Episode 22: A Peculiar Child
Night had already fallen, quicker than I had first expected. I knew that it was getting late but I still could not fall asleep.
Maybe, I'm being paranoid…
That's why I can't go to sleep…
I would always close my eyes only to open them again when I heard so much as a rustle or someone talking.
" Hikari, go get some sleep. The whole ship is well-lighted so you don't have to be
afraid, " Kurapica told me. " Anyway, it's getting late. "
I knew that he was getting sleepy too by the look in his eyes but he forced himself to stay awake just because I could not sleep.
" I can't, " I said truthfully. " But Kurapica-san, you don't have to force yourself to stay awake just for me. "
" I'll wait for you to sleep. "
" But… " I began but the boy only shook his head so I kept quiet.
Feeling bored, I stared around the ship, while feeling the saline sea breeze blow, tugging at my hair and hearing the ever familiar creaking of the ship as it moved along its course towards Phalytes City.
" Hikari, have you gotten seasickness before? " Kurapica asked me suddenly.
I looked over at the boy.
" No, I haven't. "
" Does this mean that you've travelled by ship before? "
I nodded.
" Once, when I travelled to Whale Island, two weeks ago. "
" So, you've travelled to different places before you met us? " Kurapica went on.
I shook my head.
" Maybe. I mean, I don't like to stay in one place for too long because I… " I trailed off, hesitant to finish my sentence.
" Because you? " the seventeen-year-old pressed.
" Well, I was afraid of coming face to face with the Spiders so I kept running and never looked back, just like what my father told me to do, " I finished.
" Why are you scared of the Spiders, Hikari? " he asked me softly.
Why…?
Why am I scared of the Spiders…?
I don't know why…
But…
They seem like very forbidding people to me…
" Have you ever met one, Hikari? "
I shook my head.
" No, I haven't and I intend to keep it that way, " I answered firmly. " As for your first question, frankly speaking, I don't know why. "
Kurapica kept quiet.
" Kurapica-san? "
He looked at me.
" No, it's nothing. I was thinking, that's all. "
I was not convinced at all.
He surely must be thinking about something…
Pondering about something that I've said earlier…
Why is he always keeping things from me…?
While I'm always telling him my own secrets…
It's not fair…!
Soon after, there was silence.
I resumed my looking around the ship, waiting patiently for sleep to come.
There was a gathering down in the deck below us, as I heard the men's strident voices.
They will all surely be drunk after that…
However, I noticed one lone man who did not join the others downstairs. By the looks of it, he was having the case of seasickness.
I felt sympathetic towards that man and immediately rummaged around in my own rucksack that Mito-san had generously packed for me to take on this journey, looking for those seasickness pills that she had also given to me, just before I left with Kurapica.
Aha…!
Found it at last…!
I pulled the bottle out and uncapped it, shaking several pills out to give to that man.
Without another word, I got up and strode over to where he was standing.
" Ex-excuse me, mister? "
The man turned to me.
" What is it, lass? "
" Well, I wanted to give this to you since you are suffering from seasickness, " I told him, shyly.
I offered him the pills which he took appreciatively.
" Uh, you have to take that and rest up. It would do you good, " I added.
" Thank you…what is your name, my dear girl? " he asked.
" Hikari, " I answered, smiling.
He returned my smile.
" Ah, light. That name suits you a lot. I'll be sure to take your advice, Hikari. Thanks again. "
I nodded and went back over to Kurapica.
" What did you give him, Hikari? " he asked me, the moment I sat back down.
" Seasickness pills which Mito-san gave me, " I answered. " Why? "
He shook his head.
" No, it's nothing. I was just asking. "
Just then, Kurapica's mobile phone started to ring.
I watched him, closely, studying how he used the device so that I could use it properly and not make a fool of myself anymore.
" Hello? " he spoke.
He listened for a moment before he turned to me.
" Hikari, please excuse me for a moment. I have to take this call, " Kurapica told me.
I nodded quickly.
With that, he got up and walked away.
" Hello? Senritsu, you there? "
" Ah, Kurapica. I heard you talking to someone in the background, " Senritsu told
him. " Who was that? "
" Yes, I was. In fact, it's Hikari, the one I've been telling you about. "
" I see. I would like very much to see her, Kurapica. "
" You seem excited, " the seventeen-year-old remarked.
" In fact, I am. Does she look like you? "
" Yeah, the same, " Kurapica answered. " Although, she's a little odd at times. "
He heard Senritsu laughing on the other end of the line.
" What's so funny? " he asked.
" No, it's nothing. It's the way you were saying it. You have a certain fondness for this girl. I can hear it in your voice although you try hard to hide it. "
Senritsu was so direct but that was the way she was. Kurapica could not help but blush a little as he glanced back at the girl to check on her.
" Well, anyway what time will you be arriving, Senritsu? " Kurapica asked her.
" Tomorrow at Phalytes City airport at noon or so. "
" Okay, we'll meet up there, " Kurapica informed her and disconnected the line.
Then, he went back.
Once there, Kurapica saw that the girl had already fallen asleep on the floor, with her mouth slightly open. He smiled softly as he took a seat beside her sleeping form. Quietly, he took out the blanket that he had packed and covered the girl with it. He watched over her silently the whole time.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a man approaching them or more towards the sleeping girl. Kurapica shot him a death glare which was enough to stop him in his tracks as he moved nearer to her, protectively.