The Reason We Fight

Chapter 21. The Visit

She made her way to the location Senritsu had written out. Ah, she thought. I better call Arlan. 53 missed calls? What happened? Seems pretty desperate. Actually, she hadn't talked to him since he reprimanded her for leaving Heavens Arena. She typed his number.

Before she even had time to speak a word, Arlan shouted: "What have you done, Kakume?!? What have you done? Now we're really done for!" His voice was full of anguish.

"What had to be done."

He pressed on, despairing. "What are you talking about? It served no purpose but to get them angry, and direct their attention to us!"

That annoyed Kakume. "Oh yeah? And what would a desk jockey know about it? Because from where I stand, that is to say, in the field, there's never been so much support for the Red Hands as there is now."

"Nor so much resentment!"

She sighed. Of course, he was right. "Listen, I gotta bail. On account of being the most wanted woman in the world and all that. See you."

-

She got in through an open window, on the fourth floor of the building. Kurapika was lying in the bed, feverish, as Senritsu was attending him and two boys stood watch. The kids only noticed her when she got in, because she had concealed her presence with In, but immediately activated their Ren and approached her defensively, fists in the air, ready to attack.

"Wait, no!", Senritsu shouted. "I called her here." She looked up to Kakume. "I didn't think you'd come though... Kakume".

Kakume? The terrorist? wondered Killua. Kakume? The Kurta? Gon was thinking at the same time.

"I won't stay long. I just wanted to... well you know..."

The boy with the fair hair and the cat eyes approached her, locking eyes with her, a dangerous expression on his face. That kid has killed before, thought Kakume, shuddering. "Let me just ask you one question. Did you betray Kurapika?"

"I did", she said, without a hint of hesitation.

His face distorted into a mess of protective rage. Senritsu stopped him from lunging at her. "Killua, stop! I'm getting conflicting information from her heartbeat..." He halted. "Kakume. Tell me... did you betray Kurapika in order to protect him?"

She backtracked. I can't do this. I need to cut myself off from him. I have no place here, I...

The silver-haired boy took advantage of her overwrought senses and slid, fast as lightning, behind her, razor-sharp nails against her neck. "Answer her!", he shouted.

"Y-Yes", she let out.

Suspense hung palpably in the room, a heavy veil of unease clinging to the air. "She's telling the truth", said Senritsu. The cat-like boy released her.

"Shuri... Shuri", Kurapika was moaning indistinctly.

Kakume looked at him, disbelieving. Senritsu advanced toward her. "He keeps saying that word... I don't know what it means. He's delirious. The fever..." She paused, noticing Kakume's expression.

Kakume walked up and sat on the bed, next to him. "Shuri!", he said again. Her heart was beating wildly. How is that possible...? You remember. You remember me... from before.

She cupped his cheek, smiling. "Yes. I'm here", she said.

In that instant, time itself seemed to succumb to the collective astonishment that rippled through the room. The two boys watched with eyes as big as saucers, faces frozen in disbelief. The world stilled.

Kurapika was rambling in his delirium. "I'm sorry... shouldn't have... let them take you..."

"I know", she said, with a sad expression. She then kissed him on the forehead and stood up, ordering her feelings to still.

She opened up her bag and took her disguise out, a whole different outfit and wig. A whole different person. I've wasted enough time here. I can't afford to lead Tam right to him.

The boy with the dark hair and earnest eyes took her hand suddenly. He had such an eager look to him, such determination.

"Wait! You can't leave him, okay?", he spouted, in an assured tone.

Kakume, applying makeup on her face, was deeply confused. "Eh?"

He didn't break eye contact, his gaze steely. "You're the Kurta girl, aren't you? I saw your eyes just now, and Kurapika had mentioned you before. I know that you care about him." He paused. "I admit, I don't know the whole situation, but I can guess that Kurapika wouldn't want the only thing that remains of his clan to leave him. I just feel like you are important to him too!"

Who is this astute child? I didn't even notice that my eyes have changed. It doesn't happen often, and must have only occurred for the fraction of a second... How careless of me. She cleared her throat. "What I want is irrelevant. I'm wanted, in case you didn't know, and I need to lie low. Kurapika's employer is one of the men who have raised that enormous bounty on me."

He seemed genuinely surprised. "Eh?? Are you saying that you're the one who did all the bombing?"

The other boy hit him on the head, incredulous. "Idiot, have you not been paying attention?", he said.

The dark-haired kid turned to him, obstinate. "Well, so? You have a bounty on your head too, Killua!"

Kakume moved to the window, shaking her head. "I can't", she uttered. She stopped and smiled, for an instant, and looked at them. "I'm glad Kurapika has such good friends, though."

"But...", started the intense kid with dark hair.

Killua studied her. Ah, I see. So that's how it is... "Let it go, Gon".

Senritsu stepped in. "He is going to ask for you, you know."

"Yes, I know. Tell him that I'm sorry", said Kakume, solemn. "But... what I want from him I can never have", she added as she slipped away.

I'll come back, Kurapika. When I am done, and all the wrongs have been righted. I'll come back, and we'll watch the worms glow in the river once again.

-

"What did she mean by that?", asked Gon, puzzled.

Senritsu smiled sadly. "When a person has been abandoned or betrayed too many times, they put up high walls, barriers, around them, and push others away. Longing for a friend, a sense of belonging... is seen as a danger. By not allowing themselves to feel, they are sure they won't get hurt".

Gon looked downcast, sad.

Killua looked at him. You wouldn't know about it, Gon. As for me, this feeling, I know all too well... he thought.

"Ah!", Gon exclaimed. "She forgot her bag!" He opened it. Within it, sat a pair of Scarlet Eyes.