Episode 42: Ugly Scenes
Watching me…?
What does he mean by that…?
" Consider this as your lucky day, Hikari for I am usually not so forgiving… "
I turned to face him, but he was gone by the time I did. The stranger had disappeared from view and was nowhere to be found.
Slowly, that feeling of suffocation eased and everything was back to normal. The passengers moved past me like nothing had happened. It was like they did not notice him standing beside me, like he never existed in the first place. However, that feeling of fear whenever I met him was still there, remaining and never ebbing.
My knees buckled underneath me, unable to hold onto my weight any longer and my eyes rolled. I felt weak. It was like I was suddenly drained of all my energy or maybe…because of that fear of him.
The last thing I heard and saw was Kurapica shouting out my name and of him filling my blurry vision.
Then, everything went dark.
Both Kurapica and Senritsu were standing by the unconscious girl's bed, looking down at her distraughtly. The ship's doctor had already been called in to check on her. He assured them that it was fatigue that had taken its toll on her frail body but yet they could not help but worry.
Time passed but still the girl remained motionless. Senritsu sat down on the stool that the doctor had just vacated earlier, beside Hikari's bed and leaned over to stroke her hair which fanned out all over the pillow.
Kurapica leaned his weight against the bedpost, his eyes never leaving Hikari's pasty and drawn face.
Hikari…
The seventeen-year-old had always wondered what had happened to the girl before…
He blamed himself for his foolishness and negligence to let Hikari wander off on her own.
So much for being a gentleman…
As usual, Leiko had been rambling on and on, pausing long enough to breathe every now and then. Once re-supplying sufficient oxygen into her lungs, she continued on. Kurapica was too busy scanning the lobby for any sign of Hikari, to even listen.
Where is she…?
His eyes roved over the many heads, searching only for another blonde head just like his.
However, he found none. There were mostly raven-haired and other dyed colours of the rainbow all around. Blond hair was a rare occurrence. Ever since that Great Massacre, blond hair was close to extinction.
With each passing second, Kurapica grew more and more concerned. He disliked having the girl out of his sight. It disrupted his concentration, a little bit too much for his liking. All he could ever think about was Hikari and whether or not she was alright.
" Uh…Leiko-san? " he began, uncertainly.
" And then he- " Leiko stopped mid-sentence and looked up at him expectantly.
The boy grew uncomfortable as he did not know how to start. He could not simply tell her that he was worried about Hikari. It will be really rude and what was more that was such a petty matter. He knew that the girl was perfectly capable of taking care of herself but still…
" Leiko-san, I'm sorry but I really have to get going, " the seventeen-year-old tried to look apologetic and guilty. " My friends are waiting for me. "
That was partly true.
Leiko fell for it, hook, line and sinker. She smiled up at him suggestively and a bit flirtatiously as well.
" Oh, did I take up a lot of your time? I'm so sorry. I'll see you again later! "
As the girl left, Kurapica felt so relieved yet free. He sighed inwardly and made his way towards Senritsu.
Good old Senritsu…
Always the calm and patient one…
" Sorry Senritsu, " he apologised.
His old friend shook her head and smiled up at him.
" No worries. "
" Where's Hikari? " he asked.
" She wanted to go off exploring the rest of the ship on her own, saying that she did not want to wait for you. "
Instantly, Kurapica felt guilty and more so, surprisingly, a little hurt by her words. Boy, did it sting.
It was then, they noticed the clamour of the crowd. Immediately, Kurapica had a bad feeling about that.
Without warning, he whirled around and ran in the direction of the crowd.
" HIKARI! " he yelled and caught the girl just before she collapsed onto the ground.
Protectively, he cradled her limp form into his arms and carried her while Senritsu rushed towards the counter to quickly book their rooms and to request for a doctor as well.
And thus, here they were in the room in which both of Hikari and Senritsu shared, looking after Hikari.
" Kurapica…? "
Almost instantly, the two of them were by her side. Senritsu held her hand tightly in hers as she stroked her hair gently.
" Senritsu…? " Hikari whispered softly but feebly.
Her words were slurry with sleep and fatigue. They had to strain their ears to hear her voice.
" Yes, Hikari. We're all here, " the woman comforted her, in a soothing voice.
The sixteen-year-old sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes.
" Just what happened back there, Hikari? " Kurapica exploded suddenly, glaring directly into her eyes.
Hikari looked away and fiddled with the fraying ends of the blanket, which she was covered with.
" Hikari… " Senritsu trailed off, coaxingly.
" No. It was nothing, " the girl lied.
Senritsu could immediately detect the falsehood in her voice, just by the little skip in between her heartbeats as they got faster.
" Hikari, I know something happened in the lobby, " Kurapica retorted. " What did you see causing you to faint like that? "
" I was too tired, Kurapica-san, that's all there was to it! " Hikari snapped.
Senritsu wanted to interrupt their bickering because the girl was clearly lying to them but something inside her prevented her from doing so.
That was a mistake that she would regret later.
Without warning, the girl plunked herself back into the bed and pulled the covers over her head, signalling the abrupt end of the conversation.
Note from 'moi': Wow!! That's so great! I'm having my holidays right now, but it's only for a week but that have to be spent on studying. See, my promos are around the corner, just next month actually…and I gotta do some serious revising to catch up. O.o I have to study till I'm green in the face!! sighs What a horrible life I have!! D: Btw, I'm going to have my braces taken out this coming Thursday…I've been wearing it for as long as I can remember…three whole long long years!! So, that's why I'm posting up this chapter early for you guys…