Episode 21: A Silent Shield

The moment I boarded the ship, I felt eyes on me.

I looked up and saw the men passengers ogling at me. I quickly looked down at my feet, feeling intimidated by them and gripped Kurapica's arm tightly, staying as close to him as possible.

" Hikari, no one on board will touch you, " the seventeen-year-old assured me.

Yet, I felt dubious.

These men have very bad auras…

I can almost read their dirty thoughts about me…

It's like they've never had women passengers aboard…

I took a quick glance around the ship and realised that my assumption was true. There was not one female around. They were all men except for me.

Despite his assurances, I still clung on to him, feeling vulnerable and exposed as their eyes never left me.

Kurapica led me over to an empty part of the ship.

" Sit down, Hikari. We are going to be here for a day before it reaches the City of Phalytes, " Kurapica told me as he sat down.

I sat beside him and pulled my legs close to my body, placing my head on my knees.

" Are you hungry, Hikari? " Kurapica asked me. " It's nearly noon and we've not had anything to eat since then. "

I turned to look at him.

" No, not really, " I lied although I was starving.

I did not want to trouble him anymore than I already was. He had had enough from me for one day.

" Are you sure? " Kurapica pressed.

" No, I'm fine – " I was interrupted by my rumbling stomach.

For a second, there was silence as he stared down at my tummy.

" Should I listen to you or your tummy, Hikari? " he asked me, smiling.

I forced a smile although I was incredibly humiliated.

" My tummy, I guess. "

Kurapica laughed as he searched around in his pack.

" You are a really strange girl, Hikari, did you know that? "

My cheeks turned even redder at that.

" Oh…uhm, " I mumbled.

" Here you go, Hikari. "

The boy offered me a sandwich, which I took appreciatively.

" Don't you want to eat too, Kurapica-san? " I asked him. " We can share. "

He shook his head.

" No, I'm not hungry. "

I unwrapped the plastic wrapping and bit into it, greedily.

" I want to ask you something, Kurapica-san. Is that okay with you? "

He turned to me, expectantly.

" Why did that storekeeper mean when he said that ' you are one of them' ? " I continued.

Kurapica studied my face before he answered.

" I'm a Professional Hunter. "

" Hunter? " I repeated, mystified, my sandwich now forgotten. " What is that? Some kind of an occupation? "

Kurapica smiled at me.

" Yes, something like that. I'm a Blacklist Hunter who is someone who tracks down the most treacherous and sought after criminals. "

My eyes widened.

" But, that sounds precarious and risky! " I exclaimed. " You are putting your life on the line! "

Kurapica lost his smile as he looked away from me.

" I'm not someone who fears death, Hikari, " he murmured softly.

" O-Oh, I see, " I replied naively, not knowing how to answer to something like that.

" Well, anyway, forget about it. Eat your sandwich, Hikari, " he told me.

I nodded mutely and took another bite of the sandwich, chewing it absently.

For some reason…

I seem to think that he is hiding something from me…

I wonder what that could be…

I better not ask him…

I think he will tell me in due time…

When he's ready to…

" Then, what about Senritsu? Is she a Hunter too? " I asked.

" Yes, she is a Music Hunter, " Kurapica replied.

" So, what does a Music Hunter do? "

" Someone who searches for rare musical pieces. "

I nodded thoughtfully, digesting everything that he had just said while finishing up the last of the sandwich.

It was almost dusk as the sun began to descend. I could see that Kurapica was dozing off but I could not sleep. My eyes were wide open and vigilant. I could still feel their eyes on me, watching and waiting.

How am I going to sleep…?

They keep staring at me…

My eyes widened suddenly.

Oh no…!

I knew that I should not have drunk that whole bottle of water…

But…

I was so thirsty…!

I really need to go…!

I looked at Kurapica who was already asleep. I did not want to wake him up just because I needed to go to the bathroom. It would be so silly.

Besides, he would get angry with me…

Swallowing, I mustered up my nerve and got up.

I have to go to the bathroom…

Or, I'll do it here…

This would of course be embarrassing for a sixteen-year-old…

" Where are you going, Hikari? "

I gasped and looked down at Kurapica who was now wide awake.

" Oh, I'm sorry to have woken you up but I really need to go to the bathroom. "

Kurapica nodded.

I could feel him watching me. With him watching over me, I felt safe.

I marched towards the bathroom, without looking at anyone.

The bathroom…

Just get to the bathroom…!

I stopped suddenly when I saw a few men standing in front of me, blocking the door to the bathroom.

My heart sped up as I took a step back.

" Uh, ex-excuse me, but could I use the bathroom, please? You are blocking the way. "

They made no move as they took a step towards me. Before I knew it, Kurapica was already up and walking over to me. The men saw him and backed off instantly.

" Hikari, go on in. I'll wait for you outside, " Kurapica told me quietly, his eyes never leaving those men.

I nodded quickly and hurried inside.

" Thank you, Kurapica-san, " I told him when I came out. " I'm really sorry to be a bother to you. "

He nodded slightly as we made our way back to where we were sitting earlier.