Episode 60: Fallen Angel

" K-Kurapica-san…? " the words that escaped from my mouth was spoken with such doubt that I almost could not recognise my own childhood friend when he turned to face me.

" Kurapica-san… " I gasped, my vision blurring as the unshed tears glistened in my eyes.

" Hikari! "

He was about to take a step towards me before Hisoka flicked a card in his direction, inserting itself into the concrete before him.

" Take another step forward and you'll know what happens next, don't you, my dear Kurapica? " the jester drawled in that deliberate and idle way of his.

Kurapica's burgundy eyes were filled with such vehemence that his whole expression looked twisted as he fixed the older man with a glare, so hard and icy.

" Kurapica-san…? " I whispered, as I stared at him, traumatized.

I had never seen this side of him before. It was so dark. So ugly. So emotionless.

" It was you! " the seventeen-year-old spat out. " Where are they?! "

They…?

I did not miss that fleeting look, Hisoka shot my way before he turned to Kurapica. He raised his hands.

" Now, now, Kurapica. You don't have to be so uptight about it…they are in one piece – "

" They better be, Hisoka! " the Hunter interrupted.

For a moment, there was silence when I apprehended it soon enough as I let the fact sink in.

" What are you doing here?! " I shrieked, struggling against Franklin to shake myself free. " Gon-kun, Killua-kun, Leorio-kun! "

" Hikari! Kurapica! " both Gon and Killua hollered.

" Hey, what is going on here? " Leorio shouted.

Never did I expect them to be here, standing before me. Like me, they were held captive.

" Let them go, right now, Hisoka! " Kurapica retorted.

The older man examined his fingernails and buffed them, aggravating the Hunter further.

" Do you honestly think that I will let them go, Kurapica-chan? "

Kurapica's eyes narrowed, " What do you want? "

The man smirked.

" A fair trade is what I want, Kurapica… "

His voice sounded deadly.

" You have all the cards laid out in front of you, " Kurapica answered, sharply. " There is nothing fair about this! "

" Yes, that is true…so far, " the older man told him. " But, it is an entirely different matter if the cards are not chosen appropriately. "

As if to prove his point, Hisoka glanced at me once more. Then, he jabbed one long finger in my direction.

" She has to do it willingly. "

Kurapica eyes met mine for one long moment, before I looked away. I could still feel his eyes on me although the eye-contact was already broken.

" I – "

" No options are available here, " Hisoka interrupted.

Then he turned to his group.

" Let them all go except… " he allowed the sentence to trail off as he surveyed my friends thoroughly.

" Except Killua Zaoldyeck and Hikari. "

" Eh? "

Instantly, I looked up.

" What are you thinking, Hisoka?! " the Hunter demanded.

" They will be staying with us for a little while, " Hisoka answered coolly.

I watched all of my friends going over to Kurapica's side, opposite of me. I was still in the enemy's line, unable to breach that wide gap which yawned before me.

" You know something Kurapica, be glad that I returned you all the playing cards except for two more of course but that's' only temporary so you don't have to worry, " Hisoka added.

" All of them had nothing to do with this, Hisoka! " Kurapica shouted.

" Wrong, " the older man answered quietly. " They are your friends, aren't they? They mean something to you, don't they? "

" I'll exchange myself in return for them, " my childhood friend replied to which Hisoka ignored.

" Well, I'll see you again, Kurapica-chan… "

And, it ended just like that.

***

" Kurapica… "

It had been over an hour since Kurapica started pacing, up and down. All they could was watch him.

He was in a state of utter insanity where the old anger grown from the past five years re-surfaced. His eyes had yet to return to its original peaceful blue. They were shifting restlessly in their sockets. Not once, did they ever land on them. His face was drawn and pallid, filled with a disturbing sadness. There was a sense if vulnerability that they could detect from him. His hands were in the pockets of his jeans and his white shirt remained improperly unbuttoned ever since they arrived at the rented apartment.

" Kurapica… "

Still, the seventeen-year-old chose to disregard his friends. His friends had given up calling him and trying to calm him down. Finally, unable to take it anymore, Gon stepped into his line of vision.

Kurapica simply walked past him and resumed his pacing.

" Kurapica, what you're doing is wrong, " Gon spoke up, his back to the older boy.

The Hunter whirled around and grabbed Gon's collar, shoving him roughly against the wall.

" Wrong?! " he demanded. " I'm doing something wrong?! Well, I don't see any of you helping after I just saved your asses. And, you're telling me that I'm wrong?! Don't joke, Gon! "

Gon's warm eyes did not leave his friend's although a searing pain shot through his left arm.

" Kurapica! " both Senritsu and Leorio exclaimed in unison as they ran towards them, attempting to restrain him.

" NO! " Gon yelled out, stopping them in their tracks. " Leave us alone! "

Kurapica smirked as he released the boy from his grasp.

" Don't tell me what to do, Gon. Get lost. "

The twelve-year-old looked up at Kurapica's stiff back.

Had it always been that stiff before…?

" Kurapica. "

The seventeen-year-old did not turn around.

" Why don't you stop trying to shoulder everything you come across, as your responsibility? " Gon continued. " Why are you always torturing yourselves with burden. You think you can handle everything your own – "

" Like I said…Gon, get out! " Kurapica hissed. " In fact, all of you can just get lost! I have no need for people like you. "

" What? Now, you want to isolate yourself?! " Gon shouted. " Do you want to go back to that world where you were living in for the past four years?! Where everything was a nightmare which you were trying to escape from! Kurapica, I understand what you're going through but this is not the way to go about it. What are we here for?! "

He stood up and went over to Kurapica.

" What would Hikari have thought when she saw you like this? " he yelled at his friend's back. " Have you ever spared a single thought about those around you?! Don't you think everyone is hurt just like you are?! Don't you think that everyone is also going through the same thing just like you are, right now?! Everyone is suffering just like you are, Kurapica! We are all in pain! You can't just shun us away and lock yourself up in your own world, blaming yourself for everything that has gone wrong! You'll be driven to insanity, Kurapica! Why can't you just understand that we're all here for you?! That we'll always be by your side no matter what happens?! Why can't you understand this simple fact?! "

Note from 'moi': Hey everyone! Here's to wishing you a Happy New Year ahead of you guys…Let's celebrate 2009 with another one of my lame chappies that I specially typed just today.