Still Doll

A Phone Call

'Okay.'

At that brief, affirmative reply, Kuroro bolted upright on the sofa he was laying.

It was just two weeks ago since that last bad session he and Kurapika had and he purposely didn't contact him to give time to recover, even initially planned to wait for at least a whole month if Kurapika asked for more, before getting in touch. Kuroro was a patient man and he was dead sure that Kurapika wasn't ready to face him yet, so this compliant and easy answer had Kuroro disarmed.

Kurapika agreed to meet him tonight with no excuse, objection or question asked, and it left him uneasy and relieved at the same time. It wasn't like Kurapika to respond like that but being aware of what he must be going through, he bet he was pushing himself too hard.

Kuroro knew Kurapika wasn't ready yet, because he was the same, too.

If Kuroro would act according to his discretion, the wisest move to do was leave Kurapika alone for at least a month, let him deal with his troubled mind on his own then check if he had recovered, or at least capable enough to take on to their next transactions. If yes, then the party time would go on. If not, then that was the end of it. Kuroro wasn't supposed to wonder if he was working on it, or if he was even treating himself at all. He shouldn't worry about how he was doing. He wasn't supposed to care.

But he was shameful for he, due to an unfathomable cause, was very itching to know if Kurapika was alright.

Just that for the past two week, his mind was getting poked with thoughts of Kurapika and how he was doing. He tried ignoring it, but now and then the image of the boy with his dried, bloodied lips and swollen eyes would give him this heavy feeling in his stomach. At times, he would find himself wanting to hear Kurapika's usual angry voice, while recollection of his whimpers and agonizing groans made him antsy even more.

As days went by, his desire to know what was going on with the Kuruta worsened, now that he heard from a source that Meniandro's death was all over the Mafia Community. He made one hundred percent sure that Kurapika's name wouldn't be dragged on the mess, so he doubt if he was being suspected to be a part of it. Come to think of it; he hadn't had a chance to ask why Kurapika changed his mind about his offer to finish off Meniandro.

A week later and still, Kurapika had occupied his mind most of the time and he honestly thought it was getting ridiculous and alarming.

This was very uncharacteristic of him to incessantly muse about something just because the situation was beyond his control. Another week came, days of denial, until he accepted that he indeed had to check on Kurapika so this unusual feeling could finally stop.

So he sent a text, not expecting a reply at all. He even had a moment when he couldn't think of a proper way to say that he wanted to meet up without being too authoritative. In the end, he unwittingly booked another session with him even though he wasn't in the mood (and good mindset) for it.

He was prepared for a seething reply telling him to fuck off, or a refusal with a reason related to work and security measures, even a change of time and date because he didn't want to see Kuroro's face right now, but not for a clear 'okay.'

Was it possible for Kurapika to get over from that night this fast? Kuroro thought that maybe Kurapika handled the depression and got through it like a boss since this wasn't the first time he conquered death and loss, and he was back to his usual grumpy self now. Truthfully, he wouldn't mind if that was the case. If intimidating Kurapika didn't successfully change his attitude towards him just like he intended, Kuroro supposed it really wouldn't matter to him.

If so... what would matter to him, then?

Kuroro put down the phone on the coffee table and looked at the clock hanging on the wall. The time read 3:45 PM. Some more hours to go and Kurapika would arrive here in the condo. Kuroro laid back on the sofa, mind occupied with the Kuruta again. How should he face him later, he mused. Should he ask how he was feeling first? Or maybe why he changed his mind about Meniandro? Would they have any decent conversation at all or would simply go straight to the bed? Kuroro was clueless. He heaved a deep breath.