Episode 36: The 'Child Songstress'
I was much aware of the fact that the two of them had suddenly stopped walking. I stopped too, a few feet behind them and followed their eyes. We were standing at the periphery of the forest just like from the night before.
This is like deja vu happening all over again…
Just yesterday, we were trekking around, inside…
And because of my ignoring my instincts, I allowed Kurapica to touch those disgusting Devils Illusion flowers…
Just yesterday, he fell ill with fever and hallucinations…
Causing him to react very violently to it…
With those sudden wild bursts of anger…
All of a sudden, I felt frightened. I shrank back slightly in fear.
However, those memories of yesterday which were shared just between me and Kurapica were harshly projected into my mind. Those very moments of innocence and deep fondness as well as true friendship. He revealed his other side of him that maybe no one has ever seen before. That vulnerable side of his which he desperately refused to allow anyone to see and hides it away from prying eyes.
" Why do you still care for me even though I nearly killed you…? "
" We're friends, aren't we…? "
" We'll get through this together. I still trust you, Kurapica-san… "
" Will you forgive me, Hikari…? "
" I can't forgive you, Kurapica-san… "
" Because there is nothing to forgive… "
" It's not your fault, you were under the influence of the Devil's Illusion… "
" But, it was my fault that you nearly died due to my misplaced anger… "
" Kurapica-san, you have to forgive and forget… "
" You mustn't hate yourself for this… "
" If you can't do it, then at least you can do it for me…? "
" I'll do it, for your sake. Only for you…not for myself… "
But…
All that just melted away yesterday…
He must have felt such great remorse and repentance, enough to show me 'that' side of his…
No…!
I can't back down now…!
After all, I've always been a coward who knew nothing about the world…
I'll try my best to be more than what I am now…
With that, I resumed walking but instead of walking past them, I grabbed hold of both Kurapica's and Senritsu's hands in both mine and tugged them forward for I knew that yesterday's episode was what had made them stop walking.
Just like me, they were unsure of going back inside. Just like me, they were afraid that something similar to yesterday's episode will reoccur again.
However, what they do not know and will never know, just like I do would be what the day holds and what fate has in store for us…unless we go through the day to find out, that is.
The message that I'm trying to convey is…
" Greet each day with a smile, " I told them, grinning myself as I held on to their hands and pulled them forward into the forest. " Because we have to have a positive outlook towards life. "
They followed me, willingly with smiles on both their faces as they gripped my hands tightly in theirs.
" We'll camp here for tonight, " Kurapica announced when we finally came to a clearing in the dense woods.
We were fortunate enough to have reached this place before nightfall.
Senritsu looked up at the sky which was fast turning black as the light diminished.
" It's still dusk. There's still time for us to gather some firewood, " she declared and to which I gladly volunteered.
" I'll do it, Senritsu! "
However, Kurapica intervened.
" No, I'll do it, Hikari. You stay here with Senritsu. "
My eyes narrowed and I puffed my cheeks out.
" But I can do it, " I complained. " I want to collect them. "
" Do you even know where to find those, Hikari? " he challenged me.
I thought hard and finally came up with an answer that was obviously right and really logical.
" On trees? "
He chuckled and instantly I blushed.
" What's so funny? " I demanded. " Doesn't wood come from trees? "
" True, Hikari but who would want to climb trees just to obtain some wood? Dried sticks and branches will do the job just fine, " he answered.
" Jerk! " I hissed at him angrily under my breath when he was out of earshot and stuck out my tongue at him.
" I heard that and I saw that too, Hikari, " Kurapica called out, not even turning around.
My eyes widened in surprise as I blushed again.
Senritsu only laughed.
" It's not funny, Senritsu! " I cried out despite the fact that I was smiling myself.
Then, night fell upon us as the sun was completely overpowered by the darkness as the moon rose slowly, high up into the sky.
The fire was long lit even before night came as Kurapica fed it some fuel that was the dried sticks which he had found earlier and had carried an armload of it back to the campsite.
" So, what are we going to do now? " I asked the both of them as we sat around the fire, eating the warm broth that Senritsu had made with the food resources that Kurapica had brought along in his bag.
Kurapica looked over at me as he laid down his spoon.
" Maybe, you could sing for us? " he offered helpfully.
I stared at him, for a moment, quite confused by his words.
" Sing? " I echoed. " Me? "
" Oh, so you can sing Hikari? " Senritsu looked surprised.
Quickly, I shook my head, no.
" No, no, no. I-I can't sing, " I answered incredulously. " That's way too ridiculous. My voice is just awful. "
" Are you sure? " Senritsu asked me, crestfallen.
" Yes, I'm definitely sure of it. "
" I don't think so, " Kurapica spoke up suddenly, staring at me with that intense look of his.
My eyes narrowed.
" I can't sing, Kurapica-san, " I shot back.
" No, you can…or at least you could five years ago, " he replied. " You were the best singer in the Kuruta Tribe. You were even dubbed as the 'Child Songstress'. Your mother was the 'Songstress' in her time, before she passed on. Didn't you remember how you used to sing for all of us during our nomad travels in the deserts? "
Note from 'moi': Hey you guys! (This is actually the first time that I'm doing this in this story…haha XD) Anyway, I just want to thank you guys for faithfully following through my story. And, there is no cause for worries cause the Spiders will step in soon enough, I think. I know that the chapters are long but that's my style of writing…I'm terribly sorry about this.
sweet-squirrel, I want to ask you about the 'gay' thingie…is that criticism? But, all the same I want to really thank you for following me this far…although there is a long way to go…I really have tons of ideas for this one but the Spiders will be coming (did I just repeat that again?) for them…haha.
Btw, I'm sorry Stelra but I can't do that…but I'll try my best to bring the Spiders in and move the plot as soon as possible.