Wings and Webs: Journey

Yukinaru -Spiders- 17

    It has been a day since I have seen Hisoka and my match is in a few days. He is quickly becoming increasingly annoying after everything I done for that human pet. In turn nothing but disobedience, humans clearly make poor pets.
     "I don't have time to sit here and wait." I leave the tower and head to the broken down, abandoned part of the city.
    Roaming the area I find a stadium near the Spiders hideout. "This is will be perfect!" I squeal climbing over building ruble. I seed my aura into the ground checking for any signs of life. I want to practice my combat skills and it be best if I am alone.
     I have never had a real fight while needing to maintain the full concealment. Most of the serious hunts I release instantly, without worry, so I must train harder. I take a stance and set my sights on a pile of collapsed roofing.
     Charging forward, I dart to the back side of it and focus aura into my fist. Turning the pile of stones to dust.
     "How am I gonna practice control if it's so easy to break!" I huff up and look for another pile.
     "Hello there. I thought something was lurking." The familiar sound of Chrollo's voice echoed into my ears.
     "How are you here? No one came up in my search of the area?" I question him suspiciously.
     "Does you ability detect what floats?" He questions intently.
     "Well actually I don't know," I pause looking up at him, "I have never really thought about that."
     Chrollo glances around, "You are alone?" He jumps down from the bleachers, I step back remembering my uncles warning.
     His voice echos through my mind. I can't sense anything from this man, he is far more dangerous then I imagined. Yet there is something about him that makes me want to get closer. I think he is very much a fun mystery.
     "What can I do for you Chrollo?" I adress him bluntly when he comes to a stop by my fresh pile of dusty sand.
     "I over heard that you want to practice but the targets are too weak. Would you like to practice with me?" He speaks so kindly and steps closer.
     The smile he wears gives off a welcoming vibe but he feels like a starving beast. I look over him, a smile plays on my lips. I want to play with him, he could be fun.
     "You are not like the other people I met from here." I step up to him, intrigued, "You dare assume yourself worthy to spar with me?" I giggle, unleashing alittle more bloodlust with each step.
    His eyes burn with restraining excitement, "What was it that you said... Oh yes, let me properly introduce myself."
     I take a slight bow, "I am Yukinaru Zarin. A Hunter of the Dark Continent and you, Chrollo Lucilfer, are a Hunter of the Mainland."
     "Well you certainly do know how to do a proper introduction." He bows deeply back to me with one of his arms out. The other tucked into his torso, hiding something perhaps.
       "So what is it that you want from me?" I hold no doubts that a spar with him be far harder then a spar with Illumi and compared to them, Hisoka is truly just a pup.
     *Such is my jester* giggling to myself.
     "I simply want to know you. You seem truly divine. Come have breakfast, with me." He continues to hold his bow.
     "You be so bold?" Shock I stand there staring at this man.
     "Business is usually discussed over meals, is it not the same for you?" He looks into me with his mystical eyes.
     The deep swirls of dark purple and blue mirroring my own, nothing but a lost soul in this world. I take a step back, seeing a reflection of myself surface in his eyes once more.
     "Uncle is right about you. You are a dangerous creature Chrollo. I'll join you for breakfast." I raise my hand for him to take it, I accept his request respectfully.
     "So why such a person as yourself be here anyway, taking part in a trivial fighting arena?" He questions me but never takes his gaze from the path.
     He holds me close to his side, feeling him close makes me happy in some odd way. I am so focused on where our bodies are touching, it took me a minute to realize we have already left the forgotten world.
     "To train and learn new things I suppose." I smile lightly.
     "Is that so? What have you learned thus far?" He looks at me curiously, his face closer to mine.
     "That humans are complex and varied, we should continue our conversation back at the arena tower." I walk towards it hurriedly, leading the rest of the way in silence.
     "So what would you like to discuss?" I ask him directly.
    He takes a sip of tea and looks at me, "I believe you called me a hunter, do you have a guess of what kind?"
    Watching his movements carefully, I answer, "My guess would be oddities, as you have a connection with Hisoka."
     "Close enough," chuckling lightly. "Do you know why I approached you?"
     "For curiosity reasons?" I sip my coffee, it is still far too early for this.
     "That among other things. I sensed your display upon arriving to this area. Quite the bloodlust and it intrigues me." He turns to face me, "I am a hunter yes, but I'm also a collector of sorts. I just don't keep toys as Hisoka.
     "No, you turn them into your Spiders." I smile wickedly, "You know, you avoided my question on our last meeting."
    Feeling him tense slightly I continue, "Could it be that perhaps you fear you lost your Troupe? You fear they died and that's why you can't find them."
      I remember some of them from Hisoka's broken memories, brief glimpses of his encounters with them.
     "Oh, you naughty Spider. I see now what you are after with me. You want to learn about my nen to try and steal it as your own." Silently I thank my jester.
     "Hisoka informed you of such things?" He radiates killing intent, clearly displeased.
      "Calm yourself Chrollo," I roll my eyes taking a breath, "I know very little of you and your Troupe. I gained portions of memories from the Jester. It is fairly common when certain bonds form." I wave if off as trivial.
      "And honestly there is no point in Hisoka to worry about you taking my abilities." I shrug and sit back into my chair. "This coffee really is heavenly."
     "Would you tell me why that is?" His arms fold across his chest and looks at me head on.
     "If you must know, some abilities are not able to be stolen. As such inherited traits that are passed by genetics.."
     Recalling a page I read when I was younger. Even though the journal ended up burning, I still got to read most of the chapters. Much of the journal merely answered random questions that would drift through my thoughts.
