suggested about bringing you along with him together with Senritsu, " Gon said.
" Bringing me along? Senritsu? " I repeated, looking confused. " I don't know what you're talking about. "
" Hikari, you don't get it, do you? " Killua spoke up.
I turned to him, still bamboozled.
" Get what? "
" Kurapica is leaving tomorrow from Whale Island and he wants to bring you along with him and Senritsu is a close friend of his, " he explained.
" Hikari, you need to go along with him. It's the safest thing to do. The Spiders are still on the move and when they get to know about you… " Gon trailed off.
" The Spiders? I have heard of them before but who are they actually? " I asked, inquisitively, wanting to know more about them.
" Spiders, also known as Genei Ryodan or the Phantom Brigade. They are members who use Nen for dire purposes in order to achieve their dark goals, " Kurapica spoke up suddenly. " They are the ones who killed the Kuruta Tribe in order to get their hands on the Scarlet Eyes that our people were eminent for. "
My eyes widened at this revelation although I winced slightly at his use of the past tense.
" Hikari? Do you want to go with him? " Gon asked me, directly.
" I'm not sure… " I trailed off, glancing at Kurapica who was in turn staring at me, expectantly.
" But Hikari, you have to! It's the safest thing for you, to be with him! " Gon told
me. " Besides Senritsu is also someone whom you can trust as well. "
What do I do…?
Should I follow him…?
But…
What if I meet the Spiders along the way…?
Won't that mean I'll be in danger too…?
But then…
I can't possibly fend for myself against all of them…
In the event if they do find out about me…
Besides I know that Kurapica can be trusted…
I guess…
That leaves me no choice…
" Okay, I'll go with him, " I agreed. " But, what about Mito-san? "
" Great! Then, leave everything to me! " Gon told me firmly.
" Then, we'll leave tomorrow morning after breakfast at ten since the ship will be departing from Whale Island at eleven, " Kurapica announced brusquely and turned away.