Scarlet Memories
Disclaimer: I do not own HxH
Reminiscence 12 - Beginning of a new journey
The day is bright with the wind blowing the trees gently on the 'what seems to never end' forest in Rukuso Province and the birds singing and playing around. It is indeed a good day and a good time for hunting. And that is the reason why Kuroro and Kurapika are walking with keen attention on their surroundings in the same forest.
They continued walking like that until Kurapika suddenly stopped.
Noticing that the girl is not following anymore, Kuroro turned to see what is keeping her. What he saw made him suddenly run to the girl.
Kurapika is in a kneeling position, with her head down to her knee and her hands on her stomach. Cold sweat is drenching her forehead and pain is visible on her face.
"What happened?" Kuroro asked as he kneeled before Kurapika and reached for her forehead to see if she has a fever again.
Kurapika raised her head a little as she removes Kuroro's hand from her forehead to look at him. "It's- it's nothing," she answered weakly.
"What is nothing with that posture, Kurapika?" Kuroro asked seriously.
Kurapika looked away, blushing with embarrassment. "It's just… nothing," her voice is wavering.
"What is it?" he insisted.
"You don't have to know!" Kurapika shouted. 'Why should it be so painful like this?' she asked herself.
Kuroro sighed. 'Like always,' he thought. "Alright, never mind," he said as he picked up Kurapika and carried her in his arms and dash off toward the village.
Kurapika was a bit taken aback at the man's sudden action, but also glad at the same time. She really needs to go back. It's just really so painful. It feels like she is being killed very slowly from the inside. Thanks to Kuroro's inhuman speed, they arrive in front of the usual house in no time.
"Now, tell me what is happening and what to do," Kuroro ordered at the girl in his arms.
"You can put me down," Kurapika said.
But Kuroro stayed still, ignoring Kurapika's statement. He would not let go of her until she tell him what is happening with her. Being clueless on what is happening, he would not accept anything like that again.
And again Kurapika cannot do anything as she sighed in defeat, feeling so weakened with the pain on her stomach.
"Alright," she surrendered, but she is not looking at Kuroro's eyes as a tinge of red became visible on her face. "I am… I am," she started to clutch on Kuroro's cloth, burying her face on the man's chest. "Having my period," she completed her sentence in a low voice.
"Period?" Kuroro asked, furrowing his eyebrows, having no idea what she is talking about.
"Menstrual period," Kurapika pointed out.
"Oh!" Kuroro remembered it being mentioned by one of the girls among the spiders. "Then?" he stared at her, asking what to do. Of course, he never knew how to deal with women's thing. He never cared about it. But this time is different.
"Nothing much, really." As she said, Kurapika gave only a few instructions. They immediately get back to the usual room for Kurapika to get her what she needs like clean clothes. Since Kurapika's own clothes became smaller for her, she went on using her mother's clothes, and fortunately, they are fit for her, and whatever needs is that (and fortunately again, they went to the nearest town the other day and bought everything that they might need).
After that, Kuroro helped her to go to the bathroom, but of course, Kurapika did not let Kuroro to enter.
"Stay there," she said as she closed the door, leaving Kuroro outside the bathroom.
Actually, Kurapika has been anticipating her period coming since she returned from being a girl. And then just yesterday, she started to feel a little pain in her stomach. She just didn't know that would be it and never thought that it would be that painful. Well, to think of it, she never had her period for two years. That must be the reason for it.
000
"Some of the stuffs here are not made here," Kuroro, who is now sitting on the usual chair in Kurapika's room, suddenly commented, "just like those books," he said, pointing at the bookshelf.
Kurapika on the other hand is lying on the bed, feeling a little better that before. "Of course, we do not create books here. And then, as I told you before, there are some of us who are assigned to deal with merchants."
"Some of them doesn't look like obtained from merchants, though," Kuroro asked, noting that there are some books that cannot just be obtained so easily, especially from a merchant. A merchant cannot just obtain those kinds of books, unless that merchant is a hunter or the likes.
"Because they were not obtained from a merchant."
"Then?"
"When a Kuruta member turned 16," Kurapika started, "they will receive permission to go outside, but not before passing certain exams. Most of them would take the exam to seek new knowledge and go back with different kinds of stuffs on their hands."
"I see."
00000
It was during his aimless walk in a crowded alley when Shalnark suddenly heard his phone ring from his pocket. Casually taking the phone he looked at the screen and an excited smile graced his face upon seeing the caller ID. He immediately pressed the answer button and put the phone on his ear.
"Yes Danchou?" the ever cheerful Shalnark asked.
[Shalnark, I need you to contact everyone and tell them to gather at the York Shin headquarter, three days from now.]
"Ok Danchou, I'll do as you said."
000
Kuroro pushed the end call button on his phone and placed it in his pocket. He turned to his left and saw Kurapika with her head tilted to the sky, eyes closed while murmuring something.
"The shining sun of the sky,
The green trees of the earth.
Our bodies are created from the earth.
Our souls originated from the heavens.
The sun and moon shines on our limbs,
And the ground moistens our body,
Giving this body to the wind that blows across the world.
Thank God for the miracle,
And the Kuruta territories.
Wishing for everlasting peace in our souls,
I desire to share happiness with my people,
And desire to share their sadness.
Please bless the Kuruta tribe forever,
Let us pray this upon our scarlet eyes."
Kurapika opened her eyes and looked at Kuroro's direction.
"Ready?" Kuroro asked.
"Yes."
Having decided that it's time to leave and start their search for Gale Altair and to collect the remaining scarlet eyes, Kuroro discussed with Kurapika that they will be having a meeting the members of Genei Ryodan to discuss with them about their circumstances and their decision of becoming companion, since they have the same goal and it is best for them to help each other. And of course to give Kurapika a chance to ask them whatever she wanted to ask.
As for Kurapika's friends, Kurapika decided not to tell them about their circumstances. She doesn't want to involve them with her problems.
"Do you have everything prepared?"
Kurapika smiled at that, "everything is with Timcanpy," she said.
Ah, Timcanpy. Kuroro smiled upon hearing that name, remembering the first time he saw Timcanpy.
Flashback
It happened while Kuroro sitting beside the bookshelf in Kurapika's room, reading a book (as his hobby during his free time), something suddenly caught his attention. It was a small, golden ball with four, stubby legs, a long tail that ends in a thick swirl, and two feathered wings. A cross insignia adorns it's "face", and above it are two small horns.
[Kuroro]
Kuroro blink. Did he hear Kurapika's voice?
[Kuroro]
"Kurapika?" he asked, looking at the flying golden ball in front of him.
[Yes, it's me]
Kuroro narrowed his eyes at the flying object. "What happened to you?" he asked.
[Ha ha ha] he heard a soft laughter [Nothing happen to me, I'm just using my telepath.]
"Telepath?"
[It's one of the scarlet eyes' ability. And that nen golem is my extension.]
"A nen golem, eh," Kuroro said, poking the golem with his index finger.
[It is called Timcanpy. It bears some of the abilities of my chains. In addition, it can open a void space that can store any things. But for now I can only open the void space if I use the scarlet eyes.]
Kuroro stopped poking the golem on hearing that.
[So, what can you say about it?]
"Nice," he commented.
[It's a dedication for you.]
"Me?"
[The cross on the forehead.]
Kuroro chuckled. "Well, thanks. How thoughtful of you."
End of flashback
"Well then, shall we?" he asked.
Kurapika smiled. "Let's go."
Kuroro nodded. And with Kurapika, they make their way out of the village and toward the forest.
And so a their new journey begins.
That's all for now.
Please review! Many thanks!
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