Episode 52: Mischief At Work

" WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? " Kurapica growled. " HIKARIIIIIIII! "

The girl ignored his loud protests as she continued to yank her blouse over the boy's head.

" Stop struggling, Kurapica-san. It's only just for awhile, " Hikari implored.

He shook his head obdurately as he tried to inch away from her but the sixteen-year-old was too sharp for that. She had him pinned against the wall, using her weight.

" NOOOOO! "Kurapica moaned as his childhood friend managed to pull the blouse down over his white T-shirt.

She giggled and gave him, a look of pure triumph.

Actually, Kurapica did not mind the fact that Hikari was dressing him up and she was close enough for him to take a whiff of her scent. Lavender. The familiar fragrance of those lavender flowers that he used to bring to her, which she adored so much. Nevertheless, what he did mind was that fact that she wanted him to go out to that carnival that they had seen as they were on their way back here, with her dressed as a girl! That, he did not like.

" HIKARIIIIIIII! " the boy whined again when he caught sight of the skirt on the bed.

That blouse was only the beginning of the torture…

" No, Kurapica-san. You have no choice, you have got to wear it! "

She held out the skirt towards him.

" I'll turn around so that you can change. "

Grudgingly, he took the skirt from her.

" Do it quick, " she added then turned her back to him.

" But- "

" No, buts Kurapica-san. "

The seventeen-year-old stared at Hikari and then at the skirt. He shot an accusing glare at the skirt, eager that it will simply evaporate from view.

It's like déjà vu…

Here, I am in this doomed situation yet again…

Maaaannn, how unlucky can I get…?

Out of sight, out from mind…

How could a professional Hunter like me be bullied by my childhood friend…

Is it because of my increasing affection towards her…?
I have always been aware of the fact that I have been smiling so much more often whenever I'm with her…

It was so much more than in the past…

So much more than what I used to be before…

" Are you done, yet, Kurapica-san? " the girl in question asked him.

Immediately, Kurapica looked up, startled into reality by her voice.

" Um…yeah, I'm almost done. "

Sighing inwardly, he pulled on the skirt, almost tearing the fabric in the process. Boy, it was so tight that there was hardly any space for him to breathe.

Hikari's waist is much too small…

" Hikari, there's no way that I can be able to breathe freely in here, "Kurapica complained, fiddling with the hem of the skirt. " And it's way too short! "

With that, Hikari whirled around to face him. A wide smile was obvious on her face as she surveyed him.

" That's because you're way too tall, Kurapica-san, " was her instantaneous and direct reply. " Remove your pants too. "

" Must I? " he protested.

Hikari folded her arms and nodded firmly.

His friend was clearly not budging from her decision as she stared at him, expectantly.

With another sigh, much louder one than the last, he obeyed.

" There! " he replied peevishly, placing his hands on his hips. " Are you happy now,

Hikari? "

" Uh-huh! But… " she allowed her sentence to trail off.

Hikari stepped up close to him. Just the proximity between the two of them was enough to make his heart palpitate faster. Kurapica instinctively stiffen as she reached up, on tip-toes to brush at his bangs.

He was very much aware of how close her lips were to his…

His breath caressed her forehead, making her own bangs which were even longer than his to shiver slightly, not that she noticed of course.

Hikari sure can be pretty much be silly, in her own rights…

Sometimes idiotic…

Sometimes devious and playful…

Sometimes protective…

Other times, jealous, especially if girls started paying attention to him long enough for her to take notice…

But most of the time, sweet and thoughtful…

She really was different in her own 'just being Hikari' way…

" There! " she finally announced, giving his hair one more gentle tug before she stepped back, away from him.

The moment Senritsu caught sight of him, she was beside herself with the hysterics.

" What did you do to him, Hikari?! " she gasped through her abandoned laughs.

" Me? " the girl pointed to herself innocently.

" HIKARIIIIIIII! " Kurapica covered his flushed face in his hand and shook it. " I knew that it was a bad idea. "

" Nonsense! " the other older woman stated in a mock authoritarian voice. " You look just like Hikari's big sis, Kura-chan! "

" Senritsu! " Kurapica stared at her with wide and stunned eyes. " That is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard! "

" It's not repulsive at all! " the other girl broke in defensively. " I think it's amazing that you and me look so alike that we can almost pass off as twin sisters…except for the height difference of course! "

" Let's get going then! " Senritsu said, opening the front door of their rented

apartment. " You don't want to be the last one to buy a candy apple, don't you, Hikari? I heard that they're really popular with the masses. "

Hikari's eyes grew wide and round as saucer plates and instantly she shook her head forcefully.

" No! " she yelled.

Then, with almost extraordinary potency, the girl yanked the hesitant boy off his feet and half-dragged and half-pulled him out of the door.

" I'm going to get a candy apple from the Candy uncle, if it's the last thing I do! " the younger girl shrieked, her eyes glowing with resolve as she continued to forcefully tow Kurapica, along with her and Senritsu following them, a good distance behind with a cunning smile on her face.