     "Yes if I'm remembering correctly, you are the same as me in away." I shrug, "I just don't know exactly how yet."
    "Why do you keep Hisoka's company?" A glimpse of true curiosity flickers in his eyes like flames as he asked me the question.
     "He intrigues me and is a fun new pet. His behavior is quite entertaining and he provides excellent responses at times." I smile calmly. "Why have you kept Hisoka around Chrollo? He still has yet to return you know." Sighing I sit back and drink the rest of my coffee.
     "You hide the truth but there must be something more that draws you to him. Regardless, Hisoka wishes to fight against me once more despite the fact it would be fun, he would most likely perish completely this time. I find that thought to be uneasy so I have refused him." Chrollo sits so perfectly still while speaking.
     "So you care for the man to an extent. Is he a spider too?" A sudden spike in killing intent hits me abruptly.
     "Hisoka faked being apart of the Troupe to try and fight me." The dark expression on Chrollo's face is tortured. He is extremely conflicted.
     "Ah I see. That is his nature though. Deception and selfishness. You accepted Hisoka into your family knowing this I expect?" I question him the way my uncle would me.
     "Yes." He is speaking in such sharp tone now.
     "Well once family is family there is no undoing it. We all have urges to kill our siblings but they are also the ones who will never leave." Taking a breath, "Uncle says that when you wish to kill something that is the highest level of respect you can give. The deeper the desire to kill them after they wronged you reflects the amount of affection you have for them." I shrug, "But that's our way I suppose."
     "I love knowledge." The calm atmosphere returned and he looks surprised by my answer. "You may be right. My hesitation, although be it slim, is proof that my hatred of him is as a family should be." He reaches his hands into the center of the table. Looking up at me, "You seem to have some valuable thoughts, could we strike a partnership agreement?"
     "What kind of partnership?" I stare unsure of what to expect.
     "You want to train and learn more of this world and I want your knowledge and experience." He leans in closer, "Seeing as how Hisoka left you todo his own bidding, I'll be your mentor and you can be my book." He smiles pleasantly waiting my answer.
     "Partnership? So like a contract?" I question. I have never taken my own contract before in this manner.
    "No, not a contract per say. As there would be no real end to our dealings, a partnership would better suit our needs. Do we have an agreement Mrs. Yukinaru?" He reaches up for my hand.
    "Ok Chrollo, you will help me to train plus learn new things and in return we essentially just talk of my knowledge and past experiences?" I don't move an inch, throughly intrigued by his offer.
     "Talk yes, stories, questions, ramblings. I want to hear it all. Secrets, answers, questions, anything to satisfy my curiosity. And in turn I will help you." So direct.
     "I'll agree to your proposal however even some knowledge is not mine. I am not all knowing." He kisses the back of my hand as I keep speaking, "We shall be partners while I reside on the Mainland." Completing our business discussion.
     "Are you available after this?" Chrollo questions.
     "I'm going to return to the stadium. I need to keep training." I start to leave, knowing he is following me out the cafe.
     "Well then allow me to accompany you. No better time to start teaching yes?" He leans forward to hold the door open facing out towards the streets.
     "I warn you now though, I'm not responsible if I end up hurting you. There is a reason as to why Illumi usually shadows me. You may be stronger then him but it would take two to stop me if I slip up..." I trail off second guessing my choice to agree to him being my partner.
     "You underestimate me Lady Yukinaru. No, how about just Naru?" Chrollo looks at me enduringly, it is a bit unnerving.
     "Naru? That is a new way to address me. I don't know how I feel about this."
     "What would you prefer then?" We walk down the pathway towards our destination.
     "Well I suppose it's better then most nicknames. I will allow you to call me Naru." I climb over the ruble as the stadium comes into view.
     Chrollo comes up behind me and I motion for him to stop. I kneel down and try to feel any lurkers around. I hear his breath hitch as my aura travels through the ground feeling for anything alive.
     "Your nen is very beautiful, I can see why Hisoka calls you a flower." He stares out into the run down streets and fallin buildings.
     "I don't understand? I do not see anything." I look around curiously.
     "Have you never seen your nen?" He looks at me with disbelief and pity in his eyes
     "I have seen some sort flicker a few times." I rebutle quickly, "But I have never seen anything while using detection or any other skill." I need more training clearly..
     "It is a deep blue river with purple roots splintering from the main flow. They weave and circle the ground elegantly like lace. Truly, Naru you are radiant." He smiles warmly again and hugs me suddenly.
     "Well I don't feel a ping anywhere so we should be fine to train." I smile looking up at him, carefully pulling out of his embrace.
    "Lead the way Naru." He bows as I press onwards pass him.
    "So is that why I can't sense things in the air? Is it because it only flows along the ground?" I question curiously.
     "It climbs as well, like vines on a fence. It grows up buildings and branches out wildly. But it does not drift freely through the air it seems. You won't be able to feel things floating or flying." He sounds disappointed but hopeful.
     "You want to train me for another reason besides knowledge, isn't there?" I question him sternly.
     "Perhaps my hope is that you join the Troupe. With training you would fit right in with us." He seems to be so honest with me if I'm direct in my questions.
     "First I need to clear the 200th floor of the tower then get my hunter license. Then perhaps I will see where our partnership is at. I have much to do still."
     "Very well. Let's begin then dear, a game of tag to start with. Come and catch me Naru." He removes his coat revealing a faint white button up shirt.
    He rolls up the sleeves and darts forward before I have a chance to respond, he kisses my cheek and then flicks back just as quick.
     "Oh I'm gonna get you Chrollo." I hiss and dart after his image. He is already on the move once more